By Anne Geggis
The Feb. 23 issuance of a temporary certificate of occupancy for 6273 N. Ocean Blvd. in Ocean Ridge has proven to be an illusory conclusion to its neighbors’ 9-year construction nightmare.
Town Attorney Christy Goddeau told the Town Commission at its April 1 meeting that she has notified the owner’s attorney that the town will be assessing a $5,000-a-day fine going back to March 21 as an agreement signed in January dictates because the house is still not completed.
Canadian entrepreneur Andrew Rivkin had promised to install landscaping, a driveway gate and relatively minor unfinished items within 30 days at the house when the temporary certificate was issued. Neighbors came before commission members April 1 to tell them that the geometrically shaped home dubbed “the parking garage house” was still unsightly — with people living there now.
The fines are supposed to accrue until a final certificate of occupancy is issued. The agreement calls for fines to reach a maximum of $235,000. The owner paid a $50,000 assessment to the town for the loss to the town’s property rolls because the house was not finished by Dec. 31.
Goddeau said that whether people would be allowed to continue to live there is up to the town building official, but she said she doesn’t think a temporary certificate would have been issued if living there presented health and safety issues.
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