SWEETWATER, FLA. (WSVN) - Miami-Dade County is hitting a Sweetwater mobile home park with a hefty fine.
The county said the Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park, which is undergoing demolition to make way for a new project, must pay a total of $108,466 after an inspection found asbestos in the demolished buildings.
In a notice to the developers dated March 20, the county wrote:
On December 6th, 2024, DERM representatives inspected the above-referenced property and documented the demolition for four mobile home structures. Additionally they collected 24 samples from the debris piles of the four mobile homes that were demolished and were tested for asbestos.
Of the four piles of debris surveyed, three of them tested positive for asbestos.
The county said the property did not follow the proper avenues to survey for asbestos prior to demolition.
However, the property owners dispute the county’s claim.
The City of Sweetwater said they have since acquired the proper permits to carry out continued work.
The ongoing saga began last November when residents were told the company planned to demolish all of the homes so they were being evicted.
Some residents left while others have stayed and are currently suing the developer, Miami-Dade County and the City of Sweetwater.
The residents who remain have also expressed concern over their lack of safety and security.
“Some of these people are going to vacate due to health reasons if they’re actively demolishing 600 vacant trailers around them. 600 vacant trailers that are most likely going to test positive for asbestos,” said Melissa Martin, a resident.
“The air, the water, everything was tasting weird. We’re not breathing good. People are getting sick much easier, it’s exhausting,” said area resident Arianna Matienzo. “We’re suffering. We can’t breathe.”
Monday, residents protested at a law office on West Flagler Street in Coral Gables and the Sweetwater Building Department.
“No, please. No demolition,” said a resident.
“They can’t take our homes like that, easily. We need homes, we need help, where can we go?,” said Kenneth Tellez.
They said they had no idea that they were living with asbestos around them until recently.
‘It looks so horrible. It makes anybody sad,” another resident.
The property owner gave residents until May to leave the property.
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