JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents are voicing concerns after a day care in Arlington suddenly shut down, leaving families scrambling for answers — and child care.
The building that houses Little Wise Kids Preschool on Lillian Road has been condemned, according to city records. The front door now displays multiple notices, including a stop work order and safety warnings.
The notices were posted weeks ago, but a dad who spoke to News4JAX said no one from the school has been in touch, and he only learned about the closure after driving to the building himself.
He said his children were scheduled to start school on Monday. But when he arrived to drop them off, instead of the staff, he found the signs posted on the front door.
“No explanation. No warning. No communication. Just locked doors and chaos,” the father said. “We have already used our VPK voucher, and we are not sure what to do.”
According to a building permit filed with the city on Monday -- the same day the father learned the building was condemned -- Little Wise needs $20,000 in alterations and repairs after inspectors with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department deemed the building unsafe. They cited unpermitted structural framing and mechanical alterations.
The notices on the building’s front door make reference to unpermitted HVAC work and “multiple fire code violations.”
News4JAX reporter Briana Brownlee found a previous inspection from 2018 in which an inspector deemed the building “extremely unsafe.”
“Several of the trusses that support the roof are broken, and the building can and will collapse. Also, none of the windows are able to be opened, and parts of the foundation have failed. The new owners are not addressing ANY of these issues and are in the process of opening a day care center. This building is unsafe for human habitation. This MUST be stopped,” the inspector stated.
According to documents from the city, Elemental Construction Inc. has been approved to make the code enforcement required repairs to the building, but city records do not indicate when — or if — the day care plans to reopen.
News4JAX is working to contact the day care owner for comment.
Meanwhile, parents are demanding more transparency.
“The lack of communication is unacceptable, and we deserve answers,” one father said.
News4JAX is continuing to follow this developing story and will provide updates as new information becomes available.
