Walden Pond Cleanup Costs Top $143,000

The owners of Walden Pond Mobile Home Park owe a heap of money to the city of New Port Richey, which razed condemned trailers on the property and cleaned up afterward on the taxpayer dime.

Walden Pond, LLC, faces paying at least $143,407.69 to the city, according to City Finance Director Doug Haag. That figure includes the costs of demolition, cleanup, administrative services and attorney fees.  It also includes fines for months of unpaid utility bills.

“That’s a lot of money for the city to have to front,” Haag said.

Some of those costs are set for approval in the City Council consent agenda tonight, March 19. 

The privately owned Walden Pond Mobile Home Park has been a problem property for the city for a while. This past summer, the mobile home park's owners told residents the park was closing and residents needed to leave the property, but they failed to follow legal guidelines for eviction. Since then, some residents have left. Some have stayed behind.

Also left behind were vacant trailers and trash. Stripping of the trailers became an issue. Some trailers have collapsed.

New Port Richey leaders decided in October to have the city pay a contractor to get rid of more than 50 condemned trailers and clean up. The demolition and cleanup started in November, and the condemned trailers are no more. However, there are still people living on the property.

City staff intend to collect the money owed them. They’ve requested that the city attorney start the lien cost recovery process, which will require public meetings.

Walden Pond, LLC, also was charged with about $1,500 in code enforcement fines, said Code Enforcement Officer Liz Nichols. Walden Pond, LLC, paid them all.

She said the park is now in compliance with city code. The park nowners are working with city staff to remove remaining vacant trailers.

Nichols said the property now looks more attractive. Loitering, scavenging and vagrancy became problems in the wake of the park’s announced closure, but things have quieted down, Nichols said. 

Keep track of what's happening at Walden Pond with this record of continuing coverage:

Walden Pond Cleanup Starts

City to Clean Up Walden Pond

Walden Pond Owners Given Chance to Clean Up Property

City Could Raze Crumbling Trailers at Walden Pond

Collapsing Trailers Raise Safety Concerns at Walden Pond

Dumpster Removal at Walden Pond Raises Concerns

Pasco Seeks to Connect Walden Pond Tenants with Aid

Residents Continue to Occupy Walden Pond After Closing Deadline

Pasco Exploring Ways to Help Walden Pond Tenants

Tenants Oppose Removal from Walden Pond

FEMA Canvasses Walden Pond

Tenants Upset About Walden Pond's Closing