Fairview Mini Storage in Orlando, Fla., is in hot water with Orange County authorities for allegedly allowing tenants to run unlicensed car-repair shops out of its units. A magistrate judge last year found the self-storage operator guilty of numerous violations and set fines of $250 per day. The facility at 4211 N. Orange Blossom Trail has racked up $82,000 in business-code violations but remains operational despite the county placing a lien against the property, according to the source.
Sheriff deputies have responded to calls about the self-storage facility 175 times this year, the source reported. Earlier this week, officers responded to an onsite shooting that allegedly occurred over a dispute about a car.
"The shooting was expected. It should have been expected. Our county leaders should have expected that event taking place," said Joe Fontana, a resident in a neighboring condominium complex. The condo association has submitted several e-mails to county officials asking them to take action, the source reported.
"We have businesses operating here with explosive liquids, gasoline, diesel fuel," Fontana told the source. "There are no fire-sprinkler systems in any of those units to suppress [a blaze]."
Residents are also concerned the unpermitted mechanic shops may be dumping oil and other contaminates into nearby Lake Fairview, according to the source.
Auto-shop signs are visible on several units at the facility. Some tenants told the source they were licensed, while others said they didn’t need a permit to work on their own vehicles. Since conducting an investigation last summer, code-enforcement officers indicated “many of the businesses do not have a permit.” Other than continuing to fine the facility, officials said no further action can be taken.
