SURFSIDE, Fla. – The Surfside City Commission is expected to make a final review of a new memorial for the 98 people who died in the partial collapse of Champlain Towers South.
Located on 88th Street, a green space and fountain will honor the lives lost in the tragedy.
The final rendering comes after years of controversy regarding the site over concerns that a loading dock for a new building would obstruct the area.
There was also controversy regarding the building itself, deemed the Delmore, and its developer DEMAC.
Marketing materials call it 37 mansions in the sky, going for $15 million apiece.
Martin Langesfeld, who lost his sister and brother-in-law in the tragedy, has raised concerns about the memorial and the plans for the ultra-luxury building.
“It’s going to be very impactful in a way that some of it is going to walk you through some of the horrific and confusing moments of that night,” said Langesfeld. “From the beginning, we’ve been trying to get a memorial on the site of the collapse. Unfortunately we have no communication with DEMAC, the developer making this happen. They’ve cut all communication.”
Langesfeld said construction on it shouldn’t begin until a federal investigation into the tragedy is complete.
“We and many other families received a portion of our loved ones bodies,” said Langesfeld. “They’re still on that site. The federal government is allowing for this building to go up before we even know why this building collapsed.”
The final results of the federal investigation are not expected until 2026.
In a preliminary presentation last year, investigators mentioned that the pool deck of the building collapsed at least four minutes before the tower itself collapsed.