Forest Lawn Cemetery in Florida: $300,000,000 worth of equipment rental
by admin

A former Florida resident who is a landowner and a retired general contractor says the city of Tampa has been trying to rent out his land to a lawn equipment rental company.
Edgar J. Lee, a Florida native, said he’s been renting the land since he bought it in 1984 for $400,000.
Lee said he paid the property owner $300 per year in taxes, but he didn’t know what was in store for him.
He said he was shocked when he heard about the city trying to sell his land and that the city didn’t even give him a chance to ask.
“I just wanted to see what was going on,” Lee said.
“What I saw was the city was trying to rip me off and I said, ‘What do you want me to do?'”
Lee said his land has been in the family for generations.
“It’s the land of the people, it’s a beautiful piece of land,” Lee told the Orlando Sentinel.
“We’re trying to protect it from being torn down.”
City officials say the property belongs to the city and the state, and Lee says they don’t want to let the property sit vacant for years.
“If you are looking for an excuse to tear down, I’m sure there are some people that would do it,” Lee continued.
Lee was told he was owed more than $300 million by the city, but says that was only a fraction of what he owes.
“The land is worth $1.8 billion,” Lee explained.
“So if you want to be very clear about it, it doesn’t matter how much you think you are owed.”
The city said the city is in the process of contacting the landowner to see if they have any other options.
A former Florida resident who is a landowner and a retired general contractor says the city of Tampa has been…