MIAMI - Hope emerges
from Monday night's association meeting as residents of 5050
Northwest in Miami learn from city officials and board
members that they most likely can come home by next month.
It's welcomed news after being displaced 18 months ago.
"This is good news
because you know our situation," said resident Jose Pico.
August 2021, City of Miami building inspectors deemed 5050
Northwest 7th Street condos unsafe.
Pico says the time away has taken a toll.
"It's a very big problem, financial and emotional, for us,"
Pico explained.
Financial burdens from some residents
include additional rent to paying roughly $5000 so far in
special assessment fees. |
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Some expressed frustration about the
delays in the project to the city and the condo association
leaders during Monday night's meeting held outside the condo
building.
"I understand their point because I'm in the same boat,"
shared Hiubert Casdellon, who serves on the board of
directors at 5050 NW. "I'm paying extra rent. I live in
Hialeah."
He tells CBS4 prior issues with the previous property
management company created setbacks early on.
"We had to start from scratch," said Casdellon.
And so they did with a new board last January. And six weeks
ago, contractors finished the main structural issues with
the columns of the building.
"Six to eight structural columns had to be sured up from the
bottom to the roof," detailed Ace Marrero, city of Miami
building director. "That was complex. Getting the financials
they needed took a lot of time."
Marrero explained one last hurdle before the city can ok
residents back.
"The building had been vacated for almost 18 months," said
Marrero. "Other things surfaced. There's electrical,
mechanical, engineering, and fire, a punch list that has to
be satisfied."
It's a list of repairs we're told should be finished by next
month.
"We fight for it," said Casdellon. "We fought for it. And
here we are. And soon we will get everything done, and we
are going to keep working, and I'm willing."
Casdellon mentions there's still more work beyond the city's
requirements to allow people to move back home.
The goal is to complete the city's list of mandated repairs
soon and have people return by next month.