Condo owners in Modesto’s Walnut Orchards community are protesting a proposed $25,000 special assessment per unit to replace balconies, some of which were deemed unsafe by the city of Modesto. Red tags and caution tape recently appeared on at least eight balconies in the gated condominium complex. The city of Modesto says they need to […]
Condo Board Learns the High Cost of Deferred Maintenance (NY)
Over the years, the various condo boards at a small converted loft building commissioned several facade engineering studies. All of them discovered noticeable cracking and recommended remediation. Each board apparently believed that a long-standing brick building was safe, and they apparently were unwilling to pay for repairs that were not absolutely necessary, and so they […]
Every Drop Counts– Why Your Building’s Water Quality Matters More Than You Think (FL)
Have you ever stopped to think about what’s really coming out of your faucets? This week on Take It To The Board, host Donna DiMaggio Berger sits down with Ed Padula of Quality Water Consultants to uncover the hidden truths about the water we drink, cook with, and bathe in every day. You might be […]
Condo inspection reports reveal substantial structural deterioration across Treasure Coast (FL)
Ulises Garcia found a beautiful oceanfront condominium on the Treasure Coast………Substantial structural deterioration, however, was documented Dec. 13, 2023, during a “milestone inspection” report. Consequently, Dune Walk by the Ocean is facing $1.6 million in repairs set to begin this month and last 12-14 months, Garcia said. Read the article…………………………….
Attorneys investigate evacuation of Dockside Condominiums, seek answers (SC)
Two Charleston-area law firms are investigating the sudden mandatory evacuation of a downtown condominium on behalf of condo owners. The Anastopoulo Law Firm and the J. Davis Law Firm launched a class action investigation following the Feb. 28 evacuation of the building, located at 330 Concord St. beside the International African American Museum. Attorney Roy […]
A first-of-its-kind neighborhood in California fights fire by just existing
In June, Steve Ruffner watched a demonstration where two sheds were set on fire. As a result of what he saw, people 30 miles north of San Diego are now moving into homes far less likely to burn in a wildfire. “I was shocked,” said Ruffner, who is president of KB Home Coastal, a large […]
Key Points You Should Know About Elevator Safety
Associations in Florida must follow strict legal requirements to safeguard against liability and administrative penalties. Pursuant to Section 399.02(5)(b), Florida Statutes, associations are responsible for elevator safety and maintenance after inspection and certification, even if they outsource maintenance services. This includes not only standard elevators but also escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walks, inclined stairway chairlifts, and […]
New Sidewalk Shed Rules Pose Challenges for Co-ops and Condos (NY)
The much despised sidewalk sheds are the bane of co-ops and condos undertaking building repairs, but new rules passed by the City Council to remove unsightly scaffolding could create more challenges and costs for boards. The regulations significantly reduce the duration of sidewalk shed permits for facade repairs from one year to three months. They […]
Residents allowed to return to Crestview Towers nearly 4 years after evacuation (FL)
Nearly four years after the Crestview Towers condominium on North Miami Beach was evacuated after the building was deemed unsafe, residents are being told it is safe to return. After years of structural and electrical repairs and inspections, the city announced that as of Friday, March 25, all required repairs, permits and inspections had been […]
Key Points You Should Know About Elevator Safety (FL)
Associations in Florida must follow strict legal requirements to safeguard against liability and administrative penalties. Pursuant to Section 399.02(5)(b), Florida Statutes, associations are responsible for elevator safety and maintenance after inspection and certification, even if they outsource maintenance services. This includes not only standard elevators but also escalators, dumbwaiters, moving walks, inclined stairway chairlifts, and […]
Brooklyn Co-op Overcomes Years of Neglect to Tackle Long-Ignored Leaks (NY)
For years residents at 3025 Ocean Ave., a 91-unit post-war co-op in Sheepshead Bay, lived with leaks and water damage as a result of a neglected facade. Inspection reports were repeatedly rejected as incomplete by the Department of Buildings, resulting in violations. With shareholder concerns ignored, “people started fixing the leaks themselves from the inside,” […]
Minimizing the Impact of Major Renovations: Big Projects Don’t Have to Mean Big Hassles
Capital projects like major facade work, window replacements, and essential system overhauls can significantly disrupt daily life for the people who call a co-op or condo building home. Engineers, general contractors, and construction companies need to carefully consider the impact of noise, dust, and the need to temporarily relocate or work around common areas while […]
Bal Harbour beach battle: Condo association suing Qatar-based company alleging ‘health, safety’ issues at St. Regis resort (FL)
Residents in Bal Harbour are suing the owners of their glitzy condo buildings — saying living conditions have turned dangerous. 7’s Heather Walker investigates. At first glance, the three towers that make up “the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort” appear lavish and luxurious. Steven Leoni/resident: “A little slice of paradise.” But a closer look reveals […]
Orange County leaders to revisit future of troubled condo complex (FL)
Orange County’s board of commissioners on Tuesday will again discuss the future of the Tymber Skan on the Lake. For more than two decades, area residents and have expressed concerns over crime and safety at the blighted condo complex off Texas Avenue. Read the article…………………………….
