County holds off on Ocean Tower for the time being
November 13, 2009 8:04 PM
By LAURA B. MARTINEZ, The Brownsville Herald
The Cameron County Commissioners’ Court has held off on providing a contractor with a temporary storage site for demolished construction material from South Padre Island’s Ocean Tower, which is scheduled for demolition.
Action on the site was tabled Thursday because the Commissioners’ Court needed additional information about the implosion of the structure, including whether there would be hazardous material involved and who would be in charge of removing the debris, County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said.
Costa Rica Food & Spirits Restaurant requested that it be allowed to store the remnants of Ocean Tower for about 45 days, while the steel and concrete is separated, said Cameron County Parks Director Javier Mendez.
Costa Rica Food & Spirits Restaurant is leasing its land from Cameron County.
Oceans Towers is a 31-story condominium scheduled to be demolished in early December.
Construction on the 151-unit luxury project was halted last summer year after it was determined it was sinking, which caused cracks in beams and columns.
Antun T. Domit, listed as the resident agent for Ocean Tower LP, sent out letters in November 2008 to people who had either expressed interest or had purchased one of the condo units, informing them that the high-rise project was cancelled.
The developers of Ocean Tower have filed a lawsuit against the two engineering firms contracted for the project.
Meanwhile, while discussing the Ocean Tower situation at Thursday’s meeting, commissioners learned that Ocean Tower LP owes the county about $40,000 in back taxes from 2008. Ocean Tower owes other taxing entities in the county an additional $40,000, officials said.
Tax attorney John Guevara, of Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP, on Friday said the law firm has filed a lawsuit against Ocean Tower on behalf of Cameron County for the 2008 back taxes.
The lawsuit was filed earlier this week.
Although past due tax notices were sent out beginning in July to Ocean Tower, the law firm has received no response, Guevara said.
Domit could not be reached for comment on Friday.
News of the owed taxes didn’t sit well with Precinct 3 County Commissioner David A. Garza, who said the county should consider filing an injunction against Ocean Tower.
An injunction would temporarily prohibit Ocean Tower from being demolished.
"I think we need to protect ourselves," Garza said. "It’s costing a lot for them (Ocean Tower) to do that. Maybe they’d be more apt to pay what they owe," if an injunction was filed.
However, Cascos said he didn’t believe asking for the delay would help the county collect the taxes.
Precinct 1 County Commissioner Sofia C.Benavides said since Ocean Tower has been selling some of the furnishings from the high-rise, the business should also make an attempt to pay the county money owed.
Advertisements have been placed in The Brownsville Herald stating that some of the furnishings, such as lighting, plumbing, interior fixtures, granite flooring and countertops, were for sale and priced below wholesale.
"If they’ve been selling all this stuff, they should be paying us," Benavides said.
Showing posts with label SPI. Show all posts
Showing posts with label SPI. Show all posts
Sunday, November 15, 2009
Monday, October 12, 2009
Hilton resort to open in 2010 in South Padre Island, South TX | Rio Grande Valley
SPI Hilton resort to open in 2010
Antonio Vindell/Special to the Island Breeze
Link to Article
Sometimes in the spring of 2010, visitors will be greeted by the newest hotel in this island resort on the Mexican Gulf that still has not fully recovered from the 2008 hurricane season.
The Hilton Garden Inn Beach Resort is set to add 156 rooms to the local lodging industry, giving vacationers another hotel choice.
The new facility is the first major full-service hotel and conference center to be built here within he last 30 years, Island officials said.
Dan Quandt, the executive director with the South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau,described the hotel as a nice addition for the Island .
"For many years, we have had four major hotels here," he said, "So this is going to be the first conference hotel to be built here in quite a while."
The four hotels he was referring to the Isla Grande Beach Resort, the Sheraton, the Bahia Mar and the South Padre Beach Resort, formerly known as the Holiday Inn.
Quandt said only the Isla Grand and the Sheraton are up and running, while the two other have been closed since late July 2008 when Hurricane Dolly slammed into the Island.
