CAPE CORAL, FLA — “They’re 100 per cent wrong,” said Jerome Valenta.
That’s the stance that the Cape Coral nonprofit “Haven of Divine Love,” is taking when it arrives to metropolis management.
“We’ve been in limbo for the previous five several years,” mentioned Valenta, who is the chairman of the group’s board.
The two groups have been duking it out in court, for the last 7 yrs, immediately after the metropolis uncovered some code violations inside of the nonprofit’s chapel.
Court paperwork display damaged tiles, an ant concern, and a rotting staircase were at the heart of the make any difference.
“Even if there was something significantly mistaken with all those stairs, which there was not, but if there was, they could say ‘Okay, you are unable to use these stairs right up until you get them fixed.’ But they can not say that we are not able to use the constructing,” mentioned Valenta.
Ultimately a choose ruled in the city’s favor, the making was deemed unsafe and electric power and h2o ended up cut off, which led to some landscaping issues.
“Logan trees, we dropped palm trees, we shed all forms of other trees. I believe three or 4 of those people statements are for the trees,” he mentioned.
The promises he is conversing about are all outlined in a large 18 million dollar lawsuit the group is now looking to file versus the city.
They are also declaring the metropolis has been harassing them and unfairly billing them for drinking water services, between other issues.
And they want the metropolis to spend up.
That group also owns this residence subsequent doorway, which offers backed housing to seniors and people with disabilities and they claim their ongoing authorized problems with the town have impacted their skill to assist these people out.
“We have by now experienced like 46 of our inhabitants have misplaced all or portion of their subsidies about the several years,” reported Valenta.
That team states they have submitted these complaints right to the town, but they have to give them six months to answer just before they can officially file their suit.
FOX 4 has achieved out to the town for remark. A spokeswoman said the town not to speak on “pending litigation.”
