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City attorney to pursue lien foreclosure at stalled Washington Square site; fines top $415,000
Summary
After years of halted construction and code violations, the city attorney told commissioners the municipal and environmental fines recorded against the Washington Square property now exceed $415,000 and recommended foreclosure of recorded liens; commissioners authorized the action May 14.
TALLAHASSEE — The city will pursue foreclosure on recorded liens and other remedies at the Washington Square construction site after years of halted work and ongoing code and environmental violations, Deputy City Attorney Lou Norvell told the commission May 14.
"Construction ceased at this site in 2019," Norvell said, and the city has already taken code-enforcement action. "The current fines now exceed $415,000. The fines are secured by liens which have been recorded against the property, and we are looking for your direction," he said.
Norvell recommended the city attorney's office file a foreclosure action on the liens; if the suit proceeds to judgment and sale, the clerk would auction the property and apply proceeds to outstanding city fines. He also said the office is evaluating additional legal remedies to address the unfinished site.
Mayor Pro Tem Diane Williams Cox moved to authorize staff to pursue foreclosure and other remedies; commissioners approved the motion unanimously, 4-0. Commissioners asked whether sidewalk and roadway restoration around the site could be incorporated if the property is sold and redevelopment occurs; Norvell said restoration would typically occur when a new owner redevelops the parcel, but staff and county officials are assessing options to restore sidewalks and the roadway sooner if necessary.
Commissioners cited long-standing public frustration about the site and said enforcement would demonstrate that municipal rules have consequences.
The foreclosure action is intended to recover fines and to prompt restoration or redevelopment that returns the site to productive use and addresses public-safety and right-of-way impacts.
