ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. -- Residents of a St. Johns County neighborhood are breathing a sigh of relief after a known drug house was demolished.
According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, over the last year and a half at least two meth labs were uncovered at a trailer home on Powell Road.
Kandy Hawkinberry has lived down the street from the home for 11 years.
She says the house turned her once quiet neighborhood into a haven for drug activity.
"It's embarrassing to have my friends come from other places," said Kandy Hawkinberry, neighbor. "Everybody else tries to keep their houses nice around here and then you see that mess down there."
It took just one hour for demolition crews to tear down the small trailer. According to the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, the structure was deemed unsafe and uninhabitable.
"It did seem like there was a squatting situation here various individuals would come in and only be here to engage in criminal activity," said Corporal Catherine Payne, St. Johns County Sheriff's Office.
According to Hawkingberry, the activity went beyond just drugs.
"Since then, there's been prostitutes walking down the road," said Hawkinberry.
According to Hawkinberry, the demolition was a good first step, but more still needs to be done to combat this problem.
"I worry about the other kids in the neighborhood, coming in contact with it," said Hawkinberry.
The work to demolish the home cost taxpayers $5,000. That amount will go in a lien against the homeowner. If it's not paid, the county will begin foreclosure proceedings.
