The county did not have to search far for violators when Daniella Levine Cava, Miami-Dade Mayor, announced an emergency audit of older residential buildings that had fallen behind in inspections.Two apartment buildings owned by the county were included on Monday's list of 24 condominium or apartment buildings that have been found to be in unsafe-structure violations. These buildings are not required to have their recertifications renewed after 40 years.Little River Plaza and Ward Tower 1, on the listLittle River Plaza, a 86-unit complex of public housing built in 1970, is cited for failing to make necessary lighting improvements in its parking lot.Ward Tower 1, a complex built in the 1970s at the 5300 block NW 23rd Avenue, Miami was cited in March with a recertification violation. However, details were not available.The Levine Cavas audit of Miami-Dades places Miami-Dades on the list as building owners. This is because of a problem with the county recertification process, which is supposed to ensure that buildings older than 40 year old are safe. Although the regulations are some of the most stringent in the country they don't guarantee that building owners will be able to obtain recertifications within the timeframe.Miami-Dade cannot afford to maintain all public housingMichael Liu, county housing director, stated that the county is currently short $10 million in federal funding each year for public housing. This has forced the county to reduce the cost of complexes throughout Miami-Dade.He said that the agency is facing difficult decisions based on safety and health risks. There is also a backlog of capital requirements of over $500 million.According to county records, Little River was certified structurally in 2015. However, it has not been certified electrically. These are required by county code for buildings older than 40 years. They must be renewed every ten years thereafter. If repairs are not completed in time, Miami-Dade inspectors will cite the owners and refer the case to the Unsafe Structures Board.Continue the storyAccording to Edward Rojas (county administrator), there are more than 1000 active cases before Miami-Dade's board for overdue recertifications. Miami-Dade does not have responsibility for properties located outside of city limits, as each city has its own certification process.Levine Cava made the announcement 48 hours after Champlain Tower South suffered a partial collapse on Thursday morning. An estimated 150 people are still missing.Local governments made multiple announcements to assure residents that older buildings are safe. Champlain Towers South, which was in the 40-year process of recertification from Surfside, was at the time the collapse occurred. Repair work is currently underway on the roof.Levine Cava's audit contained parameters that were intended to limit the buildings being reviewed. She requested an audit of residential buildings over five stories that were due for 40-year recertifications, but have not received them.Rojas stated that county inspectors have begun visiting 24 buildings that meet the mayor's criteria. However, they are also expanding their inspections to buildings up to four stories. Rojas stated that the goal is to inspect exterior structures for structural problems.He said that they were out inspecting the condition of these buildings. If they find something that is not obvious, we will notify the property so they can get an engineer to inspect it.After Surfside collapse, 24 buildings were added to Levine Cavas' audit listOther properties included on the 24 enforcement recertification case lists released by the county's Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources are Jade Winds, located at the 1700 block of Northeast 191st Street, Buckley Towers, located on the 1300 Block of Miami Gardens Drive, and Lake Park, located on the 900 block of Northeast 199th Street.Liu stated that the Little River complex had been structurally certified in 2015 and that any remaining electrical problems are not due to habitability or structural issues.Liu stated that the Ward Tower 1 complex was structurally safe after a 40-year recertification.
