The building collapse in Miami
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Nervous?
About a block from the Miami-area beachfront condominium tower that collapsed sits its sister building, erected a year later by the same company, using the same materials and a similar design. It has faced the same tides and salty air.
This has made some residents of Champlain Towers North worried enough to leave, though most have remained, saying they are confident their almost 40-year-old, 12-story building is better maintained. They say their building doesn't have the same problems with cracking in support beams and in the pool area that 2018 engineering reports show the south tower had.
The collapse of Champlain Towers South in the town of Surfside on Thursday has drawn attention to older high-rise buildings throughout South Florida and prompted Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to order a 30-day audit of whether such buildings under her jurisdiction are complying with a required recertification of structural integrity at 40 years. She said she wants any issues raised by inspections to be immediately addressed. She’s also urged municipalities within the county to follow suit. Miami, for example, has launched a 45-day audit of buildings six stories and higher that are 40 years old or older.
Inspectors performed a quick-hit examination of the north building and Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett said nothing was found that indicates the tower is in danger of collapse.
That didn't reassure everyone.
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Remaining part of Surfside condo to be demolished, mayor says
Florida officials announced Friday that they plan to demolish the remaining structure of the Champlain Towers South condominium, following the partial collapse that killed at least 22 people and left more than 100 unaccounted for. Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava said at an evening press conference that it will likely be weeks before the demolition begins.
Levine Cava said Friday night that she has signed an emergency order that will allow for the building to be demolished once engineers and other officials approve. She said the remaining structure "poses a threat to public health and safety," and that crews will move quickly to demolish it once it is deemed safe to do so
In a related story: Second condo tower evacuated in wake of collapse
City officials in North Miami Beach called for an emergency meeting Saturday after ordering the evacuation of a condominium tower just five miles from last week's building collapse that left 22 dead and more than 120 missing.
Authorities said Friday that the closing of the 156-unit Crestview Towers stems from an audit prompted by the Champlain Towers disaster in nearby Surfside.
“In an abundance of caution, the City ordered the building closed immediately and the residents evacuated for their protection, while a full structural assessment is conducted and next steps are determined,” North Miami Beach City Manager Arthur H. Sorey, III said. “Nothing is more important than the safety and lives of our residents, and we will not rest until we ensure this building is 100% safe.”
Raises an interesting question: Suppose you own one of the condos in the second building. Are you basically fucked? Does insurance cover any part of your loss?
