LTC 182-2006 Versailles Condo-Hotel
to
.....
MIAMI BEACH
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 182-2006
, '
"'- <::>
LETTER TO COMMISSION"'''
,s-=
:;'J
nl
,.....,
'..,r
FROM:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~ ~ ~
July 12, 2006 &I 0
w
"
TO:
'0
,-71
DATE:
c~ W
f71 c.......1
,,,.'
SUBJECT: Versailles Condo-Hotel
The purpose of this Letter to Commission is to inform you of the City's action with regard to
the Versailles Condominium Hotel, 3425 Collins Avenue. As you are aware, our Fire
Department responded to a two-alarm fire yesterday afternoon at this location. The fire was
quickly brought under control and all residents were evacuated safely. The fire was
contained to one unit on the sixth floor (unit 602), and there was only one minor injury
reported (smoke inhalation; treated on-site).
Because of safety concerns resulting from water intrusion in the building that affected the
electrical system, particularly from the sixth floor down to the lobby, it was necessary to de-
energize and vacate the building. As a result, the American Red Cross was contacted and
provided relocation assistance to those residents who did not make arrangements for
alternative accommodations last night.
This morning, Building officials met with the building's electrical engineer of record, and
along with Fire Department staff, visited the site. In response to continued concerns
regarding safety, the building has been posted unsafe and a violation has been issued
(copies attached). The building will remain closed until the electrical engineer and electrical
contractor inspect the building and provide a damage assessment report to determine the
repairs necessary to restore the electrical/life-safety system to normal operating conditions.
Our Building Department has also requested the electrical engineer to explore the possibility
of having the floors above the sixth opened for occupancy ifthe electrical/life-safety systems
can be safely put back into operation. The building - or parts of it - will not be open until all
necessary repairs are completed, inspected, tested, and approved.
It should be noted that the building is private property, and it is up to the condominium
association, acting as the property owner, to take the actions necessary to re-occupy the
building. Assuming the association moves expeditiously, it may be possible for a partial
reopening in the next few weeks. The Building Department will expedite any necessary
permits related to the repairs needed to re-occupy the building. The American Red Cross
has agreed to provide assistance with accommodations until Monday. Staff from our
Neighborhood Services Department, Community Services Division, is on site providing
assistance to the American Red Cross.
As you may recall, the Versailles Condo-Hotel Association agreed to a voluntary evacuation
for two weeks last year to address life-safety building code violations, as an alternative to a
mandatory evacuation. Life-safety improvements were made, allowing the building to be re-
occupied. It is important to note that improvements that were required by the City last year
appear to have resulted in the containment of the fire yesterday, minimizing additional
damage to other units and potential injuries to other residents.
Page 2 of 2
Versailles Condo-Hotel
To ensure that impacted residents are provided with information on the status of repairs to
the building, the City is establishing a telephone "Hotline" number (305.673.7419). In
addition, the City will be working with the American Red Cross to distribute informational
flyers to impacted residents, advising them of this number and urging them to begin making
necessary arrangements for alternate accommodations.
We will continue to keep you informed on the status of repairs to the building. Please feel
free to call me should you have any questions or require additional information.
Attachment
Cc: Tim Hemstreet
Hilda M. Fernandez
Tom Velazquez
Sonia Machen
Vivian Guzman
-
CITY .oF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL .17OC1CONVENTIOH CENTER Ol'lW! M~Ml BEACH. f'LQRlO,t. 331'38
.c1.m fI,ut
lulldlnllo.,_..,.1
Tt'-Phon,\3(lSlIi13-7Gl0
Facalmtle (305) 67J-78S7
STOP WORK ORDER I NOTICE OF VIOLATION
Vhll~"
Vi:RSAlLLES HOTEL coNDo
342S OOlUNS A V
MIAMlBRACH FL
...."
VSRsAtLLIS HOTEL CONDO
34!i5:00LLINS A V
MIAMI BEACH FL
Cull ..tDnbat!olll
Case No:
Sub-1)'pet
PropertyAdd~1
Pro,tlmllylUntt:
h)'ltoC'mnply:
BV06000911
UNSAFE
34Z5 COLuNS A V
3415 COLUNS A VE-COMMONARE4S
'"
DatelDapeel<<l: 07/12.12006
hu(ihppllcable); $0.00
P\!nnlt#:
You nu.in Ill"e the o_il8l)' acliQn(.) to eotJ~ or eliminate the viollltion(s) and contaet tbe IlUIpector IIIttd below.
If you do.DOt comp\yY<ithin j,g,!tIY.!J) ffomroceiptoftht!!llltiQll, the City of Miami Beach Building D<:partmmt win file
eharps and preac:ottbiil ease beforotht iovemingqtlk:Y havlngjluiJdlttion. If you intend to pull a permit in response to
tbisvill1atioo, ~ copy oflhle violation llOtkemll5tbe SUf'l)lied to the Building Department. AnY fiDes or lbls incurred from
this. viola'lion that remain outstanditlgwi1\ res"!1 in Ii lien being p!ac~d on the propmy.
ADRIAN AVALOS
SENIOR BUmDlNG lNSPEC"rOR
3OW73.7110
ReclllivedBy:
$lgn~u...:
Printed N.m.:
VlOLATlON(S)
Unit: IG!NRL
MI~DE COUN'I'V, CHAPTER S. SECTION I-S.",Ul'I6AJ'! STRUCruR.ES (b) PHYSICAL
CRITIltIA. (1),.\ 8~INGSHALLBE DEEMEDAruutltUARD AND/OR UNSAFE WHE:"l: (ill) THE
BtJlW)lNG CONnrno:~ CREA1'E$HAZARDS WITIl~SPECT TO MEANS OF EGRESS AND FIRE
PROTlC'TION AS PROVIDED HEREIN FOR THBl'Id.lTICULAR OCCUPANCY.
FIRE AT 602 UNIT, WATER DAMAGE FROM6TH.FlOOR TO LOBBY, ELECTRICAl SYSTEM WET.
SUBMIT AN eu:CTRICAL ENGINEER REPORT TO ASSES DAMAGE TO ELECTRICAL I LIFE
SAFETY SYSTEM AND METHODS OF REPAIRS.
SUBMIT STRUCTURAL REPORT FOR THEOAMAGE OF STRUCTURE AND METHODS OF
REPAIRS
PLEASE BE ADVISED TIlAT THIS VIOLUlON CASE WILL NOT BE CLOSED UNTIL SUCH tIME
THAT ALL BUILDING PERMITS REQUIRED TO CORRECT THE VJOLAnON(S)NoTED HAVE BEEN
OBTAINED AND FINAL INSPEcTrON APPltOVAL(S) HA Vi BEEN GRANTED BY TKE CITY OF
MIAMI BEAClI.
H~IlI""'Il~_" 01f1;1~
r.J(>fl