Residents of the Villa Del Sol community in Jensen Beach are finally returning to their homes after three condo buildings were evacuated nearly two years ago due to structural damage.

Emergency Evacuation and Inspection

The evacuation followed a state law passed after the Surfside condo collapse in 2021, requiring milestone inspections for all condominium or cooperative buildings 25 or 30 years old or older, with three or more floors. The inspection revealed structural damage in three buildings, affecting 36 units.

Red stickers were placed on the affected condos, marking them as ‘structurally unsafe.’ While many residents are now able to return, some have had to leave their condos permanently. Eric Johnson, a former Villa Del Sol resident, is among those who cannot return.

Johnson lived in his condo for more than five years before the emergency evacuation. At the time, it was his primary residence, but since then, he has relocated his family to Georgia.

Original reporting: WPBF (Treasure Coast / Hearst) — read the source article.