Three residents representing a group they call "Friends of Anoakia" have sued the city in an attempt to stop demolition of the historic Anoakia estate. Forrest Besocke, Winston Besocke and Michael Mulvehill filed the lawsuit Friday.
Demolition permits have been approved and the project of building new homes where the Anoakia mansion stands is now underway. Artifacts from the mansion have been given to the Arcadia Historical Society and the Arboretum.
The walls came tumbling down Wednesay at the Anoakia Mansion, marking the final demise of the 87-year-old Anita Baldwin estate to make way for a gated tract of houses.
The Anoakia estate will most likely be demolished in three months, but its destruction could prompt the city to identify and protect other historic buildings.
The Court of Appeals issued an emergency stay on the demolition of Anoakia. Until significant unresolved issues are settled the developers were ordered to stop everything.
Residents fighting to save the historic Anoakia mansion from development lost a court battle, as a judge upheld the city's decision to allow demolition of the property.
The Anoakia developer cannot bulldoze the Anita Baldwin mansion without a demolition permit which will not be granted by the city until certain requirements are met.
Construction is under way on the first phase of the luxury homes development on the site of the old Anoakia Mansion. The tract of 31 new homes will be called "Anoakia Estates."
A developer who wants to replace the historic Anoakia estate with a 31-home gated community received tentative approval Tuesday night from the Planning Commission.