Building board upholds condemnation for 830 Brookshire Road, sets permit and construction deadlines

The City of Daytona Beach building board on a 3-0 vote upheld the condemnation and demolition order for 830 Brookshire Road and set a schedule for rehabilitation if the property owner meets specified milestones. The board required a building permit to be issued no later than Oct. 31, 2025; within 120 days of permit issuance the owner must complete roof work and address underpinning; and within six months of permit issuance the owner must complete rough inspections and roof final. The board emphasized city staff will perform inspections rather than relying on private providers because this property is in active condemnation status.

The property was found to have extensive exterior deterioration and an interior that had been gutted; staff said the structure crosses a 50% damage threshold requiring compliance with the current code. Glenn Aricourt, chief building official, described exterior and interior conditions and told the board the roof and perimeter fascia and soffit need full replacement and that the inside would have to be rebuilt to meet modern code. "Everything's completely gutted on the inside," Aricourt said.

The owner and contractor urged the board for time to complete repairs. Jorge Mejia (foreman/project manager) described structural testing his team performed and said most of the foundation appears sound except for a small corner that will need underpinning. "I have no worries whatsoever [about] the physical property," Mejia said, and he described plans to change contractors and proceed under a new permit package. Contractor Ezra Safdie also testified and both were sworn before giving testimony.

Staff told the board the property was initially condemned in June 2023 and that the current owner worked with city staff after acquisition; staff said permit approvals and work stalled because of contractor problems. Kim Flaherty, permits and licensing project manager, told the board that the city will expedite plan review but requested permit issuance — not merely a submitted application — by Oct. 31, 2025 to avoid delays caused by unaddressed review comments. "Permit issuance no later than 10/31/2025," Flaherty said when discussing the deadline.

The board approved the motion to uphold the condemnation order and to apply the staff-outlined timeline. The board also said it prefers city staff inspections for this case because of the condemnation history and the need for staff familiarity with the file. The owner acknowledged the deadlines and said he will communicate with staff about progress.

The building board recorded the vote to uphold the condemnation and adoption of the timeline as a formal action. If the owner does not meet the milestones the board and staff said they will proceed with demolition.

Less-critical details: staff and the owner discussed the option of stepwise milestones (an earlier 90-day roof milestone was discussed) and clarified that the 120-day and six-month benchmarks begin at permit issuance. The board and staff also discussed that the owner may use a private plan reviewer but that city inspections are preferred for this condemnation case.