A series of incidents including the fatal collapse of a condo building in Surfside, Florida have prompted the District to implement safety enhancements to its building safety review.
In the wake of the recent building collapse in Surfside, Florida as well as an apartment building under construction in Washington, D.C., the District's "Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs added several enhancements to building safety review on Friday," reports Naomi Starobin. The new rules, which apply to both multi-family residential developments and commercial properties, require that "all building owners must notify the District of any unsafe conditions and file engineering plans when unsafe conditions are being repaired" and call for a review of all active projects by the developer of the collapsed D.C. structure, 10Square Development. "In a statement, Mayor Muriel Bowser said 'The tragedy in Florida and the frightening collapse of a building here in DC have created a new sense of urgency to find these problems before they put people in danger.'"
"So far, the city has not determined the cause of the Kennedy Street building collapse, in which one construction worker was trapped and suffered serious but not life-threatening injuries." The investigation of the Surfside collapse, whose death toll stands at up to 95, also remains ongoing.
FULL STORY: In Response To Recent Building Collapses, D.C. Adds Safety Requirements
How New Safety Legislation Will Impact Florida Condo Market
New regulations aimed at preventing disasters like the Surfside condo collapse are forcing a reckoning on the part of property owners who may struggle to afford required repairs and upgrades.
The Problem With Miami Beach's High-Rises
Last year's Miami Beach condo collapse could portend more tragedy to come if developers don't address the risks of aging buildings and climate change.
Miami Herald: Collapsed Florida Residential Building Had Major Defects, Violated Code
The safety of Champlain Towers South was compromised to make more room for parking, according to an investigation by the Miami Herald in consultation with four engineers and a general contractor.
The Right to Mobility
As we consider how to decarbonize transportation, preserving mobility, especially for lower- and middle-income people, must be a priority.
Bend Eliminates Parking Minimums
The city is complying with an Oregon state mandate that some cities have challenged in court.
Scottsdale Cuts Water Supply to Nearby Suburb
The city claims it has no responsibility to provide water to the unincorporated Maricopa County community.
Utah Could Eliminate Parking Requirements Near Transit
A proposed state bill would bar cities from requiring parking in areas adjacent to transit stations in an effort to make housing production more affordable and encourage walking and transit use.
Where Pandemic Bike Improvements Won Out
While some cities are reverting back to pre-pandemic street configurations, others are taking advantage of the momentum for bike and pedestrian infrastructure to make pandemic-era projects permanent.
Atlanta Transit Plans Stall Due to Budget Concerns
With MARTA facing a potential billion dollar shortfall, the agency says it can’t fulfill its system expansion plan.
Town of Reading
Meridian Consultants
HUD's Office of Policy Development and Research
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Harvard GSD Executive Education
City of Piedmont, CA
City of Morganton
St. Louis County, MO
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
.png){kind=link}