On Thursday June 24, 2021 at 1:25 AM, Champlain Towers South, a condominium in the Miami suburb of Surfside, Florida, partially collapsed. Ninety-eight people lost their lives. This 12-story condominium was built in 1981 and sat overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Why did this happen?
After a deep examination into the collapse of Champlain Towers South, Florida’s Grand Jury has released recommendations for condo safety for all of Florida.
State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle said: "After listening to numerous building construction experts, evaluative panels and involved individuals, the Grand Jury came to a strong conclusion: save lives, not just money. I hope this report provides an effective pathway to do that.”
Among the "serious lessons" learned, the report offers:
• The Florida Condominium Act "desperately needs serious revision."
• The 40-year recertification requirements should be reduced to 10 to 15 years.
• Condo boards across the state must be more involved and accountable for protecting lives and preserving structures.
• The Florida Department of Business and Regulation, which supervises condo associations, needs to be restructured so it can more adequately oversee condominium governance.
In the case of the tragedy at Champlain Towers South, the 40-year old building was undergoing recertification at the time of its collapse. The grand jury concluded that over the lifespan of the building, "steps could have and should have been taken in a timely manner to ensure the structural integrity of the building."
If you are considering investing in a condominium in Florida, the rules will be changing—and improving. This will impact the 3.5 million people living in condos across Florida. Safety should always be the primary concern.
We will keep you up-do-date as the report is processed and action is taken. As always, we are always here if you have any questions or need anything! Remember: Our goal is to Make Real Estate your BEST Investment!
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Rare Third-Floor Corner Unit!
A rare property: Spectacular third-floor corner unit with views south and west at Terrace at Pelican Beach Resort! The wrap-around balcony provides panoramic views of abutting coastal lakes and distant views of the Gulf of Mexico. Here, the sunsets are amazing! The interior features new plank tile flooring in the living area, kitchen, dining area and baths, as well as granite countertops in kitchen and all baths. The third bedroom is a lockout efficiency with its own balcony. The Terrace has its own pool, health club facility, hot tub, steam room, BBQ pit, and more. A Cross Easement Agreement allows use of Terrace and Pelican amenities which include three pools, hot tubs, gym room, tennis courts, and beautiful beachfront. You're also located in the heart of Destin and convenient to restaurants, grocery stores, activities, and shopping!
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Second-floor remodeled Garden Villa!
This second-floor Seascape Condo Garden Villa is nestled inside renowned Seascape Golf & Beach Resort. The flowing floor plan of this renovated unit has all the comforts for a perfect second home or rental unit. Remodeled in 2014, some features of the unit are wood-look flooring, exposed wood beams, stylish decor, a laundry closet, extra sleeping room in the living area Murphy Bed cabinet, and a spacious patio. Enjoy the refreshing pool and pickleball courts that are just steps from this lovely unit, as well as charcoal BBQ areas and picnic tables. Seascape Resort is a favorite spot of vacationers with amenities including an 18-hole golf course, pro shop, basketball court, five pools, serene lakes, and, bike rentals. Best of all, Seascape offers you 2,000 feet of beach frontage, beach service, and access to Whale's Tail beachfront restaurant and bar. After your days on the beach or out on the greens, enjoy Seascape Towne Centre with 55,000 square feet of retail, restaurants, and family entertainment!
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Destin Brewery collaborated with Dog-Harmony to feature long-term shelter dogs on the label of the award-winning Dog-Harmony Ale launched in November 2021.
Dog-Harmony founder, Nancy Bown, says, “The goal of the beer is to raise awareness for long-time shelter dog cases so that they can get adopted by their forever families. Once that dog is adopted, we will feature the next long-time rescue dog resident from an animal shelter in the Panhandle.”
The Dog. The first dog to grace the label is Koda, a brindle, 18-month-old American bulldog residing at Dog-Harmony since November 2020. His previous rescuer went into hospice care, at which point Bown moved him to Dog-Harmony and began basic, then advanced, obedience training. Koda is friendly with other dogs and cats. He is seeking an active family familiar with large breeds and rescues. His favorite game is to play tug-of-war with his furry friends.
The Brew. Destin Brewery’s Dog-Harmony Ale is a German Kölsch-style ale. Owners, Chelsea and Kelly Taylor, say they “developed this recipe because we wanted to make a flavorful ale, but also make it light and crisp like a lager. It is a very easy drinker that pairs well with our culinary region favoring seafood dishes.”
The ale won Platinum in the World Beverage Competition and Bronze in the New York International Beer Competition in 2019. It also won Bronze in the New York International Beer Competition in 2021.
Adopt Koda, Buy the Ale. To be considered for adoption of Koda, please submit an application form at dog-harmony.org/adoption.
Stop by the dog-friendly Destin Brewery tap room or any BŌTE location to buy the award-winning Dog-Harmony Ale. A portion of the proceeds directly supports Dog-Harmony’s humane education programs and, of course, increases the chances of Koda finding his furever home.
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Stay Updated!
For those of you who closely follow the local real estate market, we just wanted to keep you up to date on the real estate market for Gulf Front, Gulf View, and other foreclosures in our area that you can always find on our website. Click the links below to view our updated list of foreclosures. Not looking for a foreclosure? Feel free to create a customized search!
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