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COPYRIGHT 2005 South Florida Sun-Sentinal
Byline: Charlyne Varkonyi Schaub
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. _ Dana and Joe Lello were looking forward to spending retirement in their oceanfront penthouse on Florida's Hutchinson Island.
They renovated it with all the best design elements _ a coral rock fireplace, plantation shutters with 5-inch louvers, built-in bookshelves and stained oak walls in the den. Next on their agenda was a remodel of the kitchen and the bathrooms.
But the wrath of hurricanes Frances and Jeanne last year altered their dream forever.
"They wouldn't let us on the island for two weeks and mold had set in," Dana said.
When the island finally opened, she went alone because she knew it would be hard for Joe to see the damage.
"When I arrived and parked the car, workmen were taking my brand new Berber carpeting and throwing it over the balcony. I could hear it squish when it fell. I was heartbroken."
Luckily, the Lellos were able to sell the Hutchinson Island condo and collect the insurance. But their dreams were on hold and so, it turns out, were their retirement plans.
In anticipation of retirement, they had sold their condo and all its furnishings in the Pilot House in Fort Lauderdale and were temporarily living with her mother in Cooper City, Fla. But Joe, who had planned to retire as Cooper City fire chief, became fire chief of Port Everglades, Fla. The Lellos decided to delay retirement and find a place closer to his work.
Their answer was a condo in Fort Lauderdale at River Reach that they originally bought for Joe's daughter, Cathy. They moved in and she moved out to a rental in the same development.
Dana was less than thrilled at first.
"They're old," she said as she looked at the outside of the buildings.
"It's temporary," he said.
"And I'll let you do anything you want with it."
The furnished condo, which had belonged to an airline pilot, had mirrored walls right out of the...
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