The stalking horse bidder for the site of the former Champlain Towers South in Surfside, Florida which tragically collapsed in June 2021 has been revealed as the Dubai-based DAMAC Properties, led by billionaire developer Hussain Sajwani. The developer agreed to a $120 million bid for the oceanfront property located at 8777 Collins Ave. via one of their US entities, East Oceanside Development, LLC. East Oceanside Development will be required to submit a $16 million deposit with $150,000 non-refundable and the developer will now begin two months of due diligence on the site. The Surfside land at 8777 Collins Avenue spans ±1.88 acres or ±81,886 square feet.
Once the initial bid is finalized by Honorable Judge Michael A. Hanzman other developers will be able to submit bids on the property to potentially push the price higher. Judge Hanzman has the final decision over which developer wins the bidding considering input from the lawyers overseeing the class-action negligence case with the final decision expected in the spring of 2022. Hanzman wants the sale to produce as much proceeds as possible in order to help compensate the families of the 98 people who lost their lives in the collapse and countless others who lost their homes. The victims and their families will also be the beneficiaries of a $49 million insurance payout.
Honorable Judge Michael A. Hanzman and the court appointed receiver Michael Goldberg tabbed Avison Young, led by Michael T. Fay, to market the property in late-August. Avison Young’s Michael T. Fay and his team John K. Crotty, David Duckworth, Brian C. de la Fé, and Berkley K. Bloodworth are spearheading the sale, pro bono.