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Neighbors hope 'eyesore' home in Port St. John gets fixed soon

A vacant home in Port St. John has been an eyesore in the community for years, and neighbors said they are fed up.
Some people believe it may have been initially damaged during the 2004 hurricanes.
The roofless home is on the 900 block of Elkcam Boulevard.
The doors are boarded up, a gate is broken, and the damaged windows are open. Neighbors said they have seen people inside.
"I don't know how they can even salvage it," said neighbor Joe Stephenson.
In 2011, it was declared unsafe, and taxes hadn't been paid on the home since 2009.
In May of last year, it was sold at an auction, and the yard was cleaned up.
But neighbors still believe something needs to be done with the home.
"I'm tired of it. I want this house either build up or force them to bulldoze it down," said Stephenson.
The new owner inherited fines of roughly $18,000 from two past code enforcement cases.
This year, county commissioners reduced those fines to $11,000 and gave the homeowner 180 days to put windows, doors and a roof on it.
Code enforcement said that deadline is next Monday, and so far, there hasn't been a permit application for a new roof.
Code enforcement said that likely means it will have to open a new case, with the owner likely facing new fines, while neighbors are left wondering what it's going to take to get it cleaned up.
"It's an eyesore in the neighborhood and, I believe, dragging our property values down," said Stephenson.       
The owner sent an email to Channel 9 Friday, saying plans are being drawn up to fix the home.
She expected to submit the plans to the county for permits within the next few weeks.

Cox Media Group

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