LTC 293-2005 900 Collins Avenue - Avery Smith/Coral Rock House Demolition Status Report
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OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. 293-2005
LETTER TO COMMISSION
FROM:
DATE:
Mayor David Dermer and Members of the City Commission
City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez V-
November 21, 2005
TO:
SUBJECT: 900 Collins Avenue - Avery Smith/Coral Rock House
Demolition Status Report
This LTC provides the status of the matter since the Miami-Dade County Unsafe Structures
Board (USB) on February 16, 2005 found that there was no feasible alternative to demolition,
and ordered that the Avery SmithlCoral Rock House at 900 Collins Avenue be demolished within
sixty (60) days of the issuance of a demolition permit.
The City appealed this decision of the USB to the Appellate Division of the Circuit Court, and
obtained a stay of the demolition order. Oral argument was held on July 6, 2005, and the Court
issued its decision on October 4, 2005. The USB had refused to include within its order of
February 16th the grace period requested by the City's Historic Preservation Board, and if so
requested reauired by the Miami-Dade County Code, that the property owner be provided with
no less than 120 days within which to obtain a permit to repair the premises, and no less than
180 days to complete the repairs. The Court agreed that the grace period once requested by an
historic preservation board, was required, and therefore vacated the USB's decision and
remanded the matter back to the USB.
On May 3, 2005, the City's Historic Preservation Board heard an application presented by the
property owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness to restore the Coral Rock House, and a
Certificate of Appropriateness for Demolition of portions of the House, the entire garage
structure on the property, and portions of the adjoining structure to the west located at 209 9th
Street, also owned by the same property owner and located on the same lot. (HPB File No.
2887).
The Coral Rock Structure survived three hurricanes during the 2005 hurricane season, but
suffered further roof damagelcollapse, as evidenced by visual examination from nearby
structures. Doug Wood, the structural engineer who had worked on behalf of the City preparing
structural plans for the shoring, bracing and restoration of the House, worked with the Building
Department throughout the Spring and resolved all of the Department's comments on his plans,
except for the two tests that needed to be performed on the property, specifically, the soil test (to
test the ability of the soils on site to withstand loads necessary for shoring and bracing), and a
load test (to test the ability of the coral rock within the structure to also withstand anticipated
structural stress during shoring, bracing and restoration). The property owner never gave his
permission for any City representative or Doug Wood or other City consultant to come on to the
property to perform these tests, and to our knowledge has not performed these tests
themselves. The tests are the last remaining pieces to the design and approval of plans for
shoring, bracing and restoration.
We are committed to providing excellent public service to all who live, work and play in our vibrant, tropical, historic community.
Page: 2
Date: November 21, 2005
LTC - 900 Collins Avenue Demolition - Status Report
The Acting Building Official, Hamid Dolikhani, met with a structural engineer who had been
involved with the restoration of the Pentagon after "9/11". This engineer provided alternative
conceptual plans for the shoring and bracing of the House, which the engineer stated were
significantly less expensive than the ones prepared previously for the City. The City was in the
process of hiring this engineer when the property owner hired him instead. While the engineer
was supposed to prepare more definitive plans for shoring, bracing and restoration of the House
before the USB hearing, they have not been presented to the City as yet for review.
On Wednesday, November 16, 2005, the Miami-Dade County USB met to consider amending its
order of February 16, 2005, as required by Court Order. The USB took testimony, deliberated,
and amended its order in accordance with the Court Order, adding 120 days to obtain a permit,
and 180 days to perform work under the permit for shoring, bracing and repairing the structure.
If no permit is obtained within the 120 day period, the structure is to be demolished, either by the
Building Official, or by the property owner. During the hearing, members of the USB were
sharply critical of the City's not stepping forward to contribute financially to the restoration of the
property, and its delay in hiring an engineer who could prepare plans that were less costly than
the plans previously presented, upon which the determination that no feasible alternative to
demolition existed and demolition was warranted. The USB retains jurisdiction to extend the
120/180 day periods.
The Administration will shortly request an inspection of the property under the Minimum
Maintenance Standards section of the City Code, to determine whether the necessary shoring
and bracing plans, and ultimately a more comprehensive repair and restoration plan, consistent
with the Certificate of Appropriateness issued by the Historic Preservation Board on May 3, 2005
can be implemented.
The Administration will further update the Commission on this matter as it progresses and as
more information regarding the intentions of the property owner becomes available. If you have
any questions relative to this property, or need additional information, please contact me.
JM~~GG:TRM
F:\~~\$ALL\CM RESP\900 collins-5.ltc.doc
c: Murray Dubbin, City Attorney
Gary Held, First Assistant City Attorney
Rhonda Montoya, First Assistant City Attorney
Bob Parcher, City Clerk
Hamid Dolikhani, Acting Building Official
Jorge G. Gomez, Planning Director
William Cary, Assistant Planning Director
Thomas R. Mooney, Design and Preservation Manager
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