SWEETWATER, Fla. – Friday marks the first deadline for approximately 5,000 Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park residents to move out and receive the highest incentive package.
Local 10′s Layron Livingston was at the Sweetwater mobile home park Friday where demolition crews were seen removing carports and other structures from vacated mobile homes as the park prepares for closure.
Management officials say 605 of the park’s 900 tenants have accepted incentive packages ranging from $16,000 to $20,000 to vacate by Friday.
Those who remain risk receiving less compensation — or none at all.
Eviction notices were issued last fall, giving residents until May 19 to leave as part of a large-scale redevelopment project.
Many have lived in the community for decades, with some refusing to go without a court order.
“They’re using every single psychological weapon they have against the community,” a 67-year-old resident said. “They want you to feel that they can demolish your house.”
A pending class-action lawsuit has put eviction proceedings on hold, but the incentive offers decrease in March and April.
For now, the future of those still holding out remains uncertain.