Cameron County approves storage site for Ocean Tower debris

The Cameron County Commissioners’ Court on Friday approved a contract that will provide a construction company with a temporary storage site for demolished construction material from South Padre Island’s Ocean Tower, which is scheduled for demolition.

The Commissioners’ Court approved the agreement with Rovan Construction that will allow the company to temporarily use a portion of 4.5 acre tract of land at Andy Bowie Park to stockpile the debris from the demolition.

Technically, the county contract is also with Costa Rica Food & Spirits, which currently leases the tract of land from the county. Costa Rica Food & Spirits is subleasing the tract to Rovan Construction.

The contract also allows the sale of salvage materials, supplies and equipment at the Andy Bowie Park site.

Action on the debris site was tabled last week because the Commissioners’ Court needed additional information about the implosion of the structure, including what company would be in charge of removing the debris, County Judge Carlos H. Cascos said.

Oceans Tower is a 31-story condominium scheduled to be demolished in early December.

Construction on the 151-unit luxury project was halted in 2008 because it was sinking, which caused cracks in beams and columns.

Antun T. Domit, listed as the resident agent for Ocean Tower LP, sent out letters in November 2008 to people who had either expressed interest or had purchased condo units, informing them that the high-rise project was cancelled.

The developers of Ocean Tower have filed a lawsuit against two engineering firms contracted for the project.