On Thursday, Fort Myers Beach Special Magistrate Monica Schmucker gave the owner of 4 dilapidated properties on Estero Boulevard two weeks to secure those properties or apply for a demo permit. If they do not comply, $250 per day fines will start to accrue. The clock starts ticking to the total une of $1,000 per day on April 2nd.
The owner of 5268, 5276, 5280 and 5300 Estero Boulevard (see pictures below the story) is Sugar Beach Estates. The company is located in Canada. They purchased the homes before Hurricane Ian and they were vacational rentals. The 4 homes are clustered together between Avenida Pescadora and Dakota on the beach side of Estero Boulevard.
The town has been cracking down on property owners who have neglected their properties since Hurricane Ian came through town 3½ years ago. Residents who have gone through the process and spent the money to rebuild are also getting frustrated with property owners who have done nothing. The Town Council and Town Manager believe they’ve given everybody more than enough time to get their properties cleaned up or an easy path to rebuild. Leaving properties untouched like these four is not only an eyesore to the residents, it’s a safety hazard. Town representatives understand there may be insurance issues or FEMA issues but properties can and must be in a safe condition by now.
The property owners of these four homes knew they would be on the Magistrate’s agenda Thursday and didn’t have the courtesy to show up to explain why these homes haven’t been secured or demolished. They sent a real estate agent who told Schmucker that Sugar Beach Estates was trying to sell the properties and will be filing for bankruptcy. Not that town’s problem.
Schmucker said she was concerned there are no active permit applications for a fence or to demo the buildings. “These buildings look dangerous and a risk to public safety.”
Schmucker gave the property owners 2 weeks to secure the structures. She also authorized the town to move in and secure the structures and start the process to demolish them if the owners do not comply. If the town has to do the work, the town would then place a lien on the property to recoup any of the costs that go into securing the properties. Demolishing private homes is not what the town wants to do. It is always the last resort. But at some point, the island needs to be cleaned up.
Schmucker slapped Sugar Beach Estates with $361.12 in admin fees on each of the four properties.
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Secure the property? Honestly, aren’t we way past putting a fence around a dilapidated property?
What a joke….. Why give them a 2 week grace period!
They sure gave them a long time to do something with the properties! I wonder how long the list of dilapidated properties is?
Long overdue! Yes, yo placing liens on these properties!
This action is long over due. I hope the Town staff tee-up Monica to address the remaining dilapidated structures on the island.
Monica has deep compassion for everyone affected by the hurricane and it shows in all manner of her being. I was pleased with her calm yet firm discernment.
There should be 182k of fines racked up already if this would have been tackled 2 years ago. Drop the hammer on these Cali investors….
canada
2 yrs at $1k/day is $730,000… not sure where you came up with 182k
I wish the town would do something about the giant POS boat by Main St.
That’s not FMB’s jurisdiction it’s Lee County anything over the bridge west.