NSB condo owner here. Solid as a rock — built per modern building codes — and will be secure for the rest of my life at least. This thing in Sufside was older and already showing signs of problems as early as 2018. I’ll predict there was long-term moisture intrusion, and/or rebar failure, at critical support points. Once a few million pounds start falling in any area, other stuff is necessarily coming with it.
I did some Google Maps snooping yesterday. Look street level at the condo building that collapsed up to the balconies. There's multiple balconies that have exposed rebar due to concrete eroding away. There's a couple more condo buildings on the same block that don't have any exposed rebar. The building was either shifting more than the properties around it, used crap materials during construction, or the maintenance was piss poor. Either way its a sad situation.
I saw portions of the Structural Engineering Report, and the photos of the spalling were the worst I've ever seen in all my years as a licensed Florida CAM and a Manager of oceanfront condo communities in Ponte Vedra Beach. And they date to 2018, so I cannot imagine how much they had accelerated in the three years since. The building should have been condemned. This was an unnecessary and avoidable tragedy. .
When I saw it on TV, I told my son two things. Bet they find some reports indicating problems and bet (since it was put up in the early 1980s in Miami) they find some sub-standard building practices.
Rest assured that wifey picked a toney place where “maintenance” is ample and expensive. Just like with her hair, nails, yoga, clothes, personal trainer, etc., etc., etc. Absolutely no corner cutting for Mrs. Survivor.
Would not shock me if they used salt water when they mixed the concrete way back when. Not an uncommon practice back in the day as contractors and developers tried to minimize expenses. But the salt water obviously wreaks havoc on the rebar. Maybe add some other water penetration and/or general lack of maintenance, and, well, here we are. Sad deal for all affected.
Law suits already filed. Heard of stories of the parking garage always being wet and sounds of creeking. Reminds me too much of 9/11 and OKC. It literlary will be a miracle if any others can make it out alive. But God only knows.....
Avoidable indeed. I managed an an Apartment Complex in Southside across from the river for almost 25 years and though built in 1969 it was rock solid. The age and flat roof architecture required rigorous maintenance protocols, however. Thankfully, my owners were invested for the long haul. To inspire, the City of Jacksonville does do timely inspections. From your description, Goldmom, the building’s required remediation work was never done. Whether it was incompetence or greed, those poor souls are needlessly lost forever. Unforgivable.
Which is strange because one of the interviews I saw on CNN was with a condo association member who said the only issues with high priority for this building was the roof, which was under construction.
Condominiums across from me had responsible owners on their Association's Board but were constantly being blindsided by absentee owners, who didn't qualify tenants and ignored rules and regulations. They were in over their heads. The Association's President finally gave up and brought in a professional management company that put proper protocols in place and some harsh fines on non responsive owners. I read some owners in Surfside had applied for loans to pay the assessment and that banks were coming after family members for mortgage payments. How sad, if true. They won't be able to attach a lessee, according to Florida law. Your heart goes out to those poor people.
Hi…just saw this. We’re in a four story low rise with a first floor garage built in 2008…east of A1A, but not directly on the sand, 50 yards west of the sand. Our three sister properties…one completed in 2008 and one in 2017 sit on the sand and the final property also built in 2017 is 50 yards from the sand. The buildings on the sand take a beating….but luckily all were built years after Hurricane Andrew….so these four building were built like fortresses. I’ve been thinking about this tragedy…it’s going to change the construction and maintenance landscape for years to come. So terribly sad…
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Thanks for that Gary….poor design and years of neglecting waterproofing/concrete appear to be the root cause, how’d you like to own one of those units in the twin north property….oof.
