Residents forced to evacuate Clearwater condo allowed to retrieve belongings
Share and Follow


Above video: Lawmakers pass condo reform bill amid growing safety concerns.

CLEARWATER, Fla. (WFLA) — The wait is over for some residents who will be returning home almost a week after evacuating from a Clearwater condo due to structural concerns.

Residents at The South Beach III Condominiums on Gulf Boulevard received a notice Monday night that said they would be allowed to return to their units, “effective immediately.”

Several residents were given the all-clear, except for those living on stacks 4-5, which officials said are located directly above the support column that initially prompted concern.

Sixty people were forced to evacuate from the 12-story building on May 6 after engineers found the column splitting in the first-floor parking structure.

Residents — some of whom left with only the clothes of their backs — were given 15 minutes to retrieve their belongings as crews continued to work to stabilize the building over the weekend.

The condo association said Monday it could be an additional week before residents are allowed to return to units on stacks 4-5, and an additional emergency access plan is being considered.

Those who were returning to their units Monday night were asked to abide by a set of restrictions. Some of those restrictions included maximum occupancy limits, designated parking areas and no deliveries over 75 pounds.

“This has been a long process,” the condo association wrote in the notice. “While residents may be excited to re-enter their units, adherence to these instructions is imperative to the safety of all our residents.”

Officials said contractors will be frequently inspecting the temporary safety shoring apparatuses that were installed, and there will likely be tightening and other adjustments — all of which is “normal and expected.”

Share and Follow
You May Also Like

Visitors participate in Revolutionary War events at Rocky Mount State Historic Site

PINEY FLATS, Tenn. (WJHL) — Rocky Mount State Historic Site went back…

“Exploring the Most Devastating Floods in the US from the Past 25 Years”

(AP) – Flooding has caused an average of more than 125 deaths…

Safety tips for boating over the Independence Day holiday

SAVANNAH, Ga. () — Boating is a popular way to observe Independence…

1 in 5 new car buyers take on $1,000 monthly payments

(NewsNation) — Once considered rare, $1,000 car payments are fast becoming the…

Residents of Mahomet neighborhood keep up the tradition of ‘Independence Lane’

MAHOMET, Ill. (WCIA) — A group of six Mahomet neighbors are continuing…

At least 27 people are dead in Texas floods as the search continues for the many missing

KERRVILLE, Texas (AP) — Rescuers scoured flooded riverbanks littered with mangled trees…

'Today will be a hard day': Search ongoing for missing kids, adults in Kerrville

AUSTIN (KXAN) — The city of Kerrville and Kerr County provided another…

Ozzy Osbourne Bids Farewell to Live Performances with Epic Hometown Show for 40,000 Fans

LONDON – Hard-rock royalty and some 40,000 fans gathered for an ear-splitting…