Tenants of Lime Tree and Sunset Cove are ordered to be out by Monday.
Residents watch as a demolition crew brings in a front end loader Friday. By Friday evening, about 20 mobile homes, some complete with furniture and kitchen items, were destroyed or partially torn down in the two parks in Winter Haven.
Buy Photo PAUL CRATE | LEDGER MEDIA GROUP PHOTOS
Buy Photo PAUL CRATE | LEDGER MEDIA GROUP PHOTOS
Published: Friday, December 16, 2011 at 11:02 p.m.
Last Modified: Friday, December 16, 2011 at 11:02 p.m.
WINTER HAVEN | Standing amid the destruction of surrounding mobile homes, Budd and Dawn Kuyper were worried Friday about where they will live next week.
The couple said a representative of First Bank Florida in Miami told them Friday that they have to be out of their home in Lime Tree mobile home park by Monday.
They are two of 20 or so residents remaining in the park who have the same problem.
"It's the holidays, and we've looked at a two-bedroom apartment, and that's $600 a month without utilities," Dawn Kuyper said. "We can't afford that."
Rents at the park range from $200 to $400 a month based on the size of the mobile home and whether the tenant owns it or rents it. Electricity is included in the rent.
On Wednesday, a construction company brought in an excavator and started tearing down abandoned mobile homes in the park, which is under receivership along with the neighboring park, Sunset Cove.
By Friday evening, about 20 mobile homes, some complete with furniture and kitchen items, were destroyed or partially torn down in the two parks, which are directly across U.S. 17/92 from Winter Haven Airport.
The Kuypers and fellow resident Trina Smith said the demolition began without warning and has unnerved them.
The name of the construction company doing the work could not be confirmed Friday evening.
First Bank Florida in Miami has the property under foreclosure, according to court records. Bank officials could not be reached for comment Friday evening.
