The Town of Fort Myers Beach is beginning to ramp up its enforcement of dilapidated structures as we approach the 3rd anniversary of Hurricane Ian.
Stephen and Marie Dinon of Orlando were put on notice this week by Fort Myers Beach Special Magistrate Monica Schmucker that the property they own at 3111 Shell Mound Boulevard must be cleaned up. If not they face fines up to $500 per day beginning September 24th.
Neighbors around the home have been asking the town for help getting this property cleaned up, which has been sitting in disrepair since Hurricane Ian. A code enforcement case was started in April of 2025.
The property owners were not in attendance at the Special Magistrate meeting. Town staff did say the Dinon’s have received a demo permit that expires in February of 2026.
The town wants the property cleaned up no matter how long it takes to demo the structure.
The property is listed for sale for $550,000
We have the same problem with a dilapidated home next door to us that is not for sale and the owners are no where to be found. The there are a few properties on Driftwood Lane that are health hazards. We have called time and time again to complain and nothing has been done!!! It’s time for further action!!!! The town care either!!!!
Have you checked the code enforcement database? There are several Driftwood properties with cases, including one that’s been red-tagged as an unsafe structure (and the owners live in Austria).
Red tag or not, Florida/US resident or not, you own the property, it’s the owners responsibility to maintain it. The Town needs to do a better job enforcing these issues.
Are you aware of the town’s procedure for demoing properties (and recovering the cost from the owners)?? It’s a process.
Yes. But a process that needs to be completed…not just started and then abandoned, as is the case with many of the vacant lots and properties
You are not a resident of FMB or even FL, so find some place else to troll.
Why not call the listing agent and ask them why the property is not cleaned up? Curious what they would say.
Hi Chris….some of us have tried that already. Wrote and called one of the prominent agents on the island. We were of course told the lots would be cleaned, but nothing happened. Almost every lot this agent is representing is still a mess
You should make that agent’s name public as well as his brokerage for the real estate company for which he’s working.
Adverse publicity can be a motivating factor especially if people in the future avoid that agent or agency.
I agree! People need to know who is “all hat and no cattle”. You can help the rest of us know who to steer clear of.
The same on our street. We have MULTIPLE dilapidated homes/properties. Real estate agent could care less.
It’s about time the town is doing something. Let’s hope they address them all instead of just the one. They also need to start handling the overgrown vacant lots as well. They are breeding grounds for snakes, rats, and iguanas. The weeds alone are encroaching into neighboring properties causing responsible property owners more problems cleaning up
It’s not about time. It’s two years past the time.
Dead landscaping and dead trees are out of control. We had friends in town and they would try to take random pics of something and every picture had dead trees with no tops on the palm trees. It’s not only dangerous but a ridiculous eyesore. Total negligence on the part of the town. The could make the home owners clean up their lots. Debris, dead landscaping, dead trees, etc. CLEAN IT UP! we have looked at it for 3 yrs. Is that long enough?