MIAMI BEACH, Fla. ā Late Thursday night, Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett released a copy of a letter he said was sent to the tenants who live in the four-story building he owns in Miami Beach.
Burkett is giving the tenants 45 days to vacate the units at The Lois Apartments, at 2001 Bay Dr., in the Isle of Normandy, so much-needed construction can begin.
The building suffered hurricane damage in 2017, there were delays on city permits, and Burkett wants to complete the 40-year inspection early, according to the letter.
Residents say theyāve been complaining about the damage for years and are now frustrated theyāre being told to leave.
Among their complaints are exposed rebar, missing balconies, apparent concrete dipping, and an elevator they say has ājust stopped working.ā
āWe have handicapped people living there, elderly people,ā said resident Nicole Abenoza.
She lives on the third floor and said she feels like management is retaliating because residents went public with their concerns.
āThey got the permit right away after three days we exposed them,ā she said.
Burkett said that since the damage from Irma, it has been a back and forth with the city of Miami Beach over permitting.
āWe said to the city, listen weāve been waiting for the permit and they said well we donāt have any plans or drawings,ā said. āThey lost the plans and weāve been working with the city now to get them copies of the plans.ā
Burkett continued: āI share [the residentsā] frustration. But, you know, itās one thing to do a small amount of work and have tenants roaming around and living in the building. Itās another thing to do major construction on a building and risk the safety of those tenants. Itās just something I canāt do, and itās not prudent.ā
The repairs are estimated to take 2-3 months. When completed, Burkett said the tenants will be invited back.
But residents say that, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic where rents are high and availability low, finding a new rental in 45 days simply doesnāt give them enough time.
And thereās one other complication.
āIf there is a case that I wanted to move right now how can I do it with the broken elevator?ā resident Xaviel Lugo said.