At a Special Magistrate hearing on Tuesday, attorney Noel Davies, representing property owner Sergei Kaminskiy, told Judge John Laningham that a contract has been signed with a demo company and as soon as a demo permit is issued by the town, the structure will be gone within 30 days.
The dilapidated house at 131 Estero Boulevard is located across from the Pink Shell Resort on the north end of the island. It’s been in disrepair since before Hurricane Ian. The Hurricane didn’t do the home any favors, which includes an abandoned boat that Kaminskiy does not own stranded in the backyard.
Between the release of the agenda and the time the Tuesday meeting started, the agreement between the town and Kaminskiy changed. Originally the plan was for Kaminskiy to make a few minor repairs to the structure while he waited for a zoning request he’s filed with the town. Kaminskiy wants to build a 12-unit 7-story resort on the property. Davies told the judge the plan is now to apply for a demo permit, as early as this week, and have the structure torn down within 30 days of the date the permit is issued.
Town Attorney Nancy Stuparich was happy to hear that, but also skeptical because this house has been in disrepair for so long and Kaminskiy has been fighting the town on the demo. She wanted Judge Laninghan to shorten the 30-day time frame Kaminskiy requested, have him put $15,000 in escrow in case Kaminskiy missed the demo deadline and the town had to pay to do the work, and start implementing a daily fine on Kaminskiy. The judge gave both sides until Friday to submit any additional documentation regarding the fines.
As of the publication of this story Kaminskiy had not applied for a demo permit. Kaminskiy’s proposed rezoning is not on the LPA agenda for this Tuesday.