Leaders in Camden are calling out the owners of an abandoned gas station they claim has led to illegal dumping, vandalism and other unruly activity that has led to various code violations.

According to City of Camden leaders, the gas station located off Admiral Wilson Boulevard has California-based property owners who have not paid any of these fines.

The abandoned gas station has graffiti on its walls, piles of garbage and exhausted gas pumps.

This is a problem that has been going on for years.

On Tuesday, municipal crews went to work cutting overgrown grass and weeds at the gas station.

“This place has become a haven for crime and it has become a haven for negative activity,” Camden Mayor Victor Carstarphen said.

City leaders held a news conference Tuesday calling out Pontus Capital, the gas station’s California-based property owners, for negligence.

“And this is one of those deals where the homeowners who are not in this home have to come back to Camden, leave Boca Raton and come back to Camden and take care of their property like everybody in Camden should,” County Commissioner Al Dyer said.

According to the city, the LLC has at least 12 property mismanagement violations for 2024 alone. They said the owners had been fined for years but had not paid.

A lien has been issued for the ongoing cleanup of the gas station, which will cost a minimum of $25,000.

“We will continue to impose penalties. We will continue to take legal action against the owner.”

The property is under a lease with an owner who recently filed for bankruptcy, Pontus Capital said in a statement.

“Under the terms of this lease, the tenant assumes full responsibility for the maintenance and continued operation of the property,” Pontus Capital said in a statement. “Pontus is committed to working constructively with the City of Camden to resolve these issues.”

Employees at the gas station’s nearby business were relieved that the problem was finally resolved.

“It hurts a little bit because the restriction we have here affects its appeal,” said Isaac Diaz, a salesman with American and Foreign Auto Sales.