When the Florida
International University pedestrian bridge collapsed and
killed six people on March 15, 2018, it seemed reasonable to
be wary of driving on or under bridges and elevated highways
in the days that followed. But as weeks and months passed,
and no other bridge unexpectedly crumbled, that structural
failure appeared to be an isolated event and faith in the
region's infrastructure remained relatively intact.
Those exact fears, that Miami's infrastructure would not
hold, came to pass three years later, when the 12-story
Champlain Towers South tragically pancaked into its own
underground parking garage, killing at least 97 people.
The loss has been catastrophic, leaving the community to
question the concept of a benevolent God, but, less
abstractly, whether the structures we inhabit on this porous
chunk of limestone are in fact safe. (Insurance companies
are wondering, too, though their motives are more financial
than existential.)
Unlike the aftermath of the FIU bridge collapse, as more
time passes, more structures are revealing themselves to be
unsteady.
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Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett recommended that residents of Champlain Towers North (far right) evacuate. |
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Residents were evacuated from Crestview Towers owing to structural and electrical concerns. |
July 3: Champs Elysees evacuated in
South Beach
A three-story, 24-unit Art Deco apartment building at 1619
Lenox Avenue was evacuated after a building official found
problems with a flooring system and damage to an exterior
wall in a vacant unit. According to the Miami Herald, Miami
Beach Fire Rescue were called to a vacant unit and then a
building official was called to inspect.
Miami Beach spokesperson Melissa Berthier told WPLG, “In an
abundance of caution, the building official has required the
vacating of this building until further information can be
obtained."
The American Red Cross assisted one resident who was not
immediately able to secure housing.
July 4: Champlain Towers East evacuated in Surfside
Built in 1994, Champlain Towers East was constructed by the
same developer as Champlain Towers South and located a block
away from the collapse. Some residents voluntarily evacuated
in the immediate aftermath. But as Tropical Storm Elsa
approached and scheduled demolition of the remaining portion
of Champlain Towers South loomed, the Champlain Towers East
condo association's board of directors sent a letter to
residents encouraging them to evacuate "in an abundance of
caution." CNN reported that the letter advised residents to
take valuables, pets, passports, and important documents
with them.
July 9: Regent Palace evacuated in Surfside
A complex of 70-year-old, coral-hued buildings on Surfside's
beachfront was voluntarily evacuated after an engineer
identified structural problems with columns in the parking
area. According to the Wall Street Journal, a developer who
owned a majority of the units has decided to purchase the
rest and likely demolish the structure. Surfside town
building official James McGuinness told the WSJ he
considered "Regent Palace a success story because the
problems were found and residents voluntarily left for
safety."
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Floors 16 and above were evacuated at the Miami-Dade County Courthouse downtown. |
July 12: Devon Apartments evacuated in
Miami Beach
Fourteen tenants of the two-story, 30-unit apartment located
at 6881 Indian Creek Dr. were given until July 19 to vacate
the property after it was deemed unsafe. According to the
Real Deal, the owner of the building had planned to demolish
the structure and replace it with townhouses.
Miami Beach spokesperson Melissa Berthier told TRD that the
building had shown "deficiencies," but was "not in danger of
imminent collapse.”
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Caution tape keeps residents from entering the 56-year-old building after it was evacuated. |