Residents who were evacuated from the Dockside Condominiums in February due to structural concerns will now have the opportunity to safely retrieve their belongings. The City of Charleston, along with the Dockside Association, has approved a plan that allows residents to return to their units and move out their possessions.
Background of the Evacuation
In February, residents were given a 48-hour notice to vacate the Dockside Condominiums because the building’s structure was found to have insufficient capacity to remain safely occupied. The issue required significant structural strengthening, and the building was deemed unsafe for continued habitation until those repairs could be made. At the time of the evacuation, residents were not allowed to take large items or most of their belongings, which caused considerable disruption.
The Plan for Moving Out
To address the situation, the City of Charleston and the Dockside Association developed a plan that allows residents to retrieve their belongings. Each unit has been assigned a specific day for residents to return. The process will begin with units on the top floor, and four units will be cleared at a time. Two of these units will have designated packing days, while the other two units will focus on moving their belongings out of the building.
Timeline and Safety Measures
The entire process is expected to take about 11 weeks. In order to ensure the safety of everyone involved, residents and any movers they hire will be required to sign a legal waiver acknowledging the risks associated with entering the building during its ongoing structural concerns.
This carefully planned approach gives the displaced residents a chance to move out their belongings that were left behind due to the evacuation. While the process will take time, it provides a much-needed resolution to a challenging situation for many residents affected by the building’s safety concerns.
