Historic Everglades Train Depot Getting Railroaded?

Everglades City Code Enforcement and the Collier County Growth Management Department appear to be turning up the heat on the owner of the historic Everglades City Train Depot building. The latter issued a Declaration of Dangerous Building Determination letter to City of Everglades Code Enforcement regarding the Depot. The letter indicates that immediate building repairs could require demolition.

When the Atlantic Coast Line Railroad Depot was built, it was the railway’s southern terminus. It was hailed as the final step in opening Everglades City to the outside world when it was completed in June 1928. Over the years the Depot has been expanded and operated as several different restaurants. Currently, the Depot is not in operation.

Bill Odrey is the current owner of the Depot. He says he wants to save the Depot from condominium developers, who he says want to purchase the property from him. On Monday afternoon, August 28, Odrey was emailed the Declaration of Dangerous Building Determination letter by Terry Smallwood, City of Everglades Code Enforcement. The letter was dated August 18, 2023.

Odrey feels like he’s being targeted.

 “I got railroaded again,” Bill Odrey lamented. "It's very sad that the whole situation came to this.”

The Declaration of Dangerous Building letter, from Frederic B. Club, chief building official for Collier County, is addressed to Smallwood. It comes as a result of an inspection requested by the City of Everglades Code Enforcement for the purposes of determining if the Depot meets the definition of a “dangerous building.”

The letter contains numbered paragraphs listing five dangerous structural conditions or defects from the 2020 Florida Building Code. According to the letter, “The field inspection revealed the building satisfied one or more of the conditions” listed in the letter.

The two-paragraph numbers referenced were numbers 2 and 5: 2). Any portion, member, or appurtenance thereof is likely to fail, or to become detached or dislodged, or to collapse and thereby injure persons. 5). The building, or any portion thereof, is likely to collapse partially or completely because of dilapidation, deterioration, or decay; construction in violation of the Florida Building Code, Building; the removal, movement, or instability of any portion of the ground necessary for the purpose of supporting such building; the deterioration, decay or inadequacy of its foundation; damage due to fire, wind or flood; or any other similar cause.

The letter also warns that, “Based on the inspection findings the building noted above was found to be dangerous and unstable for the safe occupancy of its intended purpose. Immediate repairs up to and including demolition of the structure are required. You are hereby notified that unless the above dangerous conditions are remedied within thirty (30) days from the date hereof, the County will remedy the dangerous condition and the cost thereof will be levied as an assessment against such property.”

The letter goes on to warn that contesting the determination has to happen within 15 days from the date of the notice.

Odrey doesn’t understand why the letter wasn’t shared with him until 10 days after it was written, given the timelines outlined in the document. He has, however, received clarification of the county’s role.

In an email to Odrey from Jeff Letourneau, investigative manager, Collier County Code Enforcement, Letourneau states: "Collier County Code Enforcement would not be the entity that enforces a property maintenance violation in Everglades City. While Collier County does have an interlocal code agreement with Everglades City, Collier County Code Enforcement can only enforce building permit violations as outlined in Section 5(a) (ii) of the agreement.”

Odrey, who is trying to find a lender to help him finance improvements to the Depot, has launched a website, https://savetheevergladescitydepot.com/ for parties interested in his efforts to save the Everglades City Train Depot.