Local

Eyesore New Smyrna Beach lot set to get makeover

NEW SMYRNA BEACH, Fla. — An eyesore property in New Smyrna Beach will become the last part of a beautification project for the city.

The empty, overgrown lot, which is covered in grass and leaves, sits along Canal Street and U.S. 1 and it’s one of the main entrances to the city.

Channel 9’s Blaine Tolison learned $15,000 worth of taxpayer money will be spent on the project and it’s already getting a lot of positive feedback from the community.

Friends of the historic Canal Street are moving forward with plans to clean the lot and have it landscaped. The city’s community redevelopment department even awarded the group the $15,000 it will take to get the job done. Residents told WFTV they’re happy about the plan.

“Absolutely, I think it’s desperately needed,” said resident Delores Maylone.

Tourist Concetta Veronie agrees.

“I think it would bring more people to the area. My brother and sister-in-law are here from Pittsburgh. They’re snow birds and I’m definitely bringing them down here,” Veronie said.

According to city records, the city will lease the property from the Florida East Coast Railway, which owns the lot. The $15,000 would cover things like the first year’s lease, plants, an irrigation system and water bills.

After a year, the city will have to pay for the upkeep and the nonprofit group plans to do some fundraising to help offset some of the costs.

The city will pull permits to begin work in the next 120 days.