[Bronze1]

My wife and I purchased a condo from a developer who was in the process of rehabing 2 buildings. Both buildings are on the same parcel and share the same APN. We assume from the "DECLARATION",in our CC&R's that the 5 units in our building have been properly subdivided, yet the tax assessor shows us the owner of record at the assessors office, and our tax bill reflects us paying the taxes for the entire parcel. Out of the 5 units in our building only 3 have been completed, the other 2 are incomplete, and the building next to us PHASE 2, is just a gutted shell. The developer has been MIA for 6 months now. Someone does randomly come by and cut the grass, but during the winter there is no one. And they never enter the building. Only the basement where I am supposed to have storage, but never the interior building. I accidentally locked myself out a few weeks ago and called the developer if she could come let me in. She told me no because the neighborhood was too dangerous, and she didn't feel safe. I stayed locked out for 5 hours and had to call a real estate agent to let me in. The real estate agents no longer show the units, and they have been left open and unsecure. We basically live in a big empty building, and next door to an empty shell. We have made many 911 calls to the police to report the drug sales, use , and prostitution, that takes place right in front of the building. We signed up to be urban pioneers but this is dangerous. We've considered trying to form a Home Owners Association and taking possession of the empty units but we don't know how to get around the developer control for 3 years, or hand-off stipulation in the "DECLARATION". We are very close to changing the locks on all common areas, and vacant units. And putting in family members so we are not alone. Thereby, beginning the Adverse Possession process. Does anyone have any suggestions ? We are in Illinois.

[Fr_Chuck]

Adverse possessoin is not going to help in any sort term, if you took control of the units and where using them, and keep them for 20 years using them, but you need to hire an attorney as a group and see what can be done.