|
Partygoers arrive atop an SUV at The Club at Brickell Bay, 1200 Brickell Bay Drive, Miami. |
Hernandez found, as the Herald did, that The Club, at 1200
Brickell Bay Dr., lacks required licenses and permits and
cited the condo for an improper Business Tax Receipt,
Certificate of Occupancy and two Certificates of Use (CU).
The first CU, issued in 2007, is only for
residential use; in addition, the Herald reported it was
forged, according to a former homeowner who said he never
applied for or signed it. The second CU, issued in 2011, is
for 30 hotel units, which were never approved by the HOA
board at the time, according to the former president.
Hernandez is allowing 30 units to continue to operate as
short-term rentals, but the company that applied in 2011 is
only operating six Airbnbs today.
“The City has no record of any application for a
vacation/short-term rental license with the city,” Hernandez
wrote. “The City has received numerous complaints over the
past months regarding short-term /lodging rental in excess
of the 30 units. Your building staff has been instructed to
refuse entry to City inspectors sent to investigate these
complaints, as we are constantly turned away. While such
tactics may lengthen the time of the City’s investigation,
it will in no way cause it to stop.”
Hernandez, who declined to comment to the Herald, gave board
members 10 days to contact her.
HOA President Maria Sindia Borras could not be reached for
comment. Nor could HOA attorney Eduardo Valdes, who wrote
cease-and-desist letters to homeowners who helped escort
City of Miami inspectors into the building — before they
were shooed out.’
The Club evolved into an Airbnb hotspot under the former
board president, Karl de Borbon, who installed a hotel
reservation system in the office and encouraged investors to
buy units in a building that was advertised by real estate
agents as “an investor’s dream free of any rental
restrictions.”
Vacation rentals during peak times in Miami can earn Airbnb
hosts $1,000 per night, depending on the size of the unit,
which is a lot more lucrative than renting a unit monthly or
yearly.
“What happened here was driven 100 percent by greed, with no
regard for safety, respect, peaceful enjoyment or our
rights,” Lardon said. “We are living in a modern-day ‘Game
of Thrones’ with all kinds of kings, queens and monsters
vying for control over the peasants.
“It’s about time the city took action. If they fail us
again, shame on them.”
The current board, voted in after a contentious June
election marred by forged ballots, has promised improved
management and transparent record-keeping, but has not made
an announcement about the city’s cease-and-desist order.
None of the five board members live in
the building and all own or manage Airbnbs.
“So far it’s business as usual,” Lardon said Thursday. “Lots
of foot traffic. Three broken elevators. And broken AC in
all the common areas.”