Lehigh Acres homeowners continue efforts on clearing abandoned construction lot

LEHIGH ACRES, Fla. —

Leslie Kinsey and her husband Steve Strickler of Lehigh Acres say they've been trying for months to clear the eyesore in front of their house. The two first bought it as a fixer-upper in June, and it's been filled with trees, trucks, rocks and construction debris since then.

"We have this eyesore," said Kinsey. "We'd like to see it better. That's all."

Kinsey and Strickler say the lot next to the house received several code violations for the debris and vehicles left in it. The latest violation, currently sitting on the front of the property, comes from Jan. 8.

"It's frustrating that it takes so long to get something [done]," added Strickler.

The owner of the lot, Mandujano Land and Hardscaping, says they would be open to reopening negotiations to sell the lot to the homeowners so they could clean it up themselves.

However, they said they would first need to close their current construction permit for the site.

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