Local

After years of eyesore complaints, Pic N Save in Longwood finally torn down

LONGWOOD, Fla. — An eyesore on one of Longwood's busiest roads is finally being torn down, Channel 9 has learned.

After 20 years of complaints, city leaders were able to get the old Pic N Save at State Road 434 and Rangeline Road knocked down.

Channel 9 was there as Seminole County residents stopped and took photos of the old building as bulldozers went to town on it.

Several years ago there were plans to turn the abandoned spot into a development, utilizing Island Lake, which is tucked behind the property.

When the recession hit, the plan fell through.

Eventually the city's patience ran out, so it ordered the bank to clean up the deteriorating property or tear it down.

The store's wall was one of the other roadblocks in the project since it's attached to another store in the complex, but the bank agreed to replace that part so demolition could begin.

"This is a positive thing," said City Commissioner Bob Cortes. "We are hoping for redevelopment here, redevelopment as soon as the construction is all done on 434."

Demolition on the 63,000-square-foot building is expected to be finished in the next few weeks.