Daytona Beach 31-story condo project stalled indefinitely, building permit pulled
DAYTONA BEACH — A year ago, the city deemed the construction permit on the Protogroup condo tower project expired because so little work had been done over the previous two years.
Less than six months later, on Sept. 1, the stalled tower was hit with a condemnation and demolition order from the city. The Palm Coast-based company secured the foundation and concrete columns and was given until April 9 to show the proposed 31-story building was back on track.
City Chief Building Official Glen Urquhart said he's only seen debris pickup and cosmetic work since last fall, so he has pulled the construction permit on the project that was originally slated to be completed three years ago.
What's next for the Daytona condo project?
The construction permit Protogroup had expired on April 9, and Urquhart denied Protogroup's request for another 180-day extension on the partially built tower overlooking the ocean at the eastern tip of Oakridge Boulevard.
If Protogroup wants to restart construction, the company will need to have a structural engineer sign and submit plans that show exactly how the concrete columns with exposed rusting rebar can be fortified to support 31 stories above them.
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Then the company will need to apply for a new construction permit that will be subject to the latest building codes and undergo a site inspection.
Protogroup did submit a report to Urquhart on April 7 that acknowledged the rebar has been damaged, but the report didn't fully detail how the problems that has caused will be remedied.
Protogroup condo tower backstory
The unfinished condo tower is part of a $192 million twin-tower hotel-condominium project on a 4.6-acre site that's been in the works for nearly a decade.
The 28-story, 455-room Daytona Grande hotel had its construction deadlines extended several times, and it finally opened in June of 2021.
Work on the north condo tower's foundation began in December 2018, and it was originally slated for completion in 2020.
Protogroup has said it needs to get more condo sales locked in before it can start construction of the lofty building on State Road A1A.
The local Realtor selling condos in the tower is at 48% of gross sales, but with rising construction costs a bank will want to see more units under contract before it agrees to loan the $90 million – $100 million Protogroup is seeking.
Why did the project get a condemnation and demolition order?
Last fall's city condemnation order said that portions of the unfinished condo structure were dangerous and "likely to partially or completely collapse or to become detached or dislodged" due to faulty construction, neglect, abandonment, exposure to the elements, damage, and decay.
The city mandated that Protogroup, which is operating under the name PDA Trading Inc. on the condo project, secure or repair the rusting concrete structure within three days, or demolish it and clear the site by Sept. 21.
Protogroup was able to secure the structure enough to get its permit extended to April 9.
You can reach Eileen at Eileen.Zaffiro@news-jrnl.com
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: City pulls construction permit from idled Daytona Beach condo project
