Builder Cited For Actions That Led To High Rise Explosion
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SUNNY ISLES (CBSMiami) -- Officials will release a full inspection report on an explosion at a Sunny Isles Beach high-rise that injured six people.
The full report will be released Monday, but Sunny Isles Beach building officials say they've already found that the builder, Coastal Construction, did not properly flush the gas lines. They got a ticket for it, and have lost their right to move residents into the brand new building, until every issue is resolved.
Since Friday's explosion that injured seven people at the nearly completed Chateau luxury condo high rise in Sunny Isles Beach things have quieted down in this area. Now, the early stages of the investigation show the builder, Coastal Construction made mistakes that led to the blast.
The city gave them a ticket for not flushing their gas lines properly, and it and declared the building uninhabitable until improvements are made.
"The gas piping was not purged...they weren't doing that in accordance with the Florida building code....We take safety seriously, and the South Florida building code is one of the strongest in the country. And everyone needs to follow it. It's just that simple," Mayor Bud Scholl told CBS4's Natalia Zea.
Mayor Scholl said the developer and the builder are cooperating fully with the investigation.
Coastal put out a statement reading in part, "Forensic engineers continue to investigate the cause of the ignition, which remains unknown at this time. Once the cause is determined and the equipment is put back into service, we expect that code section 406.7 will no longer be a valid concern and the temporary certificate of occupancy will be reissued."
The city has taken some heat as well for the locking down Collins for six blocks during the emergency response.
"The traffic was backed up all over Miami," said resident Ivonne Rodriguez.
"My sister had been out all day, and it took her three hours to get home, so she had to park at the library and walk to the apartment," said Joann Richardson.
The mayor applauded first responders, but says the city can do better to clear up the gridlock.
"We're now looking at disaster mitigation plans, in the sense of, if certain areas of Collins Avenue need to be closed down we have clear strategies in place for diverting or redirecting traffic," said Mayor Scholl.
One thing the city wants to do to improve response to disasters like the explosion is to build a bridge linking the two sides of the canal at NE 174th Street and Bay Harbor Drive. The idea is that pedestrians and emergency vehicles only would use it.
The bridge project is stalled, tied up in litigation, with a condo building opposing it but some residents believe it would help the coastal community.
"Of course being that I live on the block, it may not be the best idea for the residents but you know you have to think in general what's best for everybody," said Richardson.
The bridge proposal, and other response concerns are likely to come up at the City Commission meeting scheduled for October 15th.
As for The Chateau, the builder says it's not clear whether the explosion will delay the building opening.
