BREVARD COUNTY, Fla. – Bill and Mary Ann Hyman sold their home in Wisconsin to retire in Central Florida. Five years and hundreds of thousands of dollars later, their new home still is not finished.
The Hymans signed a contract with Coastmark Development, LLC in December 2020 for a home along the Banana River in a new development called Laurham Village. Brevard County approved the building permit in September 2021.
According to the Hymans’ contract, the home was anticipated to be finished 12 months after the permit was issued — meaning September 2022.
“The developer stood right where you’re standing and said I can get this done in 10 months. That was five years ago,” Bill Hyman said.
Years later, the home has no power and no water. The Hymans told News 6 they are out more than $900,000 after paying for the land and construction costs.
Fire marshal halts work at Laurham Village
According to the couple, the Brevard County fire marshal stopped work at Laurham Village because there is no water on site.
“There’s supposed to be two fire hydrants and then the fire marshal says we can put in power,” Hyman said.
In emails obtained by News 6 through a public records request, Brian Hill, assistant fire marshal, wrote in 2024 that Brevard County will agree to lift the stop-work order if several conditions are met — including that “the required water will be installed and inspected by Brevard County Fire Rescue within 21 days of approval of City of Cocoa Utilities permit” and that “non-combustible work can continue through the jobsite.
Hill added that “there has been numerous inspections, emails and conversations regarding the need for water to be onsite that appear up till now to not have been acted on judiciously” and that the county encourages “the developer to uphold the requirement of site plan as well as the Florida Fire Prevention Code and resolve this issue quickly.”
News 6 asked Brevard County whether that stop-work order is still in effect. The county had not responded as of publication.
Lawsuits filed against Coastmark
The Hymans filed a lawsuit against Coastmark Development, LLC, its manager Yane Zana, and the listing realtors, alleging breach of contract and fraudulent promises. The suit seeks an accounting of nearly $1,000,000 in draws, emergency injunctive relief to force utilities and code compliance, and a court order compelling the developer to complete the project.
According to Mary Ann Hyman, the stakes could not be higher.
“If this continues where he doesn’t get the water in so I can get electricity in so I can get air conditioning in, it’s possible that all my drywall, all my doors will have to be pulled out and redone,” she said.
News 6 uncovered two additional lawsuits against Coastmark Development, LLC in connection to Laurham Village.
In August 2024, another lot owner sued the developer, alleging Coastmark did not finish their villa after they paid more than $700,000. Both parties signed an agreement calling for Coastmark to repurchase the unit, but the suit alleged Coastmark failed to close.
In May, an electric supplier sued Coastmark to foreclose a construction lien on property for unpaid electrical supplies. City Electric Supply Company claims it supplied more than $40,000 in materials and seeks the unpaid balance of nearly $12,000 plus late charges, interest costs and attorney’s fees.
News 6 called Coastmark Companies and Zana multiple times. Requests for comment went unanswered. News 6 also went to Coastmark’s office in Vero Beach. No one was there.
‘Look what he’s doing to people’
In the meantime, the Hymans continue to wait. They say a judge will not hear their case until next year.
“This was supposed to be our retirement home. This was supposed to be our last home. We changed our lives based on this man and look what he’s doing to people,” Bill Hyman said.