BROWARD COUNTY, FL –Like Surfside, Broward County has an abundance of condominiums and highrise buildings located on or a short distance away from the beautiful Atlantic coastline. Broward County is also home to many buildings constructed forty or more years ago. The tragedy of the Champlain Towers in Surfside has shaken the confidence of homeowners and businesses.
To address local concerns, Broward County Mayor Steve Geller is assembling the Broward County Condominium Structural Issues Committee to review the County’s current rules and regulations regarding high-rise condominiums, determine which governmental bodies have jurisdiction over condominium safety, and receive public input. The first meeting is Monday, August 9th at 10AM, 115 S. Andrews Ave, Room 422 in Fort Lauderdale.
“It is imperative to get ahead of the game and tackle the issues facing these condominiums now. The Broward County Condominium Structural Issues Committee will not be investigating the Champlain Tower tragedy but rather potential structural issues of condominiums here in Broward County,” said Geller.
The Broward County Condominium Structural Issues Committee will hold three meetings. Mayor Geller has stated that his intention is discuss the enforcement of 40-year recertification, the waiving of statutory reserves, the impending insurance crisis for condominiums due to the tragedy in Surfside, issues in condominium board governance, and a public hearing to gather public input. The committee will not be investigating any specific condominium buildings, but will discuss and gather data from all involved parties with the possibility of making recommendations to the Florida Legislature, Broward Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA), and Broward County cities.
Mayor Geller has invited elected officials from the state and local level, including Senator Perry Thurston, State Representatives Michael Gottleib, Chip LaMarca, Lauren Book, Fort Lauderdale Mayor Dean Trantalis, Hallandale Beach Mayor Joy Cooper, Hollywood City Commissioner Caryl Shuham and Weston City Commissioner Mary Molina-Macfie. Mayor Geller has also invited experts in condominium law, engineering, condominium real estate, a representative from the Board of Realtors, several Broward County officials, and representatives of several condominium associations. The Chair of the Broward Board of Rules and Appeals (BORA) is also a participant.
Meetings of the Broward County Condominium Structural Issues Committee are scheduled for Monday, August 9th, 2021, Monday August 23rd, 2021, and Monday, August 30th, 2021, at 10am in the County Commission Chambers in the Broward Government Center at 115 S. Andrews Ave, Fort Lauderdale, FL 33301. Mayor Geller expects the Monday, August 23rd meeting to serve as a public hearing open to all Broward County residents.
August 5, 2021
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kimberly Maroe
Public Information Manager
Broward County Commission
(954) 357-8053