He who benefits should pay
To the editor:
Recently, the city of Cape Coral allocated $30,750 from its Community Redevelopment Agency to assist with the demolition costs of a vacant house owned by Nautilus Equity Group, a private investment firm that deals in buying and selling property. This decision raises questions about the use of taxpayer funds for private demolitions, particularly when the potential for profit exists for developers who may benefit from new construction on the site.
The responsibility for demolishing the building should rest with the developer, suggesting that if they were unwilling to take action, a lien should have been placed on the property to cover the costs. This approach would ensure that taxpayers within the CRA are not burdened with expenses related to private real estate, while also holding developers accountable for their investments.
Lou Walker
Cape Coral