At the Brickell Bay Club, the pool, tennis courts and
barbecue area were closed Wednesday after an occupant in one of the condo’s
450 units tested positive, said condominium association president John
Caron. The gym and children’s area at the complex, at 2333 Brickell Ave.,
were shut last week.
Tuesday, property manager Carol Pasch informed Brickell Bay occupants via
email that a resident had tested positive for the disease and had been
hospitalized since March 16. According to the email, others who had been in
contact with the patient would self-quarantine for the following 14 days.
Pasch urged residents to limit elevator occupancy to three people and urged
them to practice social distancing.
Tens if not hundreds of thousands of condo and apartment dwellers will
likely face similar situations. As of 2018, more than 92,000 people were
living in downtown Miami, mostly in high-rises. That number is now likely
closer to 100,000, say experts.
And as Miami’s population has increased and land values risen, more and more
local residents have moved into high-rise apartments and condos in every
part of South Florida, from Westchester to Doral, Hallandale to Miami Beach.
Almost one-third of the total dwellings in Miami-Dade have 20 or more units,
according to U.S. Census data.
Yet despite the increase in multifamily units in Miami and other urban
centers around the U.S., the Centers for Disease Control has not issued
specific guidelines for apartment or condo buildings. Colleges and
universities, retirement centers, but not apartments or condos.
“There is no playbook,” said Cynthia McFarlane, vice president of the newly
formed Brickell Alliance, which represents 15 buildings.
McFarlane, owner of Brickell-based condo repair service Honey Man,
previously was condo association president for the Imperial at Brickell
building, at 1627 Brickell Ave.
“The association can close any amenity, especially if there’s a health
risk,” she said. What we are seeing more associations do is limit visitors
and not allow nannies, maids, personal trainers or home improvements in
units.”
Absent official guidelines, Miami’s Downtown Development Authority shared
with homeowner associations a template used by one of its area building
managers. Because it is not a regulatory agency, said a spokesman, any
policies regarding communal living would have to come from the CDC or the
Florida Department of Health.
What condo associations and rental managers may not be able to do is force
residents to self-quarantine.
“That’s a little tricky,” said Alessandra Stivelman, a partner at the
Hollywood-based law firm Eisinger Law. “Residents that tested positive for
COVID-19 should self-quarantine. If they don’t self-quarantine, the condo
association should inform authorities.”
Brickell Bay Club resident Jacqueline Coleman, a freelance journalist,
thinks the building has handled the situation responsibly. Management has
placed hand sanitizers around the building and restricted access to the
front desk, so residents can’t crowd there. Delivery people aren’t allowed
in the building.
Personally, she’s practicing social distancing. “I live with my boyfriend
and we are staying in. We only go out to get groceries.”