Dockside Condominium resident shares experience after mandatory evacuation (SC)
Nearly two weeks after a mandatory evacuation, Dockside Condominiums residents have yet to return to their homes. Harry Traulsen Jr. and his neighbors received a mandatory vacate notice on Feb. 27 to evacuate their homes within 48 hours. It came from the Dockside Association and the City of Charleston, noting the safety concerns surrounding the […]
Cuban woman erupts against the managers of her condominium in Hialeah over the property’s deterioration (FL)
Residents of the Coral Gate East condominium in Hialeah are experiencing distress after receiving notifications from Miami-Dade County declaring the buildings they inhabit as unsafe. The situation has raised concern and outrage among owners and tenants, who believe that the management of the complex has failed in maintaining the property and in managing its structural […]
Waterfront Property Owners Bail Themselves Out (MA)
After a nor’easter in 2018 pushed flood waters within 6 inches of the Harbor Towers condominiums’ lobby, trustees decided they could no longer ignore the effects of climate change. A $20 million project this year will bolster the 40-story luxury skyscrapers’ ground floor coastal defenses, adding permanent glass and concrete flood barriers between 24 building […]
Dockside Association misses deadline for requested reports by City of Charleston (SC)
The Dockside Association failed to meet the deadline set by the City of Charleston, which was Mar. 7 at 5 p.m. for an engineer to provide specific reports requested by the city. City officials requested two reports from the association regarding the possible threat the tower poses to nearby properties and corrective action summary. This […]
Champlain Towers South (Surfside, FL) Collapse Investigation
In the early morning of June 24, 2021, the eastern half of the twelve-story Champlain Towers South Condominium collapsed, killing ninety-eight residents of the forty-year-old building in Surfside, Florida. WJE was retained by attorneys representing the condominium association to determine the cause of the collapse and provide litigation support. Watch the webinar……………………….
What forced Charleston’s Dockside evacuation? Experts say issues akin to collapsed Florida condo. (SC)
Structural concerns that forced Charleston residents to urgently evacuate a downtown residential tower along the Cooper River appear similar to conditions that resulted in the 2021 collapse of a Surfside, Fla., condo that killed 98 people, according to outside engineers. While no one has said whether the 19-story Dockside Condominiums — Charleston’s tallest building other […]
Timeline details half-century history and problems of Dockside condos, Charleston’s tallest building (SC)
The half-century history of the Dockside condominium tower in downtown Charleston reached another seminal moment with the urgent order for residents to vacate. City officials came close to such a call two years ago. This time, further details and a deeper understanding of dangerous structural issues in the 18-story building forced the issue. An engineering […]
‘It’s pretty unsettling’ Residents describe hasty exit amid Dockside Condo evacuation (NC)
Residents continue to evacuate Dockside Condominiums Thursday due to structural concerns, per its association request on Feb. 26. The Dockside Association Board received a letter from WJE, an engineering firm they hired, to assess the load capacity of the floors. The firm deemed the building unsafe for occupancy, and the building’s board of directors informed […]
City of Charleston releases fact sheet on Dockside Condominiums (SC)
Charleston officials on Thursday released a fact sheet about the Dockside Condominiums with information they compiled about the property, the history of the discovery of structural issues, and more. This comes after the city asked residents of the downtown tower to evacuate the building by 5 p.m. Friday, after city officials said their engineering firm […]
Villa Del Sol condo owners face tough decision as future of 72 units uncertain (FL)
The owners of 72 units at Villa Del Sol, a condominium association in Jensen Beach, will have to decide whether to sell the property or repair three, structurally deficient condominium buildings. People haven’t been able to live in their beachside property for six months after a third party inspection found issues with the foundation at […]
Charleston officials tell Dockside Condominiums residents to evacuate by Friday (SC)
A potential structural issue prompted Charleston officials to order that residents at a downtown condominium leave the building by the end of the day on Friday. The board of directors for Dockside Condominiums said in a statement they were alerted to the issue. The statement did not specify what the issue was or its cause. […]
Those Damn Ice Dams (MN)
