City Moving Forward With Walden Pond Clean Up

The city disregarded the owners' request to let them take over demolition of condemned trailers.

A co-owner of Walden Pond Mobile Home Park Tuesday urged New Port Richey city leaders to give the owners another chance to raze condemned trailers at the troubled property using their own contractor, rather than letting the city’s contractor handle the demolition. New Port Richey city council members elected instead to plow forward with the city’s effort to raze the trailers on the taxpayer dime. Walden Pond Mobile Home Park has been a problem for the city for a while. Earlier this summer, the mobile home park's owners ordered residents to leave, but failed to follow legal guidelines for eviction. Since then, some residents have vacated the park; others have remained behind. The dumpsters that served the park's residents were removed. …

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flashgordon

2:14 pm on Thursday, November 15, 2012

Im curious what high road did the city council take? This is from the Tampa Bay Times ""Last week, Beraquit made one last plea for his company to handle the demolition itself. The council voted him down"". Why vote the property owner down? Who is to benefit from this situation? With headlines like this - from The Tampa Bay Times ""Tampa Bay persists as one of the most financially distressed major…   more ›

Taxpayers on Hook for Walden Pond Cleanup

The city is going to raze condemned trailers and clean up the property.

City to Clean Up Walden Pond

The city is going to raze condemned trailers and clean up the property.

New Port Richey taxpayers are officially on the hook for paying a contractor an estimated $62,600 to clean up the mess at Walden Pond Mobile Home Park. City council members unanimously directed city staff Tuesday to hire outside help to raze more than 50 condemned trailers and for a general cleanup at the property. The city is going to pursue a lien against the owners. Walden Pond has been a problem for city officials for months. This past Summer, the mobile home park's owners ordered residents to leave, but failed to follow legal guidelines for eviction. Since then, some residents have vacated the park; others have remained behind. The dumpsters that served the park's residents have been removed. Earlier this month, city leaders passed an…

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BlFalconskeep

11:48 am on Friday, October 26, 2012

I understand what you are saying Grace. Personally I think that the city should take away ownership of the property as soon as it is able to do so legally just like you would take away a child's toy if it continued to abuse it. The owner didn't take care of the property before it was closed down and still isnt taking care of it after it was closed down. Pure negligence to the tenants and property…   more ›

City Might Pay For Walden Pond Cleanup

The effort might cost the city as much as $150,000.

Walden Pond Mobile Home Park in New Port Richey is still a mess, and city leaders are being presented tonight with options for putting out to bid the demolition of condemned trailers and clean up of the property. City staff have put out a request for quotations for demolition services at Walden Pond, and the issue of demolition is on tonight's City Council agenda. It is unclear whether a decision is needed. Earlier this month, city leaders passed an emergency resolution condemning unsafe trailers at the park. That resolution allows city staff to raze the condemned trailers if so directed. The attorney representing Walden Pond LLC, the entity that owns the park, said at that time the park’s ownership had put in place an “action plan” to …

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Walden Pond Owners Have Opportunity to Clean Property

The city is giving them a deadline.

Walden Pond Owners Given Chance to Clean Up Property

The city is giving them a deadline.

New Port Richey city leaders are giving the owners of Walden Pond Mobile Home Park a chance to cleanup the mess on the property. The City Council unanimously agreed to allow Walden Pond, LLC, a period of time to rid the park of more than 50 vacant, condemned mobile homes, along with debris. On Oct. 2, the council was presented with an emergency resolution needed to authorize city staff to immediately raze or remove the homes.   Council members approved the resolution, but decided to tell staff to hold off on moving to address the problem. Instead they opted to give Walden Pond, LLC, an opportunity to remove the trailers and improve conditions at its property.   They are going to set deadlines the park owners must meet during the cleanup …

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City Could Raze Crumbling Trailers at Walden Pond

The New Port Richey City Council is being asked to decide tonight whether it wants to authorize workers to immediately clear the site.

New Port Richey city leaders are being asked to decide tonight whether they want the city to immediately rid Walden Pond Mobile Home Park of more than 50 deteriorating, unsafe trailers. The city building department has posted notices of condemnation on 52 of the 77 trailers still standing at Walden Pond. Three additional trailers have already collapsed. Five additional trailers are uninhabitable. Walden Pond has been a concern for city officials for some time. Earlier this summer, the mobile home park's owners ordered residents to leave, but failed to follow legal guidelines for eviction. Since then, some residents have vacated the park; others have remained behind. The dumpsters that served the park's residents have been removed, leaving …

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BlFalconskeep

9:13 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012

Sadly to say, the city has given every opportunity before and after Debbie to get Paul (owner) to clean up and maintain the property. This is a situation that is much like disciplining an unruly child that won't pick up thier toys. The only way to remedy the situation is clean it up yourself and take the toys away because the child will not do as they are supposed to. The city needs to think of …   more ›

Collapsing Trailers Raise Safety Concerns at Walden Pond

City officials are exploring ways to improve conditions at the deteriorating mobile home park.

Three vacant trailers at Walden Pond Mobile Home Park in New Port Richey collapsed recently, and conditions at the park have triggered concerns about public safety issues. People have been taking pieces off of trailers at the park. On Monday, New Port Richey Code Enforcement Officer Liz Nichols expressed concerns to city officials. She sent an email to the New Port Richey Police Chief  with pictures of collapsed trailers that have missing siding, walls and floors. “This is the result of the constant scavenging/scraping of the abandoned trailers at Walden Pond,” Nichols said in the email. "As of this morning there are three trailers that have collapsed over the weekend. The (mobile home park) is deteriorating at a steady pace.” Walden Pond…

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BlFalconskeep

9:23 am on Saturday, October 20, 2012

At one time Walden Pond was a beautiful place that many people wouldn't mind living at. It had a dock going into the pond, well maintained common areas and yards, flowers. It was a very nice place to look at and from what I have been told by an 11 year home owner in Walden Pond, a nice place to live with breezes coming off the Gulf to cool things down while the rest of the city baked. Osprey and …   more ›

Huge Mound of Trash Removed from Walden Pond

The owners have also been fined.

Dumpster Removal at Walden Pond Raises Concerns

New Port Richey's code enforcement officer has issued citations.

Residents of Walden Pond Mobile Home Park in New Port Richey still have water, but they no longer have dumpsters. The trash receptacles have been taken out of the park. People are just leaving their trash and debris in the spots where the dumpsters once were.  Residents were informed by the park’s owners in July that the park was closing at the end of July 31, and residents needed to leave. However, some residents are still there at the park as of Thursday, Aug. 9.   Now there are new signs with big red letters saying “WARNING, PRIVATE PROPERTY. NO TRESPASSING” outside the park.   “It’s just another scare tactic,” said Donna Griffin, who lives in an occupant-owned trailer on rented dirt in the park, regarding the signage, which went up …

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