Clearwater Condo Evacuation Sparks Safety, Cost Fears

Sixty residents of the South Beach III condominiums in Clearwater were urgently evacuated after a large crack was found in a concrete support column, raising fears of collapse similar to the 2021 Surfside tragedy. Residents were permitted brief, supervised visits to recover essentials as construction crews installed additional support beams to stabilize the building. The condo association has kept residents informed, with repairs reportedly on schedule and both city and independent engineers conducting thorough inspections, including a peer review. Management is targeting a possible longer-term re-entry for residents as soon as Tuesday, pending ongoing safety assessments. Financial concerns have emerged over the cost of repairs, possible increased assessments, and property values. The event has underscored broader challenges facing aging condo infrastructure and rising insurance costs in Florida.