Sweetwater's Li'l Abner Mobile Home Park residents fight to stay as vacate deadline arrives
Dozens of people still living at the Li'l Abner Mobile Home Park in Sweetwater are facing the official deadline to vacate the property this Monday, months after a vacate order triggered protests, lawsuits and controversy over demolition practices.
Residents gathered at the park early Monday, some carrying signs and rent receipts, saying they are prepared to stay until they are forcibly removed.
The families, who own their mobile homes but rent the land beneath them, say they've continued paying monthly lot rent — $1,180 until recently. For May, the charge dropped to about half that.
"We know we have to leave," said resident Enrique Zelaya, "but in different conditions. The owner of the land has to pay us for us to leave — and the right amount of money. I paid $160,000 for my trailer, and he knew it."
Residents say they were first notified in November 2024 that the land had been sold and they would have to leave by May 19, 2025.
Those who agreed to leave by January 31 received a $14,000 compensation offer, but many — like Zelaya — stayed, saying the offer was not enough. Zelaya also said he purchased his home just four months before the letter went out, claiming the owner was aware of the impending sale at the time.
Li'l Abner demolition amid health concerns
Demolition at the site resumed in March, with residents and their attorneys saying the work was unsafe. That month, one trailer caught fire — and was torn down just four days later, raising red flags among those still living nearby.
"I'm sure they did not comply with all the regulations there is to manage asbestos," Zelaya said at the time. "Most of these trailers are pre-1980 — 1977 — they're likely to have asbestos."
David Winker, the attorney representing remaining residents, filed a lawsuit against the park's owner and questioned the methods used in the demolition, claiming that protocols like water suppression, a key safeguard against airborne asbestos, were not being followed.
In late March, the company faced $108,466 in fines after asbestos was found in demolition debris. County officials tested 24 samples of debris from four homes that were demolished last year and found asbestos in some of the samples.
Owner, city of Sweetwater said demolition was legal
The Urban Group, which represents the property owner, said all work was done in compliance with Miami-Dade County regulations.
"We are committed to the continued safety of our community and began permitted demolition of vacated mobile homes today following the protocol required by the County," the firm said in a statement in March. "Demolition and cleanup will continue until the park is clear."
According to both Miami-Dade's Department of Environmental Protection and the City of Sweetwater, the park's owner had the necessary permit to proceed with demolition, including compliance with asbestos requirements. CBS News Miami reviewed a document dated March 13, 2025, showing that the demolition permit was granted.
Residents plead for compassion
While the paperwork may be in order, residents said the process has been heartless.
"They started working at 7 a.m., [and] I have asthma," said Amparo Albernas in March, who lived next to a trailer that was demolished. "There is no consideration for anybody."
"There are families, human beings still living here — please have some consideration," added Miguel Hernandez, another resident.
Despite the lawsuits and public outcry, the deadline to leave has now arrived, and the families who remain say they're not going without a fight.
