Holmes Beach deemed a rental property near the beach unfit for occupancy.
Holmes Beach Police Chief Bill Tokajer, city staff and West Manatee Fire Rescue District fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowsi March 18 condemned a multifamily building at 2809 Ave. E due to structural hazards. Two of the three units were occupied.
The property is owned by developer Shawn Kaleta and Beach to Bay Investments, of which Kaleta is title president, according to sunbiz.org.
JT Thomas, the city’s code compliance supervisor, told The Islander March 18 that the city began investigating a complaint made on the property.
Thomas said staff contacted tenants at the property and immediately noticed issues: dilapidated exterior stairs front and back, electrical issues and missing wall panels.
Building official Neil Schwartz, Kwiatkowski and Tokajer inspected the property and deemed it a hazard to public safety.
Tokajer told The Islander March 18 the decision was made due to the damage found, including a structural beam that is “rotted through and falling down,” which posed a risk to the health of its inhabitants — one in the lower unit and four upstairs, including children.
“It’s definitely an unsafe structure,” Tokajer said.
The property — three annual rental units — was tagged as unfit for human habitation.
“No one can be in there until we meet with the owners, building official, fire marshal and chief of police,” Thomas said. “The case is now being handled by law enforcement.”
Thomas also issued a notice March 18 to Kaleta on four violations of city code at the property and asked him to contact the city within 10 days to create a plan to mitigate the issue.