- Named Best Florida Newspaper In Its Class -
VOL 21 No. 39
July 7, 2021
KRISTIN SWAIN | SUN
A festive Fourth of July JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
JASON SCHAFFER | SUN
The Anna Maria Island Privateers took to the streets Saturday in the annual Fourth of July parade, engaging bystanders in fierce water cannon combat, supported by the forces of Hernando DeSoto’s invading conquistadors. After the beads were all launched, the red, white and blue was still flying proudly at the end of the skirmishes, which concluded before heavy rains came. More parade photos on Page 8.
Island building owners warned to investigate structural issues A property manager urges Martinique condominiums - the tallest buildings on AMI – to do an engineering study to avoid a tragedy like the collapse of a condo in Surfside. BY CINDY LANE SUN STAFF WRITER | clane@amisun.com
ANNA MARIA ISLAND - Could a tragedy such as last month’s collapse of the high-rise condominium in Surfside happen here? Some say it could – particularly after a balcony fell off a residence in Holmes Beach last week at 4106 Sixth Ave. (See related story on this page).
INSIDE NEWS 4 LETTERS 6 CALENDAR 7 OUTDOORS 18 RESTAURANTS 20-21 REAL ESTATE 22-26 CROSSWORD 29
In response to the June 24 collapse of the 12-story Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Longboat Key officials sent an open letter to property managers and condominium board members advising them to consider inspecting their foundations and structures. And the property manager for the only high-rises on Anna Maria Island - the two seven-story Martinique condo buildings in Holmes Beach - has advised its board members to do an engineering study. Longboat Key does not have AMI’s three-story height restriction - enacted after the Martinique was built in the 70s - and subsequently has high-rise
LITTLE surf
campers learn to shred the Gulf. 4
Anna Maria Island, Florida
SEE MARTINIQUE, PAGE 27
Collapsed balcony calls other structures into question One home in Holmes Beach has structural issues that are sparking an investigation into other properties built by the same builder. BY KRISTIN SWAIN SUN STAFF WRITER | kswain@amisun.com
HOLMES BEACH – A balcony fell off a resident's home last week, causing no injuries but plenty of concern among city leaders about the quality of construction of similar buildings. While completing a vacation rental inspection at a property on June 28, Code Compliance Officer James Thomas said he stepped out of the back
of the house and noticed something strange – the second-floor balcony of a neighboring home had collapsed. Thomas said he went to the home at 4106 Sixth Ave. to investigate but was denied admittance by the homeowner, Virginia Stewart. Fearing for the safety of the structure’s occupants, Thomas called the Holmes Beach Police Department and West Manatee Fire Rescue for reinforcements. Police officers and Fire Marshal Rodney Kwiatkowski gained him entrance to the home where they were joined by Building Official Neal Schwartz to inspect the damage to the home. SEE COLLAPSE, PAGE 27
PROPERTY OWNER cited again
for destroying protected sea grapes. 9 ISLAND tourism continues
at unprecedented pace. 15 The Island’s award-winning weekly newspaper www.amisun.com