OSCEOLA COUNTY, Fla. – Another building has been deemed unsafe at a condo complex in Kissimmee, bringing the total number to four.
Osceola County spokesman Chris Brumbaugh said Tuesday that a contractor is working with the county to make the needed repairs at the Images Condominium Association and permits have been issued.
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Issues were found at the other seven buildings on the property as well, records show.
Crews were out making repairs Wednesday after work was put on pause last week due to permitting issues.
Resident Kyle Beasley said he’s glad the association is taking action.
“It’s nice to see that they’re finally doing something,” Beasley said.
Beasley lives in one of the buildings deemed unsafe. He said he’s glad the association got its permits and is going through the proper channels to get the necessary repairs done.
“From what I understand, right now is that they are just using that lumber to shore it up and give support to the falling walkways or breezeway so they can come back and do the proper repairs that they need to do,” Beasley said. “But at least they’re trying to make it safe for people to come back here, which is nice.”
An engineering firm that did inspections earlier this year found the walkways leading to the condos were at risk of collapsing and alerted the association to the potential risk. When no action was taken to make repairs, the firm notified the county.
Since then, dozens of units have been evacuated and signs have been placed on buildings telling residents to enter at their own risk.
Many of those residents have opted to temporarily relocate to a hotel but they also said they haven’t been given much clarity on when they’ll be able to return home.
“We’re just not getting any straightforward answers as to what the actual problems are, so we don’t know how dangerous the situation is, how permanent it is. Are we talking about a week of repairs, a month?” resident Jennifer Dodd said Thursday while picking up some clothes and family photos from her unit.
The attorney representing the condo association sent News 6 the following statement, which offers a better idea of a timeline for initial repairs:
“Images Condominium identified areas in need of maintenance and were obtaining bids in April of 2021. Images takes this matter very seriously, and there is nothing more important than the safety and welfare of our residents. The extent of maintenance repairs was unknown at the time of bidding. The Association had not been previously cited for any dangerous conditions or Code Violations. The Association retained a licensed contractor and was in the process of shoring buildings when Notice was provided by the County on June 30, 2021 as to unsafe conditions. The County ultimately determined that the repairs were not related to maintenance but rather structural in nature, and as a result, required the issuance of building permits from the Association’s licensed contractor before work could resume. The Association and it’s contractor have cooperated and been working with the County to obtain expedited permits which have now been issued so that the shoring work can resume as early as today.
For those residents who have voluntarily evacuated the building, the Red Cross has offered to provide accommodations for two weeks. The Association believes the shoring can be completed within that time period. Upon completion of work, the Association’s engineers will provide their report to the County and confirm with the County that residents may safely return to the building. The Association will take all measures necessary to ensure that the building is structurally sound and safe for its residents.”
The engineering firm contacted the county about the cracked walkways and rotted wood frames not long after a condo building in Surfside collapsed. Rescuers are continuing to search through the rubble and as of Wednesday, the death toll has reached 46 while more than 90 are unaccounted for.
“I have full faith in the contractors that are coming through here,” Beasley said.