Lakewood eyesore will be demolished

LAKEWOOD RANCH — A charred home that caught fire three years ago in the Greenbrook Haven community soon will be demolished.

Manatee County Building and Development Services Director John Barnott confirmed the structure will be torn down on or around Nov. 13 — 30 days after the county posted official notice of the pending demolition.

“It’s taken us six or seven months to track down all the people who have a vested interest in the property,” Barnott said. “We waited and waited. People were saying (they were) going to fix it, but nothing’s been done, so we’re going to take care of it. Time’s up.”

The home, located at 6216 Macaw Glen, caught fire in late 2008. Shortly after the fire, neighbors wrote to Manatee County about the property because they felt it was unsafe. The Greenbrook Village Association Board also lobbied at least twice on behalf of residents, but a county inspection in late 2009 showed the home was still structurally sound and could not be demolished.

Barnott told the East County Observer in April 2010 the county could not take action on the home because it was considered structurally sound.

“It’s an unsafe structure, but because it’s boarded up, its technically OK,” Barnott said. “But, it’s an eyesore. It’s a blighted structured.”

Lakewood Ranch Town Hall Executive Director Eva Rey said the condition of the home was brought to her attention by residents shortly after her arrival this summer, and she has discussed the issue with county employees while developing relationships there.

“We’ve been staying in really close contact with the county so when they were finally able to serve notice to the owner they contacted us immediately,” Rey said.

The fire has been under investigation by the Division of State Fire Marshal’s Bureau of Fire and Arson Investigations since it occurred.

Property records show Sam and Chrissie Budd, owners of the property, sued their insurance company, First community Insurance Co., for breach of contract because it refused to provide coverage following the fire. The company alleged the Budds participated, either directly or indirectly, in the fire.

Property records also show the Budds’ property has been in foreclosure since 2006. A judge last set a foreclosure sale of the property for June 2011, but it was canceled because no proof of publication was filed. No new sale date has been set.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].