It’s been less than a year since the last residents of the crumbling Heron Pond community in Pembroke Pines were forced out of their homes, with condominium owners opting to allow the condemnation of the 25-acre property rather than pay the millions that would be needed to make it safely inhabitable again.
Now, the land is on the auction block, a prime opportunity for an investor or developer group to acquire a “blank canvas” at a location that was once home to hundreds of South Florida families.
Heron Pond, officially located at 8400 SW 1st St., comprised 304 units in 19 buildings. Problems became apparent in 2023. By that fall, many families had been ordered to leave after the city hired a consultant who determined “many of the structures are exhibiting severe structural distress.”
Rotted wood columns and walls were found in every building. Rusted stairways were no longer safe to walk, and balconies were being propped up to prevent their otherwise inevitable future collapse.
By the fall of 2024, all the residents were gone, the buildings left behind as a monument to dashed hopes of homeownership and affordable rentals.
The property’s receiver, Daniel J. Stermer of Development Specialists, Inc., directed Avison Young and Fisher Auction to oversee the court-ordered sale, which will take place in three months, on Sept. 25.
Reilly Lockwood, spokeswoman for Avison Young and Fisher, said no bid minimum has been set yet, though a potential buyer might be brought in to offer one before the auction takes place. The property is being sold as-is, which means clearing the site will be the responsibility of the new owners.
Last year, Stermer said at a meeting with tenants that he had a $45 million offer on the property, but he did not elaborate.
Whatever price the land fetches will be divided among the condominium owners, only some of whom lived on the property before it was condemned. The rest were renting their units.
“Obviously the more units they own, the greater their share of the proceeds,” Lockwood said.
The property is west of South University Drive and south of Pines Boulevard. The site is zoned for residential use.
Rafael Olmeda can be reached at rolmeda@sunsentinel.com or 954-356-4457. Follow him on Threads.net/@rafael.olmeda.