The House That Fell

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Kim and Dapper Davidson were building their dream home at 3115 Estero Boulevard. You couldn’t miss it, not only was it right on a busy stretch of Estero, they had also built an I Love Fort Myers Beach Flip Flop sign on their property that became a selfie spot on the island. Now their property is a photo opp for all the wrong reasons as their dream came crashing down during Hurricane Milton last week.

And to add insult to injury the town has put a stop work order on their rebuild and revoked their permit to build. The town says “a new permit must be applied for showing corrective action designed by a Florida licensed architect or engineer.” 

Joe Orlandini was the builder before the house came tumbling down. It’s the only house that fell during Hurricane Milton on October 9th. Orlandini was also the builder when Town Council candidate Greg Scasny was slapped with a stop work order on his rebuild when proper inspections were not completed.

So how does a home like the Davidson’s just fall like it did. We asked Studio AD’s Albert Dambrose and Allan Development Group Scott Allan for answers.

Dambrose said it’s important to know that the Town of Fort Myers Beach did not approve what was being built. He says the town approved a two-story concrete structure, not wood  “The wood posts were not properly connected to the foundation system. The upper wood floor system was not properly installed to the top of the wood columns. The bottom of the wood columns was connected to the footers with anchors used for short decks, not to hold up a two-story house. Those connections have no lateral stability. Essentially the house was sitting on the ground like toothpicks trying to stand up on your coffee table.” 

Allan said he and his team passed by that house every day on their way to job sites. “We watched the columns set on top of the footer, braced with a bucket strap. I use bucket straps all the time, but they are on interior columns for mezzanines that do not need to meet hurricane wind code. I’ve always wondered what engineer and/or builder would authorize such a rogue plan to set timber posts over top of a footer without any embedment in a Coastal A flood zone. I cannot imagine someone is so stupid and I cringed for the next storm, no matter the severity of wind or flood because it wouldn’t take much.  Now that the home is on the ground, I can’t imagine how compromised the structure is given a house’s ability to “rack” under duress. When a structure racks, the structural integrity is compromised. I feel awful for the homeowner who was severely let down by their builder / engineer. My only guess is that this home foundation was built not according to its plan and if there is any justification for a lawsuit, this house has such merit.” 

The Davidson’s tell Beach Talk Radio News they’ve been talking to Fort Myers Beach building inspector Joe Specht about what they can do next and they will most likely need an attorney.

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24 COMMENTS

  1. After being in the construction industry for more than 50 years in southwest Florida, a carpenter, & general contractor. I saw the home and even stopped to look at the construction. I was shocked that anyone would even attempt this type of construction. I assumed the city had approved the design and it must have been signed off by a licensed architect or engineer. I have had clients give me plans for homes that after reviewing them I refused to build due to designs I felt were flawed. I am heart broken for the home owner and mad that a licensed contractor would attempted to build such a home on the beach.

  2. Before all of you throw so many stones at Joe, look at the engineers and architectural plans. Note that there is a lot of bashing from sidewalk superintendents here. How many of you have looked at the plans? If you know so much, I’m sure most of you also drive by the house daily. Why didn’t you call the City? Sad for both the owner and Joe. Lots of churches in Ft. Myers Beach. Maybe some of you need to attend and start supporting others. Not work at throwing stones at others!!!!!!!

  3. Concrete or wood can both be constructed in Hurricane prone area. I have many all wood homes on barrier islands in SWFL that have performed well from Charley to Milton. The pictures show improper design

  6. Based on previous BTR stories, Joe Orlandini works under someone else’s contractor’s license, so there’s nothing to take away from him.
    Was this project using Private Building Inspection? I thought Joe’s ability to use private inspectors was revoked after the Scasny debacle. Didn’t that revocation apply to this project?

  7. I know for a fact, that EVERY step of construction has an inspection involved. How did this project get past the foundation inspection. Project should have been stopped by city at that point!

  8. Someone I know received a ticket for their vinyl fence cap lights not being turtle compliant……Our mayor claims to have owned a construction company and he drives up and down the streets for whatever reason, maybe looking for turtle light violators but he said nothing about a house sitting on unsecured, code violation pilings? How about FEMA Nazi’s that lurk around looking for unpermitted gravel that was spread? They didn’t notice anything? Joe Orlandi should be stripped of his license and made to pay for all damages but come on people…..there are a lot of other people that are just as responsible for this failure.

  9. Hope before the old cottage is rebuilt the investors have enough sense to get another builder seems like Joe should nor be allowed to do any building period

  10. I want an explanation from the city officials as to why they allowed this building to continue. As has been stated, everyone could see this was being built as a wood structure, and these people drove by it every single day. I feel very sorry for these owners. Did they not question this?

  14. The city checked every little thing that any home owner did at their homes and you are going to tell me that the town did not see or knew about this construction? Hard to believe.

  15. Everyone could see it was being built out of wood and not concrete or to code. We would comment on it while going by as owners of a wood house that was washed away in Ian and an elevated concrete house that is still fine after Ian and Milton.
    The building of this should’ve been shut down by the city a long time ago (like when a wood pillar was stood up) and the owner could see how it was being built too. Yes the builder is at fault. But negligence to pay attention by the owner and city is a factor here too. They are not victims – it was visibly not a two story concrete structure it’s wood and anyone who hasn’t had their head under a rock knows that’s not code and will not withstand a hurricane. The city officials (mayor, council, inspector, etc) drove by it repeatedly knowing it’s not allowed anymore after Ian as well and did nothing. All are at fault and immediate demolition and debris removal should be issued.

  17. This builder or so called builder needs his license revoked for so many reasons. He apparently has no clue what he’s doing. Nothing but bad stories. Does anyone have a good outcome with this joker? This house will sit like this for years I imagine. Another eye sore for the beach.

  18. WOW! This is so very sad. Shame on this builder who these residents trusted. Definitely a lawsuit is in order. Stay strong Davidson’s.🙏

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