Nita Shaw watched as her home at 706 N. Evers St. was demolished Monday, Jan. 5. But, she wasn’t alone.
Beside her was City of Plant City Code Enforcement Manager Tray Towles, who stayed with her for nine hours the first day and came back to check on her during the second day of demolition. And he wasn’t the only one who was there for support. Shaw said neighbors had come up to her and offered prayers. One even stood for awhile with her baby. And the president of Wetherington Tractor Service, Kimball Wetherington, and his crew also wished her well.
“People have given a lot of support,” Shaw said. “It’s been positive. I’m at total peace with it myself.”
The two-story historic home in downtown Plant City was damaged by a fire 10 years ago, while Shaw and her husband, Lowell, were on vacation in Alaska.
Neighbors at a Nov. 24 city commission meeting said that since then it had become invested with rodents, termites, roaches and transients, in addition to being an eyesore.
But it was its structural integrity that caused the commission to unanimously approve the condemnation of the house. Commissioners resolved the building’s deterioration, structural defects and improper design were dangerous to surrounding buildings and their occupants.
When the house was appraised in April 2014, it was determined that it would take $115,000 to repair the house to the point that it would meet the city code’s minimum requirements. After these repairs, the house would be worth $145,000.
Because the cost to repair the house would be more than 50% of the potential value of the house after repairs, Building Division officials issued a notice and order of condemnation.
The Shaws were given until Dec. 24, 2014 to demolish the house. But the Shaws fought for their beloved home.
In a letter to Mayor Rick Lott Nov. 19, Shaw requested an extension on the deadline for demolishing the house so her daughter could purchase the property and fix it up.
“When we purchased N. Evers property … this property was like a beautiful, and dying, ‘old lady,’” Shaw wrote. “I immediately fell in love with her.”
Shaw’s children, who were adults by this time, helped Shaw and her husband, Lowell, with restoration and maintenance on the building and property. But, in June 2004, just six months after the remodeling was complete, the fire struck.
The family used the insurance money to buy another home.
“People ask me why I didn’t use the money to fix up the home,” Shaw said. “I had to have some place to live.”
But, that’s all water under the bridge for Shaw, who said God has helped her through this hard time.
“My favorite verse is, ‘I can do things in Christ who strengthens me,’” Shaw said. “I was angry…But I heard, ‘Nitabelle, be still and know that I am God.’”
Shaw also said the continuing support has been a huge factor. Assistant City Manager of Public Safety Bill McDaniel and Towles had counseled her throughout the process.
“I think, for everyone around here, they don’t want to see it go,” Towles said, watching the demolition on the first day.
Towles lives in a historic home himself.
“I don’t have an axe to grind with the city,” Shaw said. “They’ve been wonderful.”
During the demolition, Wetherington was able to salvage doors, windows, oak paneling and the staircase banister, allowing the house to live on in different forms. The company also tore down an old shed so the Shaws wouldn’t have to worry about disposing it themselves.
Now that the house is reduced to nothing, Shaw is thankful for everything else in her life. Her family is healthy and is active in church. And she will be able to sell the property.
“I’m OK,” Shaw said. “Life comes and goes…Life is up and down. You have to decide which way to walk.”