BRADENTON BEACH – City Building Official Darin Cushing has released a list of 25 condemned properties in the city.
It is the only city on Anna Maria Island where properties have been condemned after Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton hit in September and October, disproportionately affecting the southernmost city on the Island.
“I have forwarded this list to our attorney (City Attorney Ricinda Perry), and she is supposed to be drafting a letter to send out to each of the property owners .I’m not sure if she has done this as of yet, ”Cushing stated in his Dec. 2 email to The Sun. “The house that floated down 12th Street S. (1201-A Gulf Drive S.) was already demolished and removed, since it was in the road.”
Three houses already have been demolished by the owners, 2301 Ave. B, 300 23rd St. N. and 304 23rd St. N.
Demolition permits have been applied for at 2000 Gulf Drive N. and 2004 Gulf Drive N.
The other properties on the list are:
- 201 Gulf Drive S.
- 306 Gulf Drive S.
- 401 Gulf Drive S.
- 403 Gulf Drive S.
- 501 Gulf Drive S.
- 807 Gulf Drive S.
- 1303 Gulf Drive S.
- 1207 Gulf Drive S.
- 1203 Gulf Drive S.
- 1201 B Gulf Drive S.
- 303 Gulf Drive N.
- 305 Gulf Drive N.
- 1200 Gulf Drive N.
- 1202 Gulf Drive N.
- 2214 Gulf Drive N.
- 2301 Gulf Drive N.
- 100 Fourth St. S.
- 100 Ninth St. S.
- 103 12th St. S.
The demolition and removal of condemned properties came up at a Dec. 4 city commission special emergency meeting.
“My biggest concern right now is getting to those homes that are off their foundations or collapsed or leaning over,” Police Chief and Public Works Director John Cosby said.
Commissioner Jan Vosburgh asked if the homeowner is responsible for the demolition and removal of condemned buildings.
“Yes, we do not go on private property,” Cosby said.
“I’m working with Ricinda (City Attorney Ricinda Perry) to get a letter out to individuals,” Building Official Darin Cushing said. “There’s probably 20 that we deemed condemned because they were just a danger and a hazard.”
Vosburgh asked if insurance companies will cover the cost of demolition and removal.
“This issue is quite a few don’t have insurance. These homes have been in the family for generations, so they never purchased any flood insurance, they just have fire insurance and just felt if something happened, something happened, and now of course something happened,” Cosby said. “And now they don’t know what to do and don’t have the funds to do it. The bottom line is, it’s got to be up to them.”
Cosby said those homeowners may have the option to sell the property at a lower cost.
“We, at some point if they don’t comply, will wind up taking them to court,” Cosby said.
“Originally FEMA had put out some guidance that they were going to help cover this cost. We researched it a little better and it’s not quite what it seems it was going to be,” Cosby said. “What they’re doing is, if your house is insured through the Flood Insurance plan, they will offer the homeowner a $30,000 grant to remove that house and also help them construct a house to code.”
Bradenton Beach participates in the nationwide Community Rating System (CRS). The CRS is a voluntary incentive program that encourages and recognizes the community floodplain management practices that exceed the minimum requirements of the National Flood Insurance Program, according to the FEMA website.
“In CRS communities, flood insurance premium rates are discounted to reflect the reduced flood risk resulting from the community’s efforts that address the three goals of the program: Reduce and avoid flood damage to insurable property; strengthen and support the insurance aspects of the National Flood Insurance Program; and foster comprehensive floodplain management,” the FEMA website states.
Cosby outlined an example of why it’s critical for the city to comply with the CRS guidelines.
“Five cities down in Lee County got put basically on probation. They lost 25% of their flood insurance. So, if you had a $100,000 flood insurance policy it just went to $75,000 because they violated the build back (rule),” Cosby said. “That’s why it’s so important that we follow this process on the 50/50 rule.”
“I know a lot of people are upset about it but everything that is put in by the state people as they track what Darin and Steve (former Building Official Steve Gilbert) are doing goes directly to FEMA so they see it,” he said. “So basically, these five cities have been told that if they don’t come within compliance, they will lose all their flood insurance, and nobody will be able to get a flood insurance policy in those municipalities.”
Cosby said homes that were elevated and in compliance with current codes received very little damage in the recent hurricanes.
“There’s absolutely no damage to those buildings at all,” he said. “It does work and unfortunately, it’s costly and if you can’t afford it, that’s when the issue comes in. Those people whose houses are up higher and they’re in compliance, why should they lose their insurance because others won’t or can’t make that happen?”
Cosby said it’s up to local governments to follow the appropriate guidelines.
“If you’re not following those guidelines, you’re going to get nailed and we can’t afford that to happen,” he said. “It’s too costly for our homeowners that still have insurance. We don’t want to get in that situation.”
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Mobile homes likely within repair guidelines
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