JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The old, overgrown cemetery in Northwest Jacksonville is buried under thick brush and thousands of dollars in fines.
The Spiers Brown Roberts Cemetery is located west of 33rd Street on Spires Avenue.
Neighbors said the property has been neglected for years, and city records show nuisance citations dating back to 1997.
Currently, there are more than $76,000 in fines, according to city officials.
Neighbors expressed frustration, saying no one comes to maintain or mow the cemetery.
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Barry B. Ansbacher, a board-certified real estate attorney in Florida, explained that abandoned cemeteries are not unusual in the state.
“The owners of those cemeteries are required to have a trust fund so that there’s an income stream for perpetual maintenance to avoid these,” Ansbacher said. “When you’re dealing with historical cemeteries, obviously, that was never set up. There’s nobody left around that’s taking care of the cemetery.”
The community wants the cemetery cleaned up, but it remains unclear who is responsible for its upkeep.
According to the deed, the property is owned by a construction company with an Ohio P.O. box.
Further research revealed the company is based out of Delaware. News4JAX was unable to find any direct contact information for the company.