ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – Only our News 6 cameras were there as work began Tuesday to demolish an abandoned church building in Pine Hills that has been a problem spot for years.
We’ve been following the complex history of the property off of North Hiawassee Road and the community’s plea to get results after multiple fires.
In Feb. 2024, investigators released pictures of a man they were looking for after a fire damaged about 80% of the building and caused the roof to collapse on the 20,000-square-foot-structure. Just over a year later, firefighters returned to the property after another fire in March.
It was the last straw, and a spokesperson for Orange County told our News 6 team they would be stepping in for an emergency demolition because it is a threat to the “health, safety, and welfare of the community.”
Jason Reynolds, the manager of the Neighborhood Services Division, said the demolition will be a service to the community. He met our crew on site Tuesday morning after we’ve been following up.
“We don’t take it lightly that we have to demolish a structure, but we are in the heart of Pine Hills. There’s a neighborhood there, a neighborhood here, and this property presents a nuisance to the county,” said Reynolds. “Anytime the county is able to come in and address a public safety concern on behalf of the community we consider that a success for Orange County and a success for Pine Hills.”
Reynolds said it will take a few days to tear down the structure, and about two weeks to complete the full demolition.
Orange County hired a contractor to do the work for $238,000. News 6 reporter Catherine Silver asked what responsibility the property owner has.
“The county will pay the contractor to do the work. We will then send an invoice to the property owner for the cost. If the property owner does not pay that invoice, a lien will be placed on the property for the cost of that demolition,” Reynolds said.
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Online property records show the site has been owned by the Northwestern Learning Center, since it was sold in 2012 by the Agape Christian Community Academy.
A spokesperson for Orange County told our News 6 team the property has had a total of 17 code violations on the property dating back to 2010. Two of those cases are still unresolved as of Tuesday, including fire safety violations. The total fine to date is $1,823,000, according to the county.
Reynolds said once the buildings are demolished, the code enforcement violations will be in compliance. The property owner will still have to settle the fines and pay for the cost of the demolition.