Aventura Condo Owners Fear Losing Their Homes amid Structural Concerns and Lack of Transparency
The Recertification Deadline Looms
The 40-year recertification of Commodore Plaza has been overdue for 13 years, and the city of Aventura has been issuing violations. For the 654 property owners, this means that an upcoming Miami-Dade County unsafe structures hearing could result in them having to leave their units.
Property Owners’ Frustrations
NBC6 Investigates spoke with several condo owners at Commodore Plaza, who expressed their frustrations and fears about the situation.
"It makes me cry, really," said Nora Mullen. "At my age, I don’t think that I should go through something like this."
They pointed to a lack of transparency, citing difficulties in obtaining information from the property management and association board. "It’s a hassle to ask them for information. They take forever. They send you the wrong information," said Raiza Meek, another property owner.
Seeking Help from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation
The property owners have reached out to the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) and its Division of Condominiums seeking help. Johnna Alvarez, a property owner, even filed a 70-page complaint with the agency, detailing issues ranging from financial to questionable bidding problems. However, she was told that she would have to litigate to resolve the issues.
The DBPR’s Response
According to the DBPR’s annual reports, from July 1, 2022, to June 30, 2023, the agency received 2,383 complaints about condominiums, with 2,307 (96%) being resolved within 90 days. However, when NBC6 asked the agency what "resolved" meant, they did not receive a response.
State Senators’ Concerns
State Sen. Ileana Garcia (R-Miami) and State Rep. Alex Rizo (R-Hialeah) have expressed their concerns about the situation. "I really thought that we were going to have more help from DBPR, I thought that they were going to open their bright minds and with all the money and resources that we were giving them that they were going to do more and they haven’t, they haven’t bothered to even hire or have an interim ombudsman, so I’m very upset about that," said Sen. Garcia.
The Condo Law and Its Consequences
The new condo law passed following the tragic collapse in Surfside requires condos to maintain reserve funds for important structural repairs and maintenance. However, this requirement is exacerbating the issue, with many owners concern about being priced out of their homes. "The going to full reserves is going to put a lot of people on the streets," said Johnna Alvarez.
Conclusion
The fate of the 654 property owners at Commodore Plaza hangs in the balance as the unsafe structures hearing approaches. With the lack of transparency, ineffective help from the DBPR, and the consequences of the condo law, many are left feeling uncertain about their future. As the situation unfolds, State Sen. Garcia and State Rep. Rizo are looking at changes that can be made to the condo law to mitigate the effects on the owners.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the situation with the 40-year recertification of Commodore Plaza?
A: The recertification has been overdue for 13 years, and the city of Aventura has been issuing violations.
Q: What are the concerns of the property owners?
A: They are concerned about the lack of transparency, the difficulty in obtaining information from the property management and association board, and the impact of the condo law on their finances.
Q: What is the response from the Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR)?
A: The DBPR has received a high volume of complaints, with 2,307 (96%) being resolved within 90 days, but the meaning of "resolved" is unclear.
Q: What are the proposed changes to the condo law?
A: State Sen. Garcia and State Rep. Rizo are exploring options to extend the deadline to build up reserves, provide an offset for owners on fixed incomes, and discuss the amount of the reserve.
