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TPI process inches along with another building demolition

By Staff | Feb 20, 2019

Crews from Honc Deconstruction tore down the old tattoo parlor building at the base of the bridge early Friday morning. JESSE MEADOWS

Locked up in litigation, TPI is doing what it can to proceed with Margaritaville.

Last Friday, they demolished a vacant one-story former tattoo parlor at the base of the bridge that had become an eyesore.

“It wasn’t that big of a building, so I don’t know that it makes a dramatic difference at the base of the bridge, but it looks better,” said John Gucciardo, spokesperson for the project.

The building behind it, an old medical center, will be the next to come down, he said.

They expect that demolition in about two months.

“You have to do asbestos testings, and that building we took down the other day didn’t have any asbestos issues, so that was easier to get at,” he said.

“We get it, the community would rather not see those vacant buildings sitting the way they are, but on the other hand, we can’t do what we really want to do, which is level them all and start the new project, so we do what we can.”

Town Attorney John Herin gave council a litigation update at a meeting on Feb. 4.

There are two lawsuits filed by resident Chris Patton against the Town of Fort Myers Beach regarding the Margaritaville project.

The first suit deals with whether the Town had the authority to issue the approvals for the project.

Herin told council this case is “95-99 percent done.”

“All the briefs have already been filed, the argument has taken place, all we’re waiting for is an opinion from the judge,” he said.

That opinion could have a significant impact on the second case, which Herin called a “companion lawsuit.”

Gucciardo said the judge could make a decision within the next month.

“If it’s the decision that we expect to see, which is, yes, the town had the authority to give these approvals, that could impact whether or not the plaintiff wants to go ahead with the other lawsuit,” he said.

It’s more subjective, alleging inconsistency with the comprehensive plan and questioning whether or not the Town should have approved the project.

Due to the fact that the second case will require witnesses and expert testimony, it could be costly.

“The dollars start to add up on the second one,” said Gucciardo.

For now, it’s a waiting game, and TPI will continue to focus on the unoccupied buildings they can take down, bit by bit.