Residents of Oneco took to the streets Wednesday with a clear demand: close The Crossings. The drug rehabilitation facility has become the center of a neighborhood fight over safety, and the flashpoint was a June incident in which a man residents say was staying at the facility allegedly tried to break into a nearby home where a grandmother and her two grandchildren were inside. He was arrested for prowling and possession, but not breaking and entering.
The timeline matters here. Manatee County approved a General Development Plan for The Crossings in March 2025 in a 5-1 vote, allowing up to 90 beds. Longtime residents like Kim Moore say the neighborhood has changed since then. “I don’t see children riding their bikes like they used to,” she said. Margi Nanney of Citizens for Historic Oneco has helped channel that frustration toward county officials, who have not yet responded to requests for comment.
The Crossings CEO Chad Dubin says the issues trace back to previous management, and that new leadership, new staff, and strict discharge policies are now in place. That leaves Oneco with a question plenty of other Florida communities are facing too: how do you balance recovery services with the safety of the streets around them? What would make you feel safe in your neighborhood? Sound off in the comments.
