From WPBF News

VERO BEACH, Fla. —Dozens of residents at a retirement community in Vero Beach took to the streets Tuesday morning to protest along State Road 60.

They said they’re fed up because the clubhouse and streets are not properly maintained.

Cheryl Condo has lived at Countryside at Vero Beach for nine years. She said the 33-year old tennis court has cracks everywhere, while some of the pool furniture is broken and covered in black mold.

Condo said the property managers aren’t helpful.

“And when we tell them about things that need (to be) fixed, they go, ‘Too bad, we don’t have no money,'” Condo said.

Condo moved to the community nine years ago. She said it had beautiful landscaping and fantastic amenities to compliment the community’s 600 manufactured homes.

But she noticed the change a few years ago. Condo said residents pay about $300 to $800 in lot fees each month, but very little of the money is used to maintain the community.

Ed Nelson has lived at Countryside for 31 years. He said everything used to be included in the monthly fee, but now they have to pay for water, sewer and trash separately.

“They picked us so clean that even the buzzards won’t stop here,” Nelson said.

Resident said they will continue to protest until there’s a change.

The property is owned by Equity Lifestyle Properties. A spokeswoman from the Chicago office told WPBF 25 News in a written statement that the company’s “rents are in line with the market and have been agreed to by the community homeowners association on behalf of the residents.” She said the management team regularly meets with residents to hear their concerns, and improvements to the tennis and shuffleboard courts are “planned for the coming year.”