The Leesburg Shuffleboard Club has filed a lawsuit against the city of Leesburg for donating the land on which its shuffleboard courts were to a nonprofit to build tiny homes for youth in need.The decision was a controversial one, made in late August to donate the property to construct tiny homes for at-risk teens, displacing the shuffleboard club.Following the vote, the shuffleboard club sued the city, bringing on Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini as legal representation.“It is disturbing that members of the Leesburg City Commission are giving away our public parks and taxpayer money to cram in more dense housing – it’s wrong, it’s illegal and it’s corrupt, since it was pushed by a commissioner to his wife’s nonprofit,” Sabatini said. “We need to be protecting all of our parks and recreational areas and stop the rampant growth.”Leesburg Commissioner Jimmy Burry is married to the executive director of the Forward Paths nonprofit.”We’re just looking to give them a start after facing abuse and neglect, a chance to start off life as an adult,” said the organization’s executive director, Denise Burry. Burry said they have been working to find a spot in Leesburg to build 10 tiny homes where these young people could live for free — similar to a project they have in Eustis.”We always have a waiting list, so we’re looking to accommodate the need here in Lake County,” she said.Leesburg declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.
The Leesburg Shuffleboard Club has filed a lawsuit against the city of Leesburg for donating the land on which its shuffleboard courts were to a nonprofit to build tiny homes for youth in need.
The decision was a controversial one, made in late August to donate the property to construct tiny homes for at-risk teens, displacing the shuffleboard club.
Following the vote, the shuffleboard club sued the city, bringing on Lake County Commissioner Anthony Sabatini as legal representation.
“It is disturbing that members of the Leesburg City Commission are giving away our public parks and taxpayer money to cram in more dense housing – it’s wrong, it’s illegal and it’s corrupt, since it was pushed by a commissioner to his wife’s nonprofit,” Sabatini said. “We need to be protecting all of our parks and recreational areas and stop the rampant growth.”
Leesburg Commissioner Jimmy Burry is married to the executive director of the Forward Paths nonprofit.
“We’re just looking to give them a start after facing abuse and neglect, a chance to start off life as an adult,” said the organization’s executive director, Denise Burry.
Burry said they have been working to find a spot in Leesburg to build 10 tiny homes where these young people could live for free — similar to a project they have in Eustis.
“We always have a waiting list, so we’re looking to accommodate the need here in Lake County,” she said.
Leesburg declined to comment on the lawsuit, citing pending litigation.