VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. — Some people are calling for a pause on plans to build two high-rise condominium buildings along the Volusia County coastline.
Following a destructive hurricane season along the beach, some are saying the plans should be reassessed.
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Some feel there are positives to the construction projects such as job creation, another tax source for the city and more customers for local businesses. But others worry about building something so big and so close to the coast after hurricanes Ian and Nicole ate away at the coastline.
“There could be a positive economic (impact), but I think the environmental impact could also be significant in not in a positive way,” said Daytona Beach resident Ann Ruby.
Plans call for a 27-story building to go up on a roughly three-acre lot just south of the Silver Beach approach. About four miles north, another lot could become a 29-story condomimum right on the coast.
“I’d like to see the city take six months to a year and get a moratorium in place, and get clear on what they actually want on the east side of A1A,” said Ruby.
READ: Tropical Storm Nicole brings storm surge flooding to Brevard, Volusia counties
The engineering group behind the Silver Beach project said it understands those concerns, but says most of the damage done during the storms was to the older seawalls.
They said this project would have a new seawall that would be built to the current codes and regulations.
The project could break ground next year and be finished two years after that.
The developer for the project did not respond to calls or emails.
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