Not in the USA, but I've lived in apartment buildings my whole life, and I own the apartment I currently live in. While I haven't seen such an extreme number, I have seen the way expensive repairs are dealt with. It's always decided in a condominium assembly, so every apartment owner has its say and it's put to a vote. For least expensive repairs, it's either an extra fee on the monthly condominium payment, or it comes from the condominium "emergency funds" account (which is then gradually recharged through the monthly condominium payments). For more expensive repairs, the extra fee is spread over several months. For really expensive repairs like your example, I'd expect the value to be financed (borrowing from a bank or similar), and gradually paid back through an extra fee on the monthly condominium payments.