Court to decide who owns 22 acres of paradise

Florida Keys News

Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Court to decide who owns 22 acres of paradise

Wisteria Island center of feud; lawsuit filed

BY TIMOTHY O'HARA Citizen Staff
tohara@keysnews.com

A local development company has filed a lawsuit to determine who actually owns Wisteria Island off Key West.

The federal Bureau of Land Management gave a preliminary ruling last November that stated the U.S. government owns Wisteria Island, not F.E.B. Corp., which has wanted to develop the 22-acre island for the past five years.

F.E.B. filed suit in fede...

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Wow

Submitted on Sat, 09/01/2012 - 11:10am by Bad Dog

I'm not sure there are enough whaaaambulances for this!

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All the squatters should leave the island now.

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 10:04pm by Capt.Wisteria

All the squatters should leave the island now. The previous owner put the island up as collateral on a loan they never intended on repaying. The Bernsteins got hoodwinked into paying cash for a fake title on a federal property. Now Roger says, "F.E.B. Corp. have paid taxes" Ha, the offshore island was assessed for $75,000, F.E.B. Corp. owes back taxes. Now Roger says, "F.E.B. Corp. managed the island for more than four decades" Actually they never did anything until Monroe County Code Enforcement forced them to clean it up in 2011. Volunteers were the only ones to clean it for decades. Now Roger says, “without any government assistance,” This one island cost Monroe County $180,000 plus in 2011 for shore maintenance removing trash. Monroe County Planning Board, County Commisioners, and County staff have spent over $100,000 and thousands of hours on this single property in recent years. All the squatters should leave the island now, including the Bersteins and F.E.B. Corporation.

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Who owns Wisteria Island

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 2:21pm by Jordan

What we have here is another example of our governmentr picking on the weak. In this case the developewrs can and will vigorously defend their rightful claim to the Island. This is just the tip of the iceberg, Our present system of government is outdated. It needs to be drastically changed. A possible change of administration is not the answer. The system is flawed. We the people NEED TO TAKE BACK OUR GOVERNMENT! Since the end of World War II our country has gone steadily downhill. We are no longer a first rate power. Both China and Russia have surpassed us and unless we change our ways will eventually overpower us. The change we need will not be easily accomplished. We must abolish the House and Senate and all lobbyists. We should institute a system where the President has more power and there is an elected assembly of two delegates per state. These delegates should not be permitted to stand for reelection unless the budget is balanced. I am willing to lead or participate in forming a duly registered group to do this and am aiming for a mass demonstration in Washington in April 2013. If you share my thoughts and wish to participate please let me know. My email address is classiccaddy5@gmail.com [

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Bag Man's making court calls right now.

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 11:21am by Mac

If this is tried anywhere in Monroe County, it's a done deal for the Bernsteins and the Walsh's. The judges in this county as as crooked as they come.

And the director of the Bureau of Land Management sounds as though she's already been bought and paid for.

Look for the residents of Key West to get screwed by developers once again.

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Aren't there any County

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 10:22am by Faye

Aren't there any County records to show who actually owns Wisteria Island or am I delusional in thinking records are kept for this kind of dispute

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Go back to setting fires

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 9:19am by Rabbi Flanagan

I don't understand why refuge managager Anne Morkill keeps issuing prejudicial and uninformed statements regarding the ownership of Wisteria Island. Her expertise is in setting out-of-control fires on Big Pine Key, not title research, which she not conducted.

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The Greed grab continues

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 7:47am by trapper

Some people just don't learn the lessons life gives them.

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They took his tax money on the island every year

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 10:05pm by Sal Gutierrez

that should establish some sort of estoppels. Who's the greedy party?

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Land Grab

Submitted on Wed, 08/29/2012 - 7:00am by

The only land grab was when the Papy family grabbed the island in 1952 using an "agent", political influence and back room dealing. Karma has finally reared it's beautiful head. To say that the Bernstein family has maintained the island for decades is a joke. The island was left untouched until the greedy owners tried to change the density and zoning. That is when they claimed to be responsible landowners and cleaned the island and put up the no trespassing signs and fencing. Too little too late. The Walsh family's flagrant attempt to buy votes in broad daylight for the zoning changes came back to bite them on their hineys. The fluff pieces in the Crotch Color to attempt to sway public opinion were also great comedy.