Developer will pay for city’s crane damage costs

The development firm behind St. Petersburg’s tallest tower will reimburse the city for all costs associated with Hurricane Milton blowing a construction crane into a neighboring office building.

The subcontractor responsible for the 500-foot tower crane could also face various $1,500 daily fines for not opening adjacent downtown roadways and sidewalks by city-mandated deadlines. The equipment at the Residences at 400 Central construction site caused widespread damage when a sizable section flew into an eight-story building at 490 1^st Ave. S.

The crane remained wedged into the facility – long known as the Tampa Bay Times building – for over two weeks. However, James Corbett, city development administrator, said Thursday afternoon that “selective demolition” is ongoing.

“There are still unstable sections of the building, including the roof, walls and some of the floors,” Corbett told the City Council. “The next phase of the repair is the shoring plan for the building, and then surveying all its utilities to isolate any damage circuits or piping.”

Dallas-based Lincoln Property Group owns the three-building facility bearing the name of law firm Johnson Pope. Damage resembling a bomb crater remains visible from about the third floor to the oldest structure’s roof, nearly a month after Milton’s 100 mph gusts toppled the crane.

Corbett said the building’s owner must implement temporary walls or guard rails to mitigate internal and external hazards, like falling debris. Once those phases conclude, officials will conduct a safety evaluation that will determine accessibility for tenants.

Corbett said some stakeholders could have limited access to retrieve critical files and personal property after the building’s owners establish the shoring plan. While the crane destroyed most of “Building B,” he noted that Buildings A and C received “extensive water damage” from a ruptured rooftop cooling tower and fire suppression sprinklers.

“That would need to be remediated before those areas could be re-accessed,” Corbett added. “Finally, road repairs would … be the last thing.”

However, Corbett explained that the development’s crane operator, Liberty Equipment, must complete road repairs to accommodate the massive machinery needed to stabilize Building B. “We wouldn’t want to repair the road, bring in heavy equipment, and then damage the road again,” he said.

The tower crane that fell was one of three used to construct the Residences at 400 Central. Photo by Mark Parker.

Councilmember Lisset Hanewicz noted that several residents have questioned who would foot the city’s bill for its role in the rebuilding process. New York-based Red Apple Real Estate is overseeing the 400 Central project.

Suffolk Construction, headquartered in Boston, is the development’s general contractor. The company, which operates an office in Tampa, subcontracted Liberty Equipment, also based in Boston, to oversee crane operations.

“All city costs associated with the crane damage are being charged to the 400 Central developers,” Corbett said. “They’re aware. In fact, they’re paying for the police who are there now with the road being closed.”

“The citizens will be happy to hear that,” Hanewicz replied.

Brejesh Prayman, capital improvements director, said Liberty had until Friday to open 1^st Avenue’s two northernmost, east-bound lanes. The subcontractor has until Nov. 18 to open the site’s dedicated bus lane, sidewalk and section of the Pinellas Trail.

Prayman said Liberty would incur a $1,500 daily fine for each violation. “We’re doing everything we can to enforce it.”

The city used closed-circuit TV cameras to assess area water, sewer and stormwater pipes. Pryaman said there was no damage.

The public works department also conducted a pressure test to ensure the water main was functioning at its typical capacity. “Thank goodness there were no leaks in it, but the roadway surface, as administrator Corbett mentioned, did suffer substantial damage,” Prayman said.

The contractors must complete a “major patch repair” and a “depth restoration” on 1^st Avenue. Motorists may eventually notice additional improvements.

“At the end of the project, we’re going to make them resurface – as a condition of the permit – from 3^rd Street to 4^th Street,” Prayman said. “That entire roadway section.”