Daniel Thomas says that when construction crews started work on the I-4 Ultimate Project, he was told it would only be a brief inconvenience. However, the timeline has changed.

  • Homeowner says he wouldn't have bought house if he knew about prolonged work
  • FDOT is saying it is in communication with Daniel Thomas
  • Real estate agent says it's best to always check county records for roadwork

"It was supposed to be six months," explained Thomas. "Now they are saying it's going to be two years."

Thomas bought the property he owns on East King Street and Cornell Avenue in the College Park area less than two years ago which lies just feet away from the I-4 Ultimate Project.

A Google street view still shows what the property used to look like. Yet those images are very different from the area's current appearance.

"Obviously, I can't rent it with this (points to construction). I can't sell it with this going on like this," said an upset Thomas.

Thomas' driveway is completely destroyed and he says that he has not been able to access it since August.

That is concerning for him because he claims that in the next several months he actually plans to move his wife and two children into this house.

He says that if he knew then what he knows now about the construction issues, he would not have bought the property in the first place.

He said part of the property's appeal was how quiet it had the potential to be after I-4 Ultimate work was completed.

What is more are the vibrations that can be felt clearly inside the house from a massive generator that sits just outside his front door.

"You can put a coin on the floor on the living room floor and will vibrate across the room," said Thomas. "And this thing goes 24/7 it doesn't stop. They come in the middle of the night just to refuel it so it doesn't shut off."

The Florida Department of Transportation confirmed that it has been coordinating with Thomas. FDOT stated it will be reconstructing a portion of Cornell Avenue so he will have better access to his driveway.

"I wouldn't have bought this property for half the price," lamented Thomas. "I don't care if it's College Park, downtown, if it's the place to live, there's just no way."

Helen Thompson from Re/MAX Property SW was asked about buying property knowingly near a major construction zone. She said that she would always recommend that the buyer look into the county zoning for the next five years to see what the plan may be zoning, especially if that property backs up to a major road or vacant land.

As for the property value, she would expect Thomas' house to go down in value during the construction but when it is completed, visibility of Interstate 4 and the sound will be the main factors as to how much the property value rises.