![]() But the desire to keep monthly assessments low has created an incentive for owners to continuously push repairs and maintenance off.Ĭounty governments have also provided little oversight. Expenses are funded by a monthly assessment on each unit owner. These boards, made up of homeowners, oversee the operations and maintenance of the building. Yet by 2021, repairs had still not been made.Īt the time of the collapse, Florida had no state law requiring condominium association boards to make prompt structural repairs to defects. Forebodingly, a 2018 engineering report on the structural integrity of the Champlain Towers South complex warned of major structural damage, including “abundant” cracking, and crumbling of support-bearing columns, beams, and walls. Water frequently infiltrated the underground garage (located below the pool deck) despite attempts to repair and waterproof the area. Long before the collapse, residents and the homeowners association reported growing problems with the building. In addition, water intrusion in the Champlain Towers South pool deck area–where the collapse first occurred– allowed corrosion of rebar in the reinforced concrete. The columns in the portion of the building that remained standing (Champlain Towers North) were nearly twice the size of those in the section that fell. These include poor structural design and a severe lack of maintenance. ![]() Though NIST has yet to release any findings, an in-depth investigation by The Miami Herald highlighted numerous factors that likely contributed to the collapse. The investigation, which could take years, is intended to “determine the technical cause of the collapse and, if indicated, to recommend changes to building codes, standards and practices, or other appropriate actions to improve the structural safety of buildings.” Department of Commerce’s National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) launched an investigation to determine what happened. Though clearly much needed, the law threatens housing affordability for owners in buildings that have deferred repairs and maintenance.Īfter the Champlain Towers collapse, the U.S. ![]() In May 2022, the Florida legislature enacted new safety requirements for condominiums in response to the Surfside collapse. In addition many of these condominiums are located on coasts, and as the frequency and intensity of storms increase and sea level rises, these older structures–and their inhabitants–may be at greater risk. For decades, a loose regulatory environment has allowed the deferment of repairs and maintenance. Nearly 600,000 of the state’s 1.5 million condominiums are over 40 years old. In the aftermath of this tragic event, Florida’s aging condominiums have come under scrutiny. The remaining wing of the building was left uninhabitable. Only three of the 101 residents inside the 40-plus year old building in Miami’s Surfside neighborhood survived. In the predawn hours of June 24, 2021, a large section of the 12-story Champlain Towers condominium building collapsed.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |