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13.x. - (f Ia C -L rn,e4-1,4- <br />5+aef <br />Office of Attorney's Matters 1/24/2020 <br />INDIAN RIVER COUNTY <br />ATTORNEY <br />Dylan Reingold, County Attorney <br />William K. DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney <br />Susan J. Prado, Assistant County Attorney <br />MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Board of County Commissioners <br />FROM: Bill Schutt, Chief, Long Range Planning <br />FROM: William K. DeBraal, Deputy County Attorney <br />DATE: January 28, 2020 <br />SUBJECT: Update on 4730 40th Avenue, Vero Beach, Florida <br />Former Gifford Gardens Apartments <br />The Gifford Gardens property (Property) consisted of 55 individual apartments spread <br />over six single story and two story .buildings on 3.3 acres of property zoned RM -10, <br />residential, multi -family, up to 10 units per acre. This is the highest density that currently <br />exists in the unincorporated County. The development was built in 1970 and operated <br />as a rental complex successfully for approximately 30 to 35 years until the buildings <br />became rundown and were the site of police sweeps and arrests. In 2009, neighboring <br />property owners filed numerous complaints about the garbage, odors and rodents seen <br />in the abandoned buildings. In 2010, Health Department Inspectors, Building Inspectors, <br />Fire Inspectors and the Sheriff's Office conducted an in-depth inspection due to numerous <br />complaints of vandalism, drug use and prostitution activity. The complex was in <br />foreclosure at the time of the inspection. The inspection revealed the deteriorated <br />condition of the units — no plumbing fixtures, exposed wiring with the electricity shutoff to <br />some buildings, missing air conditioners and wall unit heaters, together with numerous <br />broken windows and missing doors. Following the inspection, the Building Official <br />declared the buildings unsafe and ordered them to be repaired or demolished. The then <br />owners conceded the cost of repairs would be more than the value of the buildings and <br />did not contest the Building Official's demolition order. The Board ordered the buildings <br />to be demolished in November 2010 and after public bids were received, all buildings <br />were demolished in June 2011, at a cost of $85,996.74, which was reduced to a lien that <br />attached to the Property. <br />trt <br />