Fernandina Beach issues notice that Brett’s Waterway Cafe must be repaired or vacated

FERNANDINA BEACH, Fla. — The City of Fernandina Beach’s city engineer says a well-known restaurant must be repaired or it will have to be vacated.

Mayor Mike Lednovich posted photos of the notice issued to Brