City updates on code enforcement at Spring Lake Square properties; owner pulls demolition permit for Floridinos building

Assistant City Manager Bird provided the Winter Haven City Commission with an update on three active code-compliance cases at properties in the Spring Lake Square area, saying the information was “accurate as of today.” The properties are Floridinos at 1919 Eighth Street NW, Chile Verde at 1925 Eighth Street and the Havendale Strip Plaza along Havendale Boulevard.

The city reported that Floridinos was inspected after a tree fell into the building and the city’s building official condemned it; a special magistrate first continued the case and later ordered 120 days for compliance. Assistant City Manager Bird said an asbestos survey was performed and, “As of the twelfth of this month, Wynn Brand's contractor has officially filed for a notice of demolition for a permit for demolition.” Bird added that the permit application was confirmed by city staff the day before the meeting.

The city has accumulated $8,250 in code-enforcement fines on the Floridinos property, and daily fines continue to accrue while the issue remains unresolved. “Until that building is down, that register is still ringing every day, $250,” a city official noted, describing the daily accrual.

City staff told commissioners the special magistrate had authorized the city’s code-compliance team to proceed to demolition if the owner failed to act, but that direction was overtaken when the property owner’s contractor pulled its own demolition permit. “So we cannot demolish it. You can't have two active permits on the property,” the city manager said; staff said that outcome is nonetheless “the desired result” because the owner-led demolition would avoid taxpayer expense.

At the Chile Verde property at 1925 Eighth Street, the city said inspections beginning in October 2024 produced violations and that, after a reinspection, the special magistrate ordered 30 days for compliance and set a $50-per-day fine thereafter. City staff reported 10 violations were originally cited at Chile Verde, two have been corrected and eight remain; the city has assessed $6,150 in fines there.

For the Havendale Strip Plaza, inspections identified 15 violations and the city reported three have been corrected so far. The accumulated fines for that property total $4,650. Examples of the violations cited across properties included fence maintenance, trash and debris, exterior walls in poor condition, roof and drainage issues, sign maintenance and unauthorized advertising on outdated signage.

City staff explained how costs are recovered: statutory guidelines govern what the city may recoup and city costs are certified by affidavit for the magistrate, and some work done by the city (mowing, trash removal, demolition) can be assessed back to the property as a special assessment and, if unpaid, become a lien on the tax bill. The city also procured an asbestos survey for the Floridinos property; staff said that cost will be added to the property’s assessed expenses.

Commissioners asked about patterns for repeat violators and reductions in fines. The city attorney explained the city follows Chapter 162, Florida Statutes, particularly section 162.09, permitting fines up to $250 per day for a first violation, up to $500 per day for a repeat violation and, under certain findings, fines not to exceed $5,000 per violation. The attorney added that magistrates may reduce enforcement fines in some circumstances but that the city’s documented costs are not reduced.

City staff said they will refine policy recommendations to prevent delays that arose when the city secured a condemned building and then could not enter it without amending the magistrate’s order, and they are prepared to proceed with a city-led demolition should owner-led work not occur.

Ending: City staff said the owner-led demolition permit for the Floridinos building should lead to faster removal; fines and special assessments remain in place and city staff will return with more details or next steps if the owner fails to complete demolition or compliance.