Condo president warns unit tied to Jan. 6 death is unsafe; magistrate orders permitting and follow-up

City building staff told the magistrate that inspectors visiting 3580 South Ocean Shore Boulevard, Apartment 806 discovered remodeling and exposed plumbing that lacked the necessary permits. Inspectors said parts of the unit appeared gutted and unfinished, and that there had been no record of a final inspection for earlier work.

Bob Botkin (local resident who spoke at the hearing) described the property as in poor condition and said the building department had posted notices. The magistrate and building staff noted the tragic incident at the unit on Jan. 6 and said the city’s primary concern was life-safety and ensuring the unit is completed to code.

Counsel and staff explained that a plumbing permit had been pulled earlier but no final signoff was located; the magistrate required the respondent (or authorized representative) to engage a contractor to pull the appropriate permit within 45 days and directed that the work be completed under the building-department inspection schedule (180 days was described as the general completion window subject to passing inspections). The magistrate scheduled a status appearance at the next hearing (April 22) to track progress and encouraged the respondent to provide any historic inspection documentation that could resolve whether final inspections had been completed previously.

Mary Doney, president of the Nautilus condominium association, testified the unit has been in poor condition for years, was gutted and contained stored items and debris, and that other residents had safety concerns; the magistrate acknowledged those concerns and said city staff would address life-safety issues as permitted by their authority.

The magistrate said an order would be mailed outlining timing and requirements and that failure to timely engage the permitting process could lead to additional enforcement.