Nearly a month after News 6 first reported on a property covered in shopping carts, discarded furniture and piles of debris, the clutter remains, and the city of Apopka is preparing to take another step in its code enforcement case.
The home, located at 2375 Partnership Hills Drive, first drew attention in a News 6 report in September. When News 6 returned Thursday, much of the debris was still scattered across the front yard.
Across the street, longtime neighbor Carol Hankins, who has lived in the neighborhood for approximately 30 years, said she has seen little progress.
“It hasn’t changed at all. The same trash, the same area. It’s all the same. Hasn’t changed,” Hankins said.
What the city is doing
According to city code enforcement records, the property was the subject of an August 18 hearing, during which a hearing officer ordered corrective action by September 2.
A city inspection conducted September 3 determined the required corrections had not been completed. Code Enforcement Officer Joe Lebron subsequently filed an affidavit of noncompliance.
Now, city officials say a lien order is scheduled to be signed during a code enforcement hearing on Tuesday, October 20.
A lien could create a financial obligation tied to the property, but the upcoming hearing does not necessarily mean the debris will be removed immediately.
Homeowner responds to concerns
During Thursday’s follow-up visit, News 6 spoke with homeowner Thomas Klinker about the condition of his property and his plans to address the accumulating debris.
Klinker explained that some of the items outside came from inside the house as part of renovations he has been working on. He also acknowledged using shopping carts to transport materials to the property.
“Been working on cleaning it up,” Klinker said.
When asked how much longer he expected the cleanup to take, he offered a timeline.
“By the end of next week, this place will be looking cleaned up,” Klinker said.
That timeline would extend beyond the city’s scheduled October 20 hearing.
A neighbor hopes for more than enforcement
Although Hankins remains unhappy with the property’s condition, she believes the situation calls for more than simply holding the homeowner accountable.
“No, the city’s not, but it’s not really their responsibility I don’t think. Um, Thomas needs help. If they would just, you know, give him some help,” Hankins said when asked whether the city was doing enough.
Historical photographs from the Orange County Property Appraiser show the home with a substantially clearer front yard in previous years, a noticeable contrast to its present condition.
For now, questions remain about how quickly the property can be cleaned up and what additional enforcement action the city may take.
News 6 will continue following the city’s code enforcement proceedings and Klinker’s stated cleanup timeline.