A property that has long been a source of concern for residents and law enforcement in Shalimar is set to be demolished and redeveloped, marking the end of a years-long struggle to address crime and public health issues at the site.

• The property at 34 9th Avenue, which has been the subject of numerous complaints and law enforcement actions over the past several years, was recently acquired by residential contractor Jared Larimer, owner of JNL Solutions. Larimer plans to clean up the property for a future build of a new single-family residence on the lot.

This development comes after years of efforts by local officials, law enforcement, and community members to address ongoing problems at the property, which had become known as a hub for drug activity and other criminal behavior.

Okaloosa County Sheriff Eric Aden, who has been involved in addressing issues at the property throughout his tenure, expressed relief at the latest developments.

“All good things come to those who wait,” Aden said. “Unfortunately, the community had to wait a long time. But we do truly believe that we can now see the sun shining through the clouds that they’ve had to live with for the last five years plus.”

A history of problems

The property at 34 9th Avenue has been a persistent source of trouble for the community. According to Sheriff Aden, in the past five years alone, the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has responded to 266 calls at the address, ranging from welfare checks to reports of drug activity, prostitution, and other criminal behavior.

• “That is a ton,” Aden said. “That’s 4.6 [calls] per month. Imagine if we were at your house almost five times a month. It’s insane.”

The issues at the property have not been limited to criminal activity. Neighbors and county officials have long complained about code violations, including accumulated trash, abandoned vehicles, and unsanitary living conditions.

Jessica Davis, who has lived in the neighborhood for nearly four years, described the impact on nearby residents.

“We actually avoided going down 9th Avenue to not have to look at the house,” Davis said. “We saw it day-in and day-out. And then our builder, Tracy Acree, made a large investment that he did not have to. He built a very large, tall, brand new privacy fence to help sell us on the house.”

Law enforcement action and ongoing challenges

The Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office has conducted multiple operations at the property in recent years, including a major raid in January 2023 that resulted in 13 arrests. However, addressing the ongoing issues at the site proved challenging due to various factors, including homestead rights that limited the county’s ability to take action.

Sheriff Aden described the conditions encountered during law enforcement operations at the property as “deplorable,” noting that officers had to wear hazard masks due to the unsanitary conditions and pest infestations.

• “If you haven’t been in a roach-infested home before, you might not understand this, but a roach gives off a toxic chemical,” Aden said. “My SWAT team, who’s gone in some pretty rough homes, they told me this is the worst home they’ve ever been in in their career.”

Aden also noted that the property lacked running water and electricity, with occupants living in extremely unsanitary conditions.

Community impact and collaboration

The ongoing issues at 34 9th Avenue have had a significant impact on the surrounding community. Neighbors reported feeling unsafe and concerned about the effect on their property values and quality of life.

“It made me scared for my children, at some points, to be out at certain times, because there was constant traffic, and it was all happening in the back alley,” Davis said.

Addressing the problems at the property required collaboration between multiple agencies and stakeholders, including the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office, county commissioners, code enforcement officials, and private developers.

Okaloosa County Commissioner Carolyn Ketchel, whose district includes the property, worked closely with Sheriff Aden and other officials to find a solution and help move this along. The county implemented fines for code violations, which eventually accrued to significant amounts.

• “We all worked as a team to try and get this thing [resolved],” Aden said. “But ultimately, the county had the task of doing the writ of possession. We are the ones who serve it.”

New ownership and plans for redevelopment

The acquisition of the property by JNL Solutions marks a turning point in the long-running saga. Realtor Nikki Segraves Wood, who has been involved in the project, expressed excitement about the development.

• “JNL Solutions has successfully taken a major step forward!” Wood said. “After working tirelessly with county officials and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Department, he has officially secured the property, and today, after nearly six long months, the writ of possession is finally being served!”

Wood added that the plans include removing all existing structures and abandoned vehicles from the property.

“Soon, this eyesore will be no more! The dilapidated dwelling, along with abandoned cars, RVs, and boats, will be bulldozed and cleared away,” she said. “Exciting plans are already underway with a local builder to bring a brand-new single-family residence to this rejuvenated space!”

Community reaction and future outlook

The news of the property’s acquisition and planned redevelopment has been met with relief and excitement from neighboring residents.

• “My neighbors just said that the day the house comes down, we’re all meeting in the back alley and we’re having a celebratory drink and a block party,” Davis laughed.

She added that the redevelopment is expected to have a positive impact on property values and quality of life in the neighborhood.

“For us, it’s going to put our property value where it needs to be. And more importantly, it’s going to allow those of us who have kids to have that fun neighborhood-feel of having a great childhood, even just feeling safe to walk our dogs,” Davis said.

Sheriff Aden expressed optimism about the future of the area, predicting a reduction in crime and calls for service.

• “I truly believe that Shalimar will be safer,” Aden said. “We won’t have people that have a criminal element about them congregating in that centrally located area anymore.”

Lessons learned and future prevention

The prolonged issues at 34 9th Avenue have prompted local officials to consider ways to prevent similar situations from developing at other properties in the future. Sheriff Aden mentioned ongoing efforts to enhance county ordinances to address such issues more quickly and effectively.

“We are working on trying to enhance the county ordinance to have a little more teeth and to be able to go after situations like this quicker so that this process doesn’t happen,” Aden said.

The sheriff emphasized the importance of collaboration between law enforcement, county officials, and private developers in addressing community issues.

• “It’s vitally important for the success, ultimately,” Aden said.

With the planned demolition and construction of a new home, the neighborhood hopes to turn the page on a difficult chapter and embrace a brighter future. As Sheriff Aden noted, “I think that they are all smiling today.”

For Larimer, while it marks the end of a tumultuous legal process to get to this point, he knows there is work to be done, not just in Shalimar, but across other areas of our community. As he says, “I buy houses, any condition, cash!”