HOA Nut House

MIAMI -- The few remaining tenants and owners at a Miami condominium may be paying a high price for the foreclosure crisis sweeping across South Florida.

The 7-story building at 1531 NW 16th Ave. has 51 units, but only 17 are occupied. The loss of owners to foreclosures means a loss of maintenance fees being paid for the upkeep of common areas.

On Monday, the city of Miami found several code violations inside the building, the most serious being a fire alarm system that does not work.

Another violation involves garbage that has been piling up for three to four months and is blocking the trash shutes as high as the fourth floor.

The few remaining residents said break-ins in the building have been rampant.

Thieves have targeted the foreclosed units, even the metal casings on the laundry machines were taken, likely to be sold for scrap metal.

Overnight, the city of Miami provided a fire watch service at the building free of charge because the alarm system is not working.

The company that handles the waste removal, Choice Environmental, was called out to remove the garbage.

City of Miami Fire Rescue Lt. Ignatius Carroll told Local 10 that under city code, if a company has a dumpster at a property, the company must continue to pick up the garbage even if the bills are not paid.

City building officials are still in the process of deciding if residents will be allowed to stay. The top priorities are getting the fire alarm working and removing the trash.

By 5 o’clock Tuesday, city officials said they will have a better understanding of how to proceed next.

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