FORT PIERCE — Demolition has commenced on the sprawling 1.1 million-square-foot South Florida Logistics Center 95, just one day before Stonemont Financial Group (SFG) was summoned to appear before a Special Magistrate Judge in St. Lucie County.
The massive warehouse, originally intended as a third-party logistics and e-commerce hub, was severely damaged by a tornado spawned from Hurricane Milton on Oct 9, 2024 — mere months after its construction.
The structure is located on Orange Avenue, west of Kings Highway.
A citizen complaint filed with the city in July 2025 highlighted debris in the right of way, prompting SFG to grant officials access to inspect the property.
During the Nov. 5 hearing, SFG was found in violation of Section 38-26 (requiring junk, trash, and debris stored outside to be moved into a fully enclosed building) and Section 111.1 (mandating demolition of unsafe structures). No fines were imposed.
“We brought the code case forward to ensure they followed through on their commitments,” said Erick Gill, Communications Director for St. Lucie County.
SFG’s Executive Vice President of Development and Acquisitions, Dustin Estes, attributed delays to protracted insurance disputes. “If I can offer any excuse for why it’s not done yet, it’s the insurance fight,” Estes said.
Immediately following the storm, American Demolition Services Inc. handled the initial cleanup, removing large debris and metal sheeting from the facility and adjacent fields and farms.
The full demolition will proceed in two phases: first, complete removal of the structure; second, extraction of the underlying concrete slab.
Estes went on the record during the hearing estimating completion before 6 months, barring unforeseen issues. The judge issued a date of May 1, 2026 for the completion of the demolition.
Stonemont Financial Group has reaffirmed its commitment to rebuilding the facility, with plans to restore the $100 million investment to full operation.