Approximately 60 residents were evacuated from the 12-story South Beach III condominium at 1460 Gulf Boulevard in Clearwater on Tuesday, May 6, after construction workers discovered a significant crack in a concrete support column within the building’s ground-level parking garage. The crack, reportedly over two feet wide, raised immediate concerns about the structural integrity of the building.
Emergency responders from the Clearwater Police Department and Clearwater Fire and Rescue quickly arrived on the scene and soon after began precautionary evacuations. The Pinellas County Technical Rescue Team also assisted in the evacuation and initial assessment. “Because it was still unknown the level of damage, we told residents to take intermediate belongings and leave immediately,” said Division Chief Jevon Graham of Clearwater Fire and Rescue .
The building, constructed in 1979 and comprising 161 units, was approximately 40% occupied at the time of evacuation. No injuries were reported, and officials confirmed that the structure had not collapsed. However, residents will not be allowed to return until the building is deemed safe by structural engineers.
Karins Engineering, the firm responsible for the building’s structural assessments, had conducted an inspection in September 2024. The report concluded that the foundation and overall structure were in “good condition,” with no observed conditions compromising the building’s safety . However, the City of Clearwater did not receive this report by the December 31, 2024, deadline, as required by new statewide condo safety guidelines implemented after the 2021 Surfside condominium collapse.
During the ongoing permitted work to replace part of the garage floor parking slab, a construction worker noticed the large cracks and voids in one of the concrete support columns, prompting the evacuation. The city has since issued a permit for temporary shoring to stabilize the structure. “Additional work is needed to complete more substantial repairs,” stated Joelle Castelli, Clearwater’s public communications director .
Residents expressed a mix of shock and relief. “I’m shocked,” said resident David Zuzman, who evacuated with his two children. “This is a very well-managed building.” Another resident, Aurora Donnelly, recalled her immediate concern: “I’m running down the stairs saying, ‘Oh my gosh, I hope the building doesn’t fall down,'” drawing parallels to the Surfside tragedy. The partial collapse of the Champlain Towers South condo in Surfside, Florida, on June 24, 2021, resulted in 98 deaths. That event became one of the deadliest structural failures in U.S. history.
The Red Cross is assisting displaced residents, and police remain on-site as stabilization efforts continue. The timeline for residents’ return remains uncertain, pending a comprehensive structural evaluation and necessary repairs.
