Community Fights Department of Transportation for Land

A Jacksonville group wants to build a community garden on the same land the city Department of Transportation has designated a disaster debris management site.

Jackie Lattimore, president of the East 21st Street Association, said she and the association want to clean up the northside of Jacksonville.

They recently decided their new project would be to build a community garden on a vacant lot on 21st Street between Haines and Bennett streets. "We're really trying to do a lot, because if you look at that community, that community has nothing," said Lattimore.

The Department of Transportation denied the association's request. A spokesperson said the DOT needs the land to put trash and debris in case of an emergency, like a hurricane.