"The reality is that we really need to think about the ones we lost," he said. "Those two hotels might never get back on the market."
While the Bahia Mar is getting a major face lift and it could open as early as March 2010, nothing has been done to the old Holiday Inn.
The new hotel, under construction across from the South Padre Island Convention Centre, is another project of Barry Patel, an entrepreneur who already operates the Best Western La Copa Beach Resort and La Quinta Beach Resort here.
The Hilton Garden Inn is going to be a fourstory,156-unit hotel equipped with a large meeting room that could be divided into three rooms. Patel could not be reached for comment, but a company spokesman said the hotel is scheduled to open in late February or in early March. "It's going to have 156 rooms," he said, "and more than 8,000 square feet of meeting rooms." The hotel is being constructed just outside the Town of South Padre Island limits, James Mitchim, the town's building department official said.
A building permit was issued by the Cameron County transportation department office in San Benito.
Although the 156 rooms will not quite make up for the nearly 400 rooms the Islands lost to Hurricane Dolly, but they will come in handy for visitors coming here in 2010.
Quandt said the Island has about 4,000 lodging rooms and added the Hilton Garden Inn is going to be a big plus for the Island.
"We are really excited that we are getting a new hotel," he said. "The Hilton Garden Inn is going to be our next full-service hotel."
Antonio Vindell/Special to the Island Breeze
Link to Article
Sometimes in the spring of 2010, visitors will be greeted by the newest hotel in this island resort on the Mexican Gulf that still has not fully recovered from the 2008 hurricane season.
The Hilton Garden Inn Beach Resort is set to add 156 rooms to the local lodging industry, giving vacationers another hotel choice.
The new facility is the first major full-service hotel and conference center to be built here within he last 30 years, Island officials said.
Dan Quandt, the executive director with the South Padre Island Convention & Visitors Bureau,described the hotel as a nice addition for the Island .
"For many years, we have had four major hotels here," he said, "So this is going to be the first conference hotel to be built here in quite a while."
The four hotels he was referring to the Isla Grande Beach Resort, the Sheraton, the Bahia Mar and the South Padre Beach Resort, formerly known as the Holiday Inn.
Quandt said only the Isla Grand and the Sheraton are up and running, while the two other have been closed since late July 2008 when Hurricane Dolly slammed into the Island.
"The reality is that we really need to think about the ones we lost," he said. "Those two hotels might never get back on the market."
While the Bahia Mar is getting a major face lift and it could open as early as March 2010, nothing has been done to the old Holiday Inn.
The new hotel, under construction across from the South Padre Island Convention Centre, is another project of Barry Patel, an entrepreneur who already operates the Best Western La Copa Beach Resort and La Quinta Beach Resort here.
The Hilton Garden Inn is going to be a fourstory,156-unit hotel equipped with a large meeting room that could be divided into three rooms. Patel could not be reached for comment, but a company spokesman said the hotel is scheduled to open in late February or in early March. "It's going to have 156 rooms," he said, "and more than 8,000 square feet of meeting rooms." The hotel is being constructed just outside the Town of South Padre Island limits, James Mitchim, the town's building department official said.
A building permit was issued by the Cameron County transportation department office in San Benito.
Although the 156 rooms will not quite make up for the nearly 400 rooms the Islands lost to Hurricane Dolly, but they will come in handy for visitors coming here in 2010.
Quandt said the Island has about 4,000 lodging rooms and added the Hilton Garden Inn is going to be a big plus for the Island.
"We are really excited that we are getting a new hotel," he said. "The Hilton Garden Inn is going to be our next full-service hotel."
Monday, September 21, 2009
SPI's 'leaning tower' to be demolished
SPI's 'leaning tower' to be demolished
By Rio Grande Guardian
SOUTH PADRE ISLAND, Sept. 21 - Ocean Tower, the 31-story building dubbed by many as the “leaning tower of South Padre Island," is to be demolished.
The 158-unit skyscraper, situated on the north end of the island, was sinking slowly into the sand.
The tower will be demolished, probably in mid-November, through implosion by Controlled Demolition, Inc., the company that set a Guinness World Record when it “imploded” the Seattle Kingdome.
“After careful consideration, we believe it is in the best interest of all parties involved, including the people of South Padre Island, to demolish Ocean Tower,” said Ocean Tower, LP, in a prepared statement.
“Unfortunately, multiple engineering studies have led us to the conclusion that it is not economically feasible to complete the building and to provide the caliber of condominium tower that we intended to build. We believe the responsible action at this point is to clear the site to enable potential future development of the property.”
In the statement, Oceans Tower said it is important for residents and visitors to know the problems with the building are specific to this project. “We believe South Padre Island remains a viable and desirable place to build that continues to attract economic development and growth,” the statement said.
Construction of Ocean Tower was halted in summer 2008 after it was determined that the building had experienced differential settlement of more than 14 inches, which resulted in cracks in the beams and columns of the structure.
It was supposed to offer a luxurious setting for South Padre Island tourists, with 134 condominiums on 25 floors. Four high-speed elevators were installed along with fine interior design, luxurious bathrooms, gourmet kitchens, security, hydro-jet pools, a Beach Club; a Kid’s Club, a gym & spa, a media room and much more. Penthouse and condominiums levels were available ranging from two-bedrooms with two-baths to three-bedrooms with three-baths.
Developers of nearby properties were concerned that news about Ocean Tower's safety would hurt their projects.
Last November, Antun T. Domit, of Ocean Tower SPI, sent a letter to buyers of condominiums in Ocean Tower to say there were no immediate prospects for completion of the project. Local realtors had begun selling units in the building to local Rio Grande Valley residents, as well as some from Mexico, Canada and Europe.
”Over the past six months, we attempted to maintain the commitment of Ocean Tower’s
general contractor and lenders while studying the settlement and repair of the building,” Domit said.
“Unfortunately, our efforts have been unsuccessful. Last week, with a proposal pending for the study and repair of the tower, the general contractor discharged its subcontractors and walked off the job.”
Domit said the contractor’s refusal to participate further in the study came at a time when Ocean Tower’s lenders refused to advance additional funds for the study, repair, and/or construction of the tower.
“With the future of Ocean Tower in serious question, we release you from your purchase
agreement and plan to immediately return your earnest money,” Domit said.
“This has been a difficult decision for us to make, but under the circumstances and given our desire to maintain your trust, we feel that we have no alternative. Obviously, no one anticipated the extensive delay or the problems the project is presently suffering. We are taking steps to have your earnest money returned. Please take a look at the attached release.”
In its statement on Monday, Ocean Tower, LP, acknowledged that litigation is currently pending against the geotechnical and structural engineers of Ocean Tower. There are claims that the settlement of the condominiums is the result of a flawed engineering design.
Ocean Tower, LP, said it has hired one of the nation’s premier demolition firms, Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI), to demolish the tower through implosion. The company promises as little impact as possible on the local community.
CDI has safely demolished thousands of structures worldwide, including the Seattle Kingdome, the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas and the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Mark Loizeaux, president of CDI, said his company is in the process of establishing a site office and mobilizing resources at Ocean Tower. He said CDI will maintain frequent communication with regulatory agencies and adjacent property owners to ensure the local community’s concerns are addressed.
“In the coming weeks, we will be contacting nearby property owners, listening to their needs and keeping them informed throughout the process,” Loizeaux said. “We have been demolishing structures for more than 65 years and have an unparalleled safety and success record. Our methods are designed to minimize disruption, optimize safety and protect adjacent properties and the environment. We will conduct the Ocean Tower demolition with the utmost sensitivity to the local community.”
More than 98 percent of the above-grade materials used to build Ocean Tower will be recycled or reused, including all steel and concrete, according to Ocean Tower, LP. Steel and concrete can be recycled for other development projects in the region. Items that can be removed safely and reused, such as bathtubs, granite flooring and windows, are currently being removed from the building, the company said.
By Rio Grande Guardian
The 158-unit skyscraper, situated on the north end of the island, was sinking slowly into the sand.
The tower will be demolished, probably in mid-November, through implosion by Controlled Demolition, Inc., the company that set a Guinness World Record when it “imploded” the Seattle Kingdome.
“After careful consideration, we believe it is in the best interest of all parties involved, including the people of South Padre Island, to demolish Ocean Tower,” said Ocean Tower, LP, in a prepared statement.
“Unfortunately, multiple engineering studies have led us to the conclusion that it is not economically feasible to complete the building and to provide the caliber of condominium tower that we intended to build. We believe the responsible action at this point is to clear the site to enable potential future development of the property.”
In the statement, Oceans Tower said it is important for residents and visitors to know the problems with the building are specific to this project. “We believe South Padre Island remains a viable and desirable place to build that continues to attract economic development and growth,” the statement said.
Construction of Ocean Tower was halted in summer 2008 after it was determined that the building had experienced differential settlement of more than 14 inches, which resulted in cracks in the beams and columns of the structure.
It was supposed to offer a luxurious setting for South Padre Island tourists, with 134 condominiums on 25 floors. Four high-speed elevators were installed along with fine interior design, luxurious bathrooms, gourmet kitchens, security, hydro-jet pools, a Beach Club; a Kid’s Club, a gym & spa, a media room and much more. Penthouse and condominiums levels were available ranging from two-bedrooms with two-baths to three-bedrooms with three-baths.
Developers of nearby properties were concerned that news about Ocean Tower's safety would hurt their projects.
Last November, Antun T. Domit, of Ocean Tower SPI, sent a letter to buyers of condominiums in Ocean Tower to say there were no immediate prospects for completion of the project. Local realtors had begun selling units in the building to local Rio Grande Valley residents, as well as some from Mexico, Canada and Europe.
”Over the past six months, we attempted to maintain the commitment of Ocean Tower’s
general contractor and lenders while studying the settlement and repair of the building,” Domit said.
“Unfortunately, our efforts have been unsuccessful. Last week, with a proposal pending for the study and repair of the tower, the general contractor discharged its subcontractors and walked off the job.”
Domit said the contractor’s refusal to participate further in the study came at a time when Ocean Tower’s lenders refused to advance additional funds for the study, repair, and/or construction of the tower.
“With the future of Ocean Tower in serious question, we release you from your purchase
agreement and plan to immediately return your earnest money,” Domit said.
“This has been a difficult decision for us to make, but under the circumstances and given our desire to maintain your trust, we feel that we have no alternative. Obviously, no one anticipated the extensive delay or the problems the project is presently suffering. We are taking steps to have your earnest money returned. Please take a look at the attached release.”
In its statement on Monday, Ocean Tower, LP, acknowledged that litigation is currently pending against the geotechnical and structural engineers of Ocean Tower. There are claims that the settlement of the condominiums is the result of a flawed engineering design.
Ocean Tower, LP, said it has hired one of the nation’s premier demolition firms, Controlled Demolition, Inc. (CDI), to demolish the tower through implosion. The company promises as little impact as possible on the local community.
CDI has safely demolished thousands of structures worldwide, including the Seattle Kingdome, the Stardust Hotel in Las Vegas and the RCA Dome in Indianapolis.
Mark Loizeaux, president of CDI, said his company is in the process of establishing a site office and mobilizing resources at Ocean Tower. He said CDI will maintain frequent communication with regulatory agencies and adjacent property owners to ensure the local community’s concerns are addressed.
“In the coming weeks, we will be contacting nearby property owners, listening to their needs and keeping them informed throughout the process,” Loizeaux said. “We have been demolishing structures for more than 65 years and have an unparalleled safety and success record. Our methods are designed to minimize disruption, optimize safety and protect adjacent properties and the environment. We will conduct the Ocean Tower demolition with the utmost sensitivity to the local community.”
More than 98 percent of the above-grade materials used to build Ocean Tower will be recycled or reused, including all steel and concrete, according to Ocean Tower, LP. Steel and concrete can be recycled for other development projects in the region. Items that can be removed safely and reused, such as bathtubs, granite flooring and windows, are currently being removed from the building, the company said.
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