Santa Clara Condo Complex Evacuated After Structural Issues

Residents of Villa Bella condos unable to return home until developer completes repairs

Published on Mar. 2, 2026

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Residents of the 56-unit Villa Bella condominium complex in Santa Clara, California have been evacuated due to structural issues at the property. The evacuation occurred on February 28 after authorities discovered 'displaced concrete' indicating potential safety concerns. This comes after over a year of complaints from residents about leaks, rust, and a lack of response from the complex's management.

Why it matters

The Villa Bella evacuation highlights ongoing issues with new condominium developments, including quality control, developer accountability, and the need for proactive maintenance and resident communication. As more people seek affordable housing options, these types of structural problems can have significant impacts on displaced residents.

The details

The Villa Bella complex was originally the site of the Anantara Villas development, which experienced a fire during construction in 2019 before being renamed and resumed. Residents began reporting problems like leaks and rusting less than a year after the first units were sold in 2024. Multiple residents left negative reviews citing unresolved issues, construction delays, and an unresponsive developer. The current developer, Legend SantaClara, LLC, is now working with the city, engineers, and contractors to assess the situation and implement temporary shoring measures before residents can return.

  • The initial evacuation occurred just before 7 p.m. on February 28, 2026.
  • Villa Bella sold its first unit on May 31, 2024.
  • Residents began complaining about issues like leaks and rust less than a year later, in 2025.

The players

Villa Bella

A 56-unit condominium complex in Santa Clara, California that was evacuated due to structural issues.

Legend SantaClara, LLC

The current developer of the Villa Bella complex, working to address the situation and allow residents to return.

Farid Sabitov

A Villa Bella resident who purchased a fourth-floor unit in July 2024 and complained about unmet promises, construction delays, and quality issues including leaks and rusting.

Suzan Kahraman

A Villa Bella resident who purchased a unit in June 2024 and complained about water leaks during heavy rain.

Anmol Kalia

A Villa Bella resident who purchased a unit in June 2024 and complained about unresolved issues like leaks and rusting, as well as the developer being unresponsive.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“These unresolved issues are damaging the building and causing frustration among residents.”

— Suzan Kahraman, Villa Bella resident (svvoice.com)

“The building is more than half occupied by homeowners now, yet the developers have not fully completed construction. The rains have revealed multiple leaks around the building. Multiple metal structures are already rusting – patio railing, pipes, etc. Once you purchase, the developer gets VERY hard to get ahold of and stonewalls the above state[d] issues.”

— Anmol Kalia, Villa Bella resident (svvoice.com)

What’s next

The City of Santa Clara says no one can move back into Villa Bella until the developer completes the necessary 'shoring' to the north side of the building.

The takeaway

This evacuation underscores the importance of quality construction, developer accountability, and proactive maintenance in new condominium developments. Residents' early complaints about issues like leaks and rust highlight the need for developers to address problems quickly and transparently to maintain the safety and livability of their properties.