ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. — The Expressway Authority has spent $8 million to acquire a portion of land needed to connect Apopka and Sanford as part of the Wekiva Parkway expansion.
Investigative reporter Daralene Jones spoke with a family who is refusing to give up part of their history.
Holder Farm is tucked away on 50 acres in Apopka. The Holders said their family fought through two orange grove freezes, and they are raising beef cattle. The Holders are also fighting in court with the Expressway Authority over 17 acres needed for the Wekiva Parkway, which would start where State Road 429 and State Road 414 end.
"Now I know what the Indians feel like," said Bryan Holder.
The authority is offering $1.1 million for the land, running down the middle of the family's farm.
"Money isn't going to replace that mom was born and died in this house," Holder said.
The area where the highway would be built leads directly to the family home. That has been there more than 100 years.
"All of a sudden, something is just plopped over where you grew up," said Jerry Holder.
The $1.6 billion project was paid for with a combination of toll money and taxes.
"You've got growth out there that the local smaller roads are not able to accommodate," said Mary Brooks, who is overseeing the project.
The Expressway Authority has already spent $8.7 million to acquire land. That's just for 11 of the 131 parcels needed. WFTV found out that 66 properties, including the Holder property, are caught up in court.
When asked whether the Expressway Authority could do without some of the land, Brooks said, "Not if you're going to build a 25-mile, you know, ultimate six-lane parkway with all of the amenities that go along with that."
"They make all these dots and dashes on your property and they come out and say, 'Here you go. We made this decision and you as the farmer should be happy,'" said Bryan Holder.
Construction on the first phase of the Expressway Authority's portion of the Wekiva Parkway is scheduled to start in February or March.
WFTV
