Cameron Grove developer Stephen Stavrou said the recent allegations made by nearly 150 residents in the Upper Marlboro community about shoddy construction are management, not developer, concerns and that they need to take responsibility for their homes.

Stavrou, president of the Annapolis-based Stavrou Associates, Inc., said that part of being a homeowner involves routine maintenance, which includes caulking windows, cleaning gutters and turning on hallway heaters to ensure bathrooms are warm.

"At some point it does become your home," he said.

Nearly 150 of the approximate 1,000 Cameron Grove residents at the 55-and-older community in Upper Marlboro met Oct. 20 with People For Change of Prince George's County, a political watchdog organization, to formulate an action plan against Stavrou Associates, Inc. for what they allege is poor construction.

Residents say they've dealt with water leaking, mold and inadequate insulation, among other issues, for the past nine years and that Stavrou hasn't done enough to permanently fix and prevent damage to their single-family homes, cottage homes and condominiums.

"When you see some of the issues and concerns, the blanket allegations nonspecific in nature, it's frustrating. People aren't reporting these things to us," said Stephen Moore, vice president for Stavrou Associates, Inc. "The process hasn't been followed in recent actions."

Homeowner service issues or complaints need to be conveyed to the Homeowners Advocacy Committee, which will contact the customer service department.

Moore said the condominium buildings have two year "bumper to bumper" warranties and single family homes and the cottages have one year "bumper to bumper" warranties. All homes have 10-year warranties, which cover most major structural issues.

The two-year warranties for 10 of the 11 condominium buildings have expired — the final buildings' two-year warranty will expire at the end of the fall, Moore said. Less than 10 single-family homes and cottages are still covered by their one-year warranties.

Moore said the company will address all legitimate issues presented in the proper way, through the Homeowners Advocacy Committee. Homeowners not covered under the warranty who are still dissatisfied should go to the committee.

Moore said the last correspondence he had with the Homeowners Advocacy Committee took place in May.

"The majority of the anger we're getting is in the buildings that are nine-years-old," Stavrou said. "This isn't an apartment building — it's your home."

Sandy Pruitt, a People For Change leader, said Monday that each of the 11 condominium buildings, and a representative for the single-family homes, villas and cottages, have a point person and are working to develop a petition with 200 to 300 names, which will be given to the Homeowners Association board, in addition to a letter which will also be sent to Starvou, alerting him that the HOA doesn't speak or represent them.

Pruitt said a list of all repairs is being developed and will be given to Stavrou, who is expected to pay for the estimated millions of damages the residents want fixed by an outside contractor.

Pruitt said the goal is for repairs to begin by the end of the year.

"There are hundreds of people [with concerns], that's what we want him to see," said Pruitt, who was contacted a month ago by a Cameron Grove resident asking for help. "For him to say only a handful of people are complaining, it's unfair."

E-mail Liz Skalski at eskalski@gazette.net.