OPINION: Commercial Tenant Ran Amok Over Common Area, Infringed Upon Condo Owners

Photo shows how tenant Terrie Masters’ business had “expanded,” blocking four front parking spaces, of only 16 total, with picnic tables. A recreational vehicle, shipping container and portable shed had also been on added to the property before a judge ordered removal.

Images of Cousin Eddie’s RV scene from Christmas Vacation come to mind when thinking about what’s been taking place for years at Summer Sands Condo on Navarre Beach. Allegations of a RV sewer backup and more have been stinking up the small 8-unit complex.

A story which aired on WEAR ABC Ch 3 shared the side of Terrie Masters, a tenant in one of 8 condos in the three-story complex, located on the north side of Gulf Boulevard on Navarre Beach. The condos allow both residential and commercial occupants.

Masters tried to portray herself as some kind of victim of the COA. “This is beyond repulsive,” she said in that interview, claiming her livelihood was being taken away, following a lawsuit filled on behalf of condo owners in the complex.

But what’s truly repulsive is the crap neighboring condo owners have endured for years from her – literally. According to court documents, Masters was allegedly living in an RV on the site when a sewage backup occured.

Her landlord, during an April 2025 court event, admitted she was, with his permission, using a “significant” portion of the condo’s common areas for her business, Boardwalk Shop.

Records show problems started long before neighbors were forced to take legal action against her to regain control of their property’s common areas.

Back in 2020, Masters was cited by Santa Rosa County Code Enforcement for a building violation after an accessory structure was placed on the property. She also did not have an itinerate vendor permit for the outdoor business activity. Records show she didn’t pay the related $717.03 asscessment until December 2022.

That accessory structure was only recently taken off site after a judge ordered removal of the aforementioned RV, a shipping container which had been used for storage, and that portable shed, which was being used to sell snow cones and more.

Although Masters in the interview asserted the snow cone stand had the capacity to earn $75,000 per month, her landlord tesitified that COVID had hurt business, stating, “She wasn’t making money, so there was no money to pay it. I wanted her to get the business rolling.”

Additionally, during her interview, Masters asserted she provides the sole gift shop on Navarre Beach. But that’s untrue. There are multiple other gift shops on the island, including but not limited to shops at nearby Springhill Suites and Navarre Beach Pier.

A 1 p.m. hearing is scheduled for today to discuss the case after condo owners say she’s failed to fully comply with a judge’s April 9 order to stop using the common area for her business. That order gave 60 days to remove structures and equipment from common areas, but she allegedly recently increased bicycle rental inventory and still has a large ice machine on site. Additionally, per court documents, she also hasn’t provided a copy of liability insurance for her business.

Let’s hope the judge compels her to comply. Neighboring condo owners have tolerated her late-night bands, crowded parking conditions, junky storage, and alleged mooching off the association’s electricity bill for too long. After the RV was moved from the site, the association’s electricity bill was reported to be “drastically” lower.

It’s too bad her landlord didn’t stop renewing the lease of his unit years ago when problems started surfacing because now he’s mired down in the court battle, too.

Although Masters is trying to blame her business problems on an owner who purchased a third-floor condo site unseen in 2021, it’s obvious other owners, who bought their units before she opened her shop around 2012, grew frustrated over the years. Just because they didn’t send written complaints to the owner of her unit doesn’t imply they were okay with all her encroachment on the front, back and side of the complex.

Kudos to the man who finally rallied his neighbors to stand up to her! The improvements made to the complex since he stepped up are a positive step forward.

These condo owners invested money and have been forced to defend their property values. I know they’re relieved to hear their real-life version of Cousin Eddie is selling her business. Hopefully the landlord will find a new and more compliant, considerate neighbor for them.

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