WAUKESHA, Wis. — There are new developments in the battle over the condemned condo in Waukesha.

Horizon West Condominiums have sat empty for a year and a half. On Friday, the city of Waukesha settled a lawsuit with the owners, but there are still questions as to who will pay for the demolition.

Some condo owners said this settlement does come as a relief.

“No condo owner ever expects anything like this can happen to them,” said Horizon West condo owner, Laurel Peterson. “I got an inspection. I had insurance, my ex-husband, who’s a home improvement contractor, walked through and said ‘oh yeah, looks good to me’. The problems were literally hiding behind the walls where nobody could see them.”

Peterson said she is thankful things are down to one lawsuit. Part of the lawsuit involves the condo owners and the insurance company over who will pay for the demolition.

Owners expect that lawsuit to wrap up this summer, however, according to court filings on Friday, residents reached an agreement with the city of Waukesha.

“Almost a year after we were evacuated from the building, the city gave us a deadline to try and make sure the building was torn down,” said Peterson. “As you can see, it is not torn down. So, when we missed that deadline, the city filed a lawsuit against us, to try and compel us to tear down the building but we didn’t have an extra million dollars.”

If the city of Waukesha covers the costs to tear down the building, residents will still be responsible for a tax lien.

When that is divided among the roughly 50 condo owners, it will still cost them each tens-of-thousands of dollars.

While Peterson waits for answers, she is thankful for the support from the community.

“We ask for thoughts and prayers as we wait for some sort of resolution in this final lawsuit and thank you to the residents in Waukesha for being patient with this eyesore you see behind me,” Peterson said.

Spectrum News 1 reached out to the attorney for the city of Waukesha and has not heard back. Spectrum News 1 has also reached out to Travelers Indemnity Company, the condo associations’ insurance company, and has not heard back.

The city must wait until Oct. 1, 2023, before starting demolition.