Letter from Lennar Homes

© St. Petersburg Times, published June 27, 1999

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This is the letter from Lennar Homes that says one of the Times own experts studied its design analysis and found that the home meets code, contradicting the finding of another Times expert:

With your encouragement, Lennar Homes, Inc. attempted to meet with Ronald Zollo, one of your experts, and have him explain to us the source of his disagreement with our tests that prove that our model homes fully comply with the wind requirements of the Standard Building Code. Unfortunately, Mr. Zollo's other commitments did not permit him to schedule a meeting time with our engineers until some time next week. Because we knew that timing was critical, we engaged another of your experts, James R. Mehltretter, P.E. of Paulus Sokolowski and Sartor, Inc. to perform the same analyses.

Mr. Mehltretter has concluded . . . that the rear gable end wall of our Captiva model does, in fact, meet the wind requirements of the Standard Building Code, 1994 Edition.

Because of the short time frame, Mr. Mehltretter did not have the opportunity to analyze our calculations with respect to the Misty Creek/Starling Model. We expect to be submitting those calculations to him next week and are confident he will reach the same conclusion with respect to its gable end wall.

We hope that at least for now with respect to the Captiva model, and shortly with respect to the Misty Creek/Starling model, you are satisfied that our gables comply with the wind requirements of the Code.

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