Neighbors are relieved they could soon say farewell to a battered, hurricane-damaged house on Fort Myers Beach, rotting in place since Ian.
The dilapidated home is across the street from the Pink Shell Resort on Estero Boulevard, with shredded siding, a balcony barely hanging on, and an abandoned boat in the yard.
The property owner's attorney made a promise to apply for a demolition permit within the next fifteen days and tear it down thirty days after getting that permit, in front of a special magistrate Tuesday morning.
This comes after months of legal back-and-forth between the town and the owner, fighting the town, deeming the structure "unsafe."
The demolition promise is news neighbors and business owners have waited to hear for years.
Pink Shell Resort’s general manager, Bill Waichulis, says it’s not just bad for business — it’s a safety concern.
“Little kids see that and think it’s a playhouse,” he said. “It’s only fenced on three sides. You can get to it pretty easily. And we worry from a safety standpoint, someone's going to get hurt."
Waichulis says it’s been hard watching most of the island bounce back from Ian ... While this one property stayed frozen in time.
“It’s like a reminder of a bad dream,” he said. “You look at the rest of the island, and it’s back. But then there’s that.”
Chris Glaser, a realtor who sells beachfront properties on Fort Myers Beach, hopes this house coming down is just the beginning.
“There’s quite a few homes that still need to be torn down,” he said. “Maybe this will finally push some of those other property owners in that direction.”
For now, town leaders say they'll be watching the timeline closely. If the owner doesn’t follow through, legal options are still on the table.