In May, Texas-based apartment developer Mill Creek Residential broke ground on a luxury tower in the Miami neighborhood of Edgewater. The 27-story Modera Biscayne Bay boasts a rooftop pool, digital package lockers, a Pilates studio, and "spectacular views of Biscayne Bay." But during construction, the builders have been cited for polluting the very body of water the owners tout in promotional materials.
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Murky water from a stormwater outfall near the construction site for Modera Biscayne Bay (left) and new turbidity barriers to prevent pollution (right) |
County records show
DERM first responded to the site June 21. During that
inspection, no violations were uncovered. But the next week,
DERM returned for a followup.
The June 26 report says the county's inspector was concerned
that an existing storm drain was located on the construction
site. Although the builders had placed a boom across the
drain, "there was evidence [of] sediment flow towards it."
The property owner was cited accordingly.
Peter Jakal, a spokesman for Mill Creek, denies the sediment
in Althabe's photos came from the Modera construction site.
But after meeting with the city's Public Works Department,
the builders have taken precautions to prevent any future
incidents.
"As we have only done minimal work on the site and the storm
drain that is releasing the sediment is an existing shared
drain, we and the city do not believe it is a result of work
completed on our site," Jakal said in a statement. "However,
out of an abundance of caution and with the city's
agreement, we will be taking additional measures, including
installing a turbidity barrier at the outfall and cleaning
the storm sewer drain, to ensure that any event like this
will not be a result of our site in the future."
Turbidity barriers were set up at the site shortly after
DERM's visit. For Althabe, it's a good start but not a full
solution. As Miami's rainy season kicks into high gear, he
says he and other residents will be monitoring the site.
"This shouldn't happen again," Althabe says. "We'll see if
it's going to be enough, but I don't think it will be
enough."