I went to a local Rotary Club meeting yesterday to speak on the Champlain Towers South collapse, and there was a very-animated Q & A session. People want to know what-happened. They live in condominiums, and they're afraid something similar could happen to them. Afterwards I had a line of people waiting to tell me about their condominium problems, how their board of directors behaved, the points of deterioration they had witnessed, the lack of action to fix things like concrete cracks, exposed rebar, etc.
The aftermath of Champlain Towers South will promote management by crisis, even-as attempts had been made to execute management by design. In the case of aging buildings, building systems need maintenance. Forgoing that necessary, required maintenance not-only means that when it's finally-addressed, it's going to cost more, probably
much-more, but that it also becomes a life-safety issue.
I expect the State of Florida legislature will propose and pass some "cat's already out of the bag" reactive legislation. They already rescinded a state statute which was written to keep a watch upon the conditions in condominiums, and to require periodic estimates by qualified professionals on the costs to repair deficiencies which were found. That passed legislation was in-effect for only two years, and I'll leave you to wonder who was the group who successfully-lobbied for its removal.
https://www.tampabay.com/news/2021/07/09/law-that-allows-condos-to-delay-repairs-under-scrutiny/
https://www.tallahassee.com/story/n...ng-condos-not-require-inspections/7811000002/
https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2021/07/07/florida-condo-task-force/
https://www.baltimoresun.com/opinio...0210707-7zhpksmamnezjmvez6ml5hmtky-story.html
Here is the tracking of the legislative actions on the Florida House of Representatives bill 995 from 2008 about 'Community Associations' and their responsibilities. It was signed into law by Governor Charlie Crist May 1, 2008. This required five years intervals between building inspections and estimates to repair found deficiencies in common areas of condominiums.
Former state lawmaker Julio Robaina introduced HB 995 in 2008, which stated that associations every five years “should inspect the condominium building to provide a report under the seal of an authorized architect or engineer. to practice in this state by attesting to the necessary maintenance, service life, and replacement costs of common items .”
Florida Used to Encourage More Condo Inspections and Repair Plans – NBC 6 South Florida
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2008/995/?Tab=BillHistory
Here is the tracking of the Florida Legislature which repealed HB 995.
https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2010/663/?Tab=BillText
One of the justifications for ending the state statute requiring five-year intervals for qualified building industry professionals, was "we don't want to throw grandma off the balcony." That means, "we don't want to make the costs to own a condominium excessive because of meeting the requirements under this passed legislation, so we'll repeal it!" The choice is clear, they would rather gamble on grandma being crushed in a building collapse than
abuela not being able to-afford to live in a condominium because of the five-year building condition reports.