State report lists 23 Miami-Dade buildings as ‘unsafe’ 5 years after Surfside condo collapse

AVENTURA, Fla. — Five years after the collapse of the Champlain Towers South condominium in Surfside, the first milestone report required under Florida’s post-Surfside building safety laws is drawing scrutiny over how inspection data is being reported.

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The report obtained by Local 10 News on Friday states that of the 24 buildings statewide classified as “unsafe or uninhabitable,” 23 are in Miami-Dade County. A footnote indicates Aventura reported 19 of those buildings.

But Aventura officials say the report lacks important context.

“In Aventura, we do not have the number of concerning issues as the report seems to imply there are,” Keven Klopp, the city’s building official, said.

Klopp said every inspected building in Aventura is safe to occupy and that buildings requiring repairs, renovations or maintenance have submitted plans and timelines to complete the work.

City officials say the report’s wording and lack of detail create a misleading impression of building conditions.

The report also raises concerns about statewide reporting.

It indicates that about one in five city building departments did not submit inspection data and does not specify what consequences, if any, those jurisdictions could face. The report also cites the state’s lack of clear reporting instructions for cities.

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The building safety laws were enacted following the 2021 Champlain Towers South collapse and were intended to prevent disasters like those seen at North Miami Beach’s deteriorating Crestview Towers, where residents were forced to evacuate just weeks after the Surfside tragedy.

Klopp said Aventura has had only one building in the past three years approach an unsafe structure determination.

“We’ve only had one in the last three years where we were pushing toward an unsafe structure determination, and they came up with that report and a timeline, and we are comfortable that they are addressing it as well,” Klopp said.

Asked whether he is confident residents remain safe, Klopp responded: “Absolutely.”

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