A Miami property owner faces mounting legal challenges as the city is demanding graffiti removal from an active demolition site under a valid permit. Despite the building’s imminent demolition, the city filed a lawsuit to compel the removal of the spray-painted exterior, citing the building as an eye-sore ahead of New Year’s festivities.

"The property is an active demolition site under a valid permit issued by the city," said attorney José M. Ferrer of Mark Migdal & Hayden who represents the building's owners. "Despite this, the city wants the graffiti removed before New Year’s festivities and filed a lawsuit to force my client to paint the building—a project estimated to cost over $150,000. We opposed this."