Stiltsville is a community of seven elevated homes built along Biscayne Bay. While residents own the structures, the land was leased from the state of Florida under a 25-year agreement signed in 1975.
In 1980, however, the land was transferred to the Biscayne Bay National Park. While the National Park Service honored the residents' existing leases, which were set to expire this month, officials say they cannot renew them because federal rules prohibit private property on park grounds. They plan to tear down the homes.
For now, the homeowners have managed to get a lease extension until December and are marshalling resources to get the land transferred back to Florida.
Residents, local politicians and history buffs say the homes are an important part of the area's cultural history. In the 1950s, Stiltsville was notorious as home to gamblers, drinkers and ne'er-do- well types.
The remaining homes (there were about 30 originally) are included in area history tours. But a recent attempt to have them declared historical landmarks failed because they aren't old enough.
Florida Governor Jeb Bush has expressed his desire to have ownership of the property revert back to the state, and several members of Congress from the area are pushing federal legislation to save the homes. Environmentalists, however, argue that the homes impede preservation of the natural area and are pushing for their demolition.
