A showdown is brewing in Dunedin where neighbors are fed up about a collection of junk strewn over a front yard.
They want the city to step in and force the homeowner to clean it up.
City code enforcement has levied almost half a million dollars in liens on the property.
One inspector said the owner thumbs his nose at the system.
The home at the corner of Pasadena Drive and Buena Vista Drive South stands out.
Besides the assortment of cars, you can see a collection of stuff. Some is tacked to the wall, some strewn on the ground.
“It’s a wonderful place to live. It’s a wonderful place to go to eat and have family,” said neighbor Gary Springer.
But Springer isn’t happy about what he and visitors see.
“They kind of look the neighbor like, ‘what’s that?’ And I can’t even explain how frustrated I am with the city not doing anything about it,” he said.
David Ritter is the owner of the home in question. He claims code enforcement is singling him out, when they know of numerous violations committed other neighbors.
“Everything here is legal. And if the city harasses me any more, I am gonna put 500 lawn chairs in the front yard,” said Ritter.
Neighbor, Tom Skubis said he has seen rats and doesn’t like the noise.
It’s a feud that dates back to 2004.
“The guy is slick but I wish he’d move. I really do. But that’s not gonna happen,” said Skubis.
Code inspectors cite Ritter. He fixes some items but they say, violations return.
“And sit over here and watch all the people walk by and say, ‘hey, I love it,’” said Ritter.
But others don’t love it.
“We mean business. I want something to happen. I’m just tired of lip service from the city,” said Springer.
Dunedin code inspectors plan to meet on Tuesday to plan their next move.
They may ask the Pinellas County sheriff to issue a notice to appear to get Ritter in front of a judge.
