JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Tenants at America’s Best Inn were asked to leave the property for renovations, according to a letter Action News Jax obtained Thursday.
Tenants received the letter signed by management that says that the property is closed for renovations and everybody must leave by 3 p.m. Friday.
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Action News Jax spoke with Vickie Eichelberger who stays at the property. She said nobody in charge is answering and they don’t have a lot of options.
“How can you make people leave with less than 24-hour notice when they work?” Eichelberger asked. “This is all we can really afford. I’m on disability and my sons are getting jobs established.”
Action News Jax emailed the city for answers but so far we have not heard back.
Florida Statutes say if the tenant pays month to month, they must have at least a 15-day notice, and if they’re week to week, they need at least 7 days.
Action News Jax’s law and safety expert Dale Carson said unless there are significant, life-threatening concerns, you can’t just throw people out in the streets.
“In Florida, individuals who are renting spaces even on a temporary basis, have rights that have to be played out,” he said. “You have to serve them notice. You have to give them time to get their stuff and relocate.”
All of this comes after police say a 10-year-old’s leg was injured by a bullet or shrapnel on Wednesday. On Tuesday, building one was condemned by the city, deemed unsafe because of structural concerns.
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“I wish we could find another place because I don’t even want my son here, especially after last night,” said tenant Steve LaForm.
Action News Jax also uncovered 826 calls for service from the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to the motel from January 1, 2021 to April 19, 2022. Many of which say they were for disputes, domestic incidents, assaults, trespassing and other types of police investigations.
LaForm said he’s been at the motel for nearly three years and says he pays monthly. He added that he’s not going anywhere.
“They have to get me a court order to get me out of here,” he said.
Action News Jax tried calling the main office but that went to voicemail, saying it was out of service. We also tried calling a phone number given to us by a tenant, who said it was an owner, which also went to voicemail.
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