City Opens Door for Negotiations With Walden Pond

New Port Richey City Council members are offering the owners of Walden Pond Mobile Home Park a chance to work out a deal concerning the $155,000 they owe the city.

But city leaders are not holding their breath.

They still intend to plow forward with considering putting a lien on the property at a hearing slated for July 9.

Walden Pond, LLC, now owes the city $155,122.26, according to updated figures from city officials. That figure includes the costs of demolition, cleanup, administrative services and attorney fees. It also includes fines for months of unpaid utility bills. Those fines make up about half of the total money owed at this point.

“I have a funny feeling that they’re not going to stroke a check for that amount, plus interest,” said Councilman Jeff Starkey. “But, it’s worth talking to them.”

The privately owned Walden Pond Mobile Home Park has been a problem property for the city for a while. Last summer, the mobile home park's owners told residents the park was closing and that residents needed to leave the property. The owners, however, failed to follow legal guidelines for eviction. 

Since then, some residents left. Some stayed behind. Trailer stripping became a problem.

The city council decided in October to pass an emergency resolution condemning the crumbling trailers. Council members then agreed to have the city pay a contractor to get rid of more than 50 condemned trailers and clean up afterward. Prior to that, the city also had to remove a mound of trash left at the park that the owners failed to clean up.

Confronted with the problems last year, the city council gave Walden Pond owners an opportunity to fix the issues. The property owners said they would take some measures to address problems, but they failed to do enough to measure up to council expectations.

On Tuesday, May 21, City Attorney Jim Lang told the council Walden Pond had indicated an interest in starting “a dialogue.”

“My impression is they want to see if they can come to a resolution with the city,” he said.

He said that he didn’t know what their solution was.

There are still people living in Walden Pond. Of the 18 units remaining at the park, eight are still occupied.

What do you think should happen with the Walden Pond property and the debt it owes the city? Tell us by commenting below!