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FOX 35 Investigates: Construction site left unfinished in Palm Bay
FOX 35's Esther Bower talks to concerned neighbors and officials after construction site is left unfinished in Palm Bay.
PALM BAY, Fla. - Neighbors are sounding the alarm on a new housing development that’s become a hazard instead.
Residents who live off Palm Bay Road near the project say no work has been done on the construction zone for about a year, and they want the mess cleaned up before someone gets hurt.
Safety hazards and community impact
What they're saying:
Homeowners say they are scared to walk near the property at night, and it’s hard for them to even get around because the sidewalk is full of overgrown grass and trash.
From the property, we could see rotting wood, broken windows, garbage and pieces of balconies falling apart on Thursday.
"It brings transients in, not good, drugs. Police are always here," said Colleen Arnold, who feels unsafe walking her dogs every day.
She isn’t alone.
"It’s an eyesore, and it’s dangerous," said Michael Batcher.
What many are calling a danger zone was supposed to be a new development and bring in more housing.
Developer’s explanation for delays
Nearby signs say the company, D32 Invest, is behind the project.
"We’ve called them. They don’t return our calls. They don’t do nothing," said Arnold.
FOX 35’s Esther Bower called, emailed and heard back from the developer on Thursday.
What they're saying:
In a statement, the company told FOX 35 they’ve struggled with:
"…supply chain disruptions, significant increases in material and labor costs, and budget overruns." They go on to say, "We understand the concerns of nearby residents regarding health and public safety. As part of our renewed efforts, we will take immediate steps to ensure the site is maintained in a manner that prioritizes community well-being while construction resumes."
Council members want to see work start up again as soon as possible.
"I really could care less about what happened," said council member Mike Hammer, who met FOX 35 at the construction site. "I want to care about what we are doing now."
The elected official says the city code is clear.
"You either need to have something going on, or it needs to be taken down," said Hammer.
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The company didn’t give an exact date for when they would start work at the site again, but the city is keeping tabs and neighbors are, too.
"They need to finish it because it’s just making the neighborhood unsightly," said Batcher.
"Please help us, and get it cleaned up because we live here, and it’s horrible here. It’s very unsafe," concluded Arnold.
We also asked the city about the overgrown grass and if they can get out here and trim some of it down, covering the sidewalks.
Council member Hammer says he’s looking into having city crews come out and help with that.
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The Source: This story was written based on information shared by the City of Palm Bay and Palm Bay residents.