College Reaches $33 Million Settlement Over MDC-West Garage Collapse
When students return to MDC-West for the fall 2015 semester, they will see a brand new 1,500 space garage under construction to make parking easier and more convenient. But College administrators say the structure will not be ready for more than a year.
The development comes almost three years after four construction workers were killed and several were injured during the Oct. 10, 2012 collapse of the previous garage while it was under construction.
On May 6, Miami Dade College agreed on a $33 million settlement with the contractors and subcontractors of the previous structure to rebuild the garage that collapsed at MDC-West.
Both sides agreed that the older collapsed garage should be completely torn down and a new one built in its place. In the summer, the garage site was an empty expanse surrounded by construction fencing covered in blue mesh.
“You can’t be pleased with this settlement because lives were lost and it should’ve never happened in the first place,” said Juan Mendieta, director of communications at Miami Dade College. “We are, however, satisfied with the settlement because of the good work of the legal team.”
The old contractors wanted the garage to be repaired rather than completely rebuilt.
Miami Dade College thought it was better to turn a new corner and have a brand new, safe garage facility, Mendieta said.
“The old structure is now completely down and the brand new garage will take about 18 months to complete,” Mendieta said.
Before agreeing on the settlement, MDC and the contractors had some clashes in the courtroom.
Early on, MDC filed a lawsuit against Ajax Building Corp. and several other subcontractors in order to get them to tear down the old garage and build a brand new one.
In addition to that, in the lawsuit they were to be responsible for finding the funds to dismantle the old garage.
Before things began getting heated, a settlement was reached that both sides seem to be content with.
“As part of the settlement, the college received $26.5 million, and $7 million the school owed the contractors for the garage was waived,” according to the Miami Herald.
Until the garage is completed students will continue to have to make other arrangements to park and make it to MDC-West.
There is limited parking available for visitors in lot 1 near building 1 of the campus, and faculty and staff have parking spaces in both lot 1 and 2.
Students who can’t get one of the parking spaces in lot 1 must use parking spaces at nearby Doral Central Park.
The distance is too great for students to walk, so a shuttle is offered to take students to and back from the campus.
“This has not been easy and we hope that we can turn the corner and put everything behind us to allow the gem, which is West campus to shine for the whole community as a source of pride,” Mendieta said.
