Surfside

Three years after the collapse of a condo building in Florida, developers say a court decision may stop them from demolishing and replacing older residential buildings.

Since the collapse, the state has enacted reforms to make condo buildings safer. But Rep. Vicki Lopez said people looking to buy a condo should probably hold off for a while.

This week on The Florida Roundup, we discuss new regulations for condos passed after the tragic collapse of the Champlain Towers in Surfside, what Florida Democrats are saying after this week’s presidential debate and how arts institutions in the state are managing after budget cuts to grants funding.

Monday marks the third anniversary of the collapse of the Champlain Towers condo building in Surfside that killed 98 people. WLRN speaks to a local engineer who had warned the condo association about structural weaknesses and to victims' relatives who are still awaiting answers.

New research published in the journal Nature showed the potential risk of a one-two combo of sinking land and rising seas to cities along the coast, and Miami topped the list as a location that could see quite a bit of flooded property by mid-century.

A federal team continues to focus on construction flaws in the pool deck as it investigates the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, Fla. in 2021 which killed 98 people.

Environmental researchers at Florida International University are getting a big boost in financial support to study sea-level rise along South Florida coasts — $9 million worth.

The 2021 collapse killed nearly 100 people. Regulations passed since then have raised costs for those living in older buildings. Developers want homeowners to sell so they can put up luxury condos.

Town commissioners voted 3 to 2 in favor of conditionally requiring the developer of the former Champlain Towers South property to move the loading dock away from the memorial space.

Most of the intensive work on such things as concrete core samples, corrosion in reinforcing bars and evidence of subpar construction in the 40-year-old building will be done by next spring, followed by a final report and recommendations by June 2025.

Two years ago, 98 people died with the Champlain Towers South condo building partially collapsed. Federal investigators have been looking into the flaws in the building's pool deck.

The town of Surfside held events to remember the victims, beginning Saturday at 1:22 a.m., the exact time the disaster began to unfold.