LEON COUNTY, FL — Broken concrete, rusted rebar and twisted metal remain on a former aqua farm property in South Tallahassee months after demolition. The property owner has racked up more than $35,000 in fines.
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Leon County has given the property owner 30 days to clean up the site or face further action. Daily fines of $250 have been accumulating since December, county records show.
Leon County Commissioner Christian Caban says the debris remains unsecured.
"Construction debris is just laying exposed on the site. It's not secured with no construction fencing. It's just laying there on the site," Caban said.
The partially built structure was demolished back in February following concerns from residents and county leaders about safety.
If the 30-day deadline is missed, Caban says the county could step in and take action directly.
"It could be the county comes in and cleans up or places a lien on the property and then bills the property owner, so that's kind of where we are right now," Caban said.
If the property owner does not comply, the case will go before a public nuisance board in July, where the county could decide to take more direct action.
Caban says the owner has accrued $35,750 in fines, which are growing daily.
For some neighbors, the issue goes beyond cleanup. Syrheda Lashae says this part of town needs change and that the property could be part of the solution.
"Oh this would be a lovely site for a bigger and more efficient farmers market, as well as expanding the park for other uses as in a multipurpose space as well. The playground in particular, this would be a nice area for a playground that would be also used as a learning space and a place space for people of all ages," Lashae said.
Lashae says the community wants to know about what happens next.
"I wish this situation would have a speedy resolution. I know that it's ruffling feathers in the community, where people want answers, and they want them now," she said.
Around the time of demolition, a spokesperson for Hines Aqua Fresh, Werener Randolph, said a team was working to remove materials efficiently and recycle concrete and steel.
“We’re bringing the wall down, clearing the debris, and crushing the concrete to reuse it. It takes time and money, but we’re doing it,” Randolph said.
The county says that work has not moved fast enough.
Last summer, the county board approved a motion allowing staff to explore whether the landowner might be willing to sell the parcel for potential public uses, such as park expansion or housing. No decisions have been made.
ABC 27 reached out to the property owner for comment on Thursday, but at this point, calls and messages have gone unanswered.
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