The owners and tenants of Santa Clara Condominiums will know the fate of their building following a 10 a.m. condemnation hearing on Monday, Sept. 13.
Key West’s chief building official Raj Ramsingh on Wednesday told the Keys Weekly that condemnation would be an absolute last resort, but one he will have to consider from a safety standpoint.
“Condemnation is not the way I’m leaning. I’d like to avoid it if that’s at all possible,” Ramsingh said on Wednesday. He also acknowledged the concerns of residents, whether they own or rent at Santa Clara, who fear they will only have 15 minutes to remove their belongings if the worst-case scenario does occur. Many residents of Surfside in Miami reported having only 15 minutes to retrieve their belongings, if they were able to access the building at all following the devastating and deadly collapse of half the complex, which crumbled upon itself.
The Keys Weekly also has been fielding calls from tenants and owners, who are worried about furniture, family photos, clothing, children’s toys, important documents and other items.
They ask how much time they will have before having to vacate the premises and whether there is a state-mandated timeline for such an action.
Ramsingh told the Keys Weekly there is no state mandate for vacating the premises.
“And I will tell you, if it does come down to that, and I hope it doesn’t, but if it does, I understand these are people’s homes, whether they own a unit or rent it. I understand we’re talking about people’s lives, homes, belongings and cherished possessions, as well as their safety.”
If the building is condemned, Ramsingh said, “I would partner with the police and fire departments to help me coordinate a safe and orderly process by which people can remove their belongings. They will not just have 15 minutes as has been reported by residents in Miami. That will not happen.”
Ramsingh scheduled the condemnation hearing on Sept. 1, after receiving engineering reports that state the building is in dire need of significant repairs.
The crumbling south stairwell, which was deemed unsafe by the engineer, was still in use last week. It remained open and accessible as of the morning of Sept. 8, but a sign had been posted saying, “Stairwell for emergency use only.”
The stairwell is one of Ramsingh’s top concerns as well, as it represents an alternate exit in the event of a fire.
“If we simply close the stairwell while it’s being replaced, that eliminates a fire exit, and I don’t believe the fire inspector would allow that to happen,” Ramsingh told the Keys Weekly on Sept. 5.
Who’s to blame?
Finger-pointing for the building’s current situation continues, with the condo’s former management company, ICAMCO, blaming the condo board for failing to act on needed repairs and for failing to levy a special assessment to fund the work. Board members, on the other hand, blame ICAMCO, saying the company did in fact have the authority and the express direction from the board to get repairs completed.
But most owners the Keys Weekly has reached agree that everyone’s top priority should be getting through the Monday hearing without a condemnation ruling.
Ramsingh clarifies building inspections
Ramsingh also clarified on Sept. 5 the building inspection and notification process that started immediately following the Surfside collapse on June 24, 2021. City officials conducted cursory inspections of about 36 Key West properties taller than three stories.
Only two of them — Santa Clara Condominiums and Ocean Walk Apartments — received written notification about concerns from the city’s building department, Ramsingh said. Representatives of other properties were simply notified verbally of minor issues, Ramsingh told the Keys Weekly.
“There’s nothing serious at any other properties,” Ramsingh said. “Ocean Walk didn’t require a hearing to be scheduled or anything further because they had already started work. They had hired an architect and sent us their plans to address the issues. They had already taken action. I apologize for any confusion with regard to that list of properties.”