Scott Hurm from Crest Exteriors has been presenting all month long at chapter meetings on the ice dams. While winter has been a bit forgiving in the ice and snow department this year so far, there are some HOAs in the metro reporting ice dam trouble, and there’s plenty of winter yet to wreak even […]
Sturdy, sinking, shaky? Miami company offers an early warning sensor system for condos (FL)
The calls and emails suddenly started pouring in for Lisa Gardner, president of the condominium association at the Marenas Beach Resort. A scientific study, led by the University of Miami, published in December had found that 35 buildings along Miami’s barrier islands were sinking beyond what was typically expected. The Marenas, a 28-floor condo hotel […]
Kingfisher Inn HOA plans reopening despite safety concerns (SC)
The Kingfisher Inn, a beach resort in southern Horry County, plans to move forward with reopening despite concerns of structural safety. About a year ago, the property manager raised concerns about the building’s condition leading to an investigation by a structural engineer. Read the article…………………………….
Mountain Green condos $48m renovations is underway (VT)
Mountain Green Condominium Association, a 45-year-old, 215-unit association with a restaurant, spa, gym and two pools located across from Snowshed Lodge on East Mountain Road, is embarking on a $48 million renovation. The renovations, under DEW Construction Corporation, will take about 2 1/2 years to complete. Read the article…………………………….
HOA Homefront: Did your community meet balcony inspection deadline (CA)
New California law, under Civil Code Section 5551, required a visual inspection of “exterior elevated elements” by Jan. 1, 2025. That deadline has expired, leaving a liability risk for unaware or otherwise noncompliant HOAs. The statute arose from 2019’s Senate Bill 326, sparked by a dry-rotted balcony which in 2015 collapsed and killed six people […]
Winter Roof Leaks: The Dangers of Delaying a Diagnosis (ON)
Reporting a roof leak right away might seem like a no-brainer, but too often, we encounter situations where signs of a leak are reported months after they are first observed. This is especially true during and following the winter months. Read the article…………………………….
Building Maintenance and Condo Living: What You Need to Know
Keeping up with a condo building’s maintenance isn’t just about great curb appeal. It helps protect the property’s value and keep unexpected repair costs and monthly fees at a minimum while enhancing comfort, safety, and functionality of the building. There are different types of building maintenance—each one is designed to address specific needs and challenges. […]
Sunrise condo residents fight back after eviction threat over structural issues (FL)
Residents of a Sunrise condominium complex facing possible eviction due to structural concerns said they are relieved to have received an 11th-hour reprieve and they are now taking action to ensure long-term changes. Read the article…………………………….
Structural Integrity and Reserve Law – 1 Year Later (NJ)
We are now a year into the effective date of what is colloquially known as the Structural Integrity Act (Act). The law combines two important obligations condominium associations or cooperatives must now adhere to, inspection of the structure of the building (does not apply to all types of community associations) by a licensed engineer versed […]
Temporary repairs complete at Sunrise condo after buildings deemed unsafe (FL)
Days after residents in a Sunrise neighborhood were forced out of their homes after the city deemed some buildings to be unsafe, they are now allowed to come back. According to the city, the Grenadier Lakes at Welleby engineer said the units that were identified as unsafe to live in were temporarily strengthened and are […]
The list: Did your condo association fail to turn in its Phase One inspection report? (FL)
If your condo building hasn’t turned in its Phase One safety inspection report, you could be facing some serious financial penalties in addition to the possible assessments if your building were to have structural issues. As of Jan. 14, 91 buildings, with approximately 3,200 units, in Palm Beach County covered by the state’s new safety-inspection […]
Sunrise condo safety woes leave residents in turmoil: ‘A lot of us are about to lose everything (FL)
Residents of one condominium complex in Sunrise could soon be forced out of their homes. Several buildings have been deemed unsafe and residents have been left blindsided. Units in several buildings received this notice on the door, saying the building was deemed unsafe. Unless the structure is shored up by Monday at noon, residents will […]
Watch the Webinar: Interior & Exterior Renovations in Condos and Co-ops in Florida
We recently held an educational webinar with Sidnee Steigerwalt from Pro-Max Restoration & Paint to discuss project planning, management, and design processes for condo renovations. Watch the video………………………….
Reports on Building for Sale Signal New Era for Condominium Terminations (FL)
Reporting by the Sun Sentinel in October 2024 and earlier this month, which were followed by recent stories from three local television stations, paint a completely different picture of condominium terminations from that of past media coverage. The newspaper’s latest article chronicles how the owners of the 18-unit Springbrook Gardens condominium on the intracoastal waterway […]
Entire Florida Condo Complex is Condemned – Just The Begining – Residents Forced To Sell Their Homes
The residents of Springbrook Gardens, a 75-year-old condominium complex in Fort Lauderdale, are facing an unprecedented crisis. The building, which has stood as a home for many decades, was recently condemned due to severe structural issues. The complex offered a slice of the American dream, with 18 units occupied by a mix of retirees, working […]
Residents allowed to remain in homes (MD)
The city of Laurel was able to rescind the notice to vacate order for the residents of The Tiers of Laurel Lake Condominiums before the Jan. 10 deadline, as the complex was deemed safe for occupancy, city staff said. “We have confirmation from the city that we are good to go,” Natalie Stuppard, vice president […]
Colorado’s New ADU Laws and Their Implications for HOAs
Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), affectionately known as granny flats, in-law suites, or backyard cottages, are the talk of Colorado – because, really, who wouldn’t want their backyard to double as a thriving metropolis? As the state wrestles with an affordable housing crisis, ADUs are strutting onto the scene like knights in shining (albeit slightly cramped) […]
How Palm Beach County will penalize condos on inspection violations (FL)
Palm Beach County Commissioners met on Tuesday agreeing it’s time to crack down on the early 200 condo buildings that are out of compliance…..During meeting staff reported that 568 buildings were required to submit phase 1 reports. That’s approximately 25,000 units….As of Jan. 7, a total of 113 condo buildings in Phase 1 had still […]
Concerns rise in Surfside over condo construction, sinking buildings (FL)
Residents in Surfside are raising concerns about sinking buildings as construction on a new condominium gets underway. Jennifer Albanesi, who lives next door to the construction site in a building identified as “sinking” by a University of Miami study, says the constant drilling has heightened her worries. Read the article…………………………….
Don’t Let Ice Dams Chill Your Winter
Winter brings beautiful snowy landscapes, but it can also bring some not-so-beautiful challenges for homeowners. One of the biggest headaches? Ice dams! These sneaky roof invaders can cause major damage if left unchecked, but we’re here with tips and insights to help you keep your home safe and secure this season. Read the article…………………………….
City relocates residents from privately-owned building in Louisville due to broken elevator (KY)
A privately-owned large, tall building with dozens of tenants is without a working elevator. With the elevator being broke, living in the Brown Suburban Condominium Homes on the 12th floor, can be a challenge. Read the article…………………………….
What To Do if the Condominium Above You Has a Water Leak
You’re at home in your condominium, minding your own business when you notice a leak in your ceiling, coming from the unit above. What do you do? It’s scary to have any damage in your home—and frustrating when it happens through no fault of your own—but damage to shared walls (and ceilings/floors) is not uncommon […]
Fort Lauderdale condo owners stuck in limbo after building deemed unsafe (FL)
Special assessments and mandatory repairs are forcing many South Florida condo owners to cough up thousands for unexpected expenses. It’s a reality resulting in some condo owners choosing to sell their buildings. Residents at the Springbrook Gardens Condo building in Fort Lauderdale have made the decision to sell instead of making costly repairs, according to […]
Broken elevators inside Louisville condo building leaves disabled man stuck for weeks (KY)
A disabled resident inside a Louisville high-rise condo building have been stuck inside for nearly seven weeks. The only two elevators in Brown Suburban Condominium Homes, a long-standing building along Bardstown Road, have been down since before Thanksgiving. For some residents, not having an elevator is simply inconvenient. However, for others, like Reggie Carter, it […]
Cost, delays in Boynton condo repair project have residents asking court to take control (FL)
A group of Boynton Beach condo owners is pushing back on plans for a $8 million safety repair project, alleging that its board has so mismanaged the work that a court-appointed receiver needs to take control of the complex. At issue is a concrete restoration project at Seagate of Gulfstream, a 50-year-old, five-building community on […]