Magistrate orders repairs and engineer's report for vacant Ocean Beach Quarters building at 3711 S. Atlantic

Special Magistrate Steven De La Roche ordered broad repairs and an expedited engineering assessment after the city presented multiple structural and life-safety violations at the vacant Ocean Beach Quarters hotel at 3711 South Atlantic Avenue.

The city’s building and code staff documented violations D through N across the property: deteriorated and spalling concrete with exposed rebar on balconies, rusted doors, missing/downspouts and soffit damage, undermined pool and noncompliant pool barriers, damaged railings and cracked ramps and walkways. Inspectors took photographs showing exposed rebar, patched but unpermitted concrete work, missing soffit panels and a non-code pool barrier. The city recommended an order for compliance and administrative fees; the city asked for $250 per day in fines for continued noncompliance.

During the hearing, the magistrate heard testimony from city building staff, including building official Steve Edmond (also identified as Steve Edmonds in the record), who explained that concrete restoration on structures over three stories triggers Florida’s requirement for a threshold engineer to observe and sign off on repairs; the city has not received the required engineer’s reports. Edmonds described safety risks from falling concrete and the need for proper reshoring during repair work.

A representative for the owner, Pinchas Mamani, explained steps taken, including temporary perimeter fencing and partial patching, and said contractors began repairs after inspections. Mamani said the owner had invested in seawall work and planned further work on the building; he acknowledged the need for engineer-led inspection and documentation and said he would retain an engineer.

A nearby condo association president — identified in the record as Nograni, a neighbor and Ocean Villas condo association representative — gave public comment describing repeated complaints over three years, ongoing debris and rodent issues, and damage and visual blight affecting adjacent high-value condominium units. She urged stronger enforcement and asked what guarantees existed that the owner would pay fines if levied.

After hearing testimony and reviewing photos and the permit history, the magistrate found the property in violation of the magistrate’s prior order for violations D through N and issued order number 7, requiring all listed repairs and compliance with any required permits and inspections. The magistrate set a compliance deadline of Feb. 14, 2026 (Valentine’s Day), imposed a daily fine of $250 for noncompliance beginning after the deadline, and assessed administrative fees of $149.09 due within 30 days.

The magistrate also granted the city’s request for an engineer’s report on the overall structure: he ordered the owner deliver an engineer’s report to building official Steve Edmonds by Nov. 20 to inform the scope of required repairs and to guide permit submissions.

Failure to comply with the order will subject the property to daily fines and potential city lien/foreclosure enforcement if fees and fines remain unpaid; the magistrate noted the limits of his authority to compel immediate repairs but emphasized financial enforcement mechanisms.

Provenance: building official testimony, neighbor comment and photographic evidence are part of the hearing record and were considered in the magistrate’s order.