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Dade City vote razes ante

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By LAURA KINSLER

lkinsler@tampatrib.com

Published: July 20, 2009

DADE CITY - For decades, it has been the city's worst eyesore. The old Kash n' Karry shopping center on the U.S. 98 Bypass was a magnet for vagrants, and city officials were powerless to do anything about it.

But last week, city commissioners voted unanimously to proceed with litigation to force the owners of the dilapidated 40-year-old shopping center to tear it down.
City Attorney Karla Owens said she would seek a court order against John-Mary Enterprises, also known as the Greco family trust, which has owned the former shopping center for 15 years.

"We have struggled for years to get them to rehab that building - to no avail," Owens said. "We're asking the judge to mandate that they take it down at their expense. If they don't do it, they would be in contempt of court."

The grocery store property has been vacant since the Greco trust bought it.
City officials estimate it will cost from $64,000 to $120,000 to demolish the building.

Laura Kinsler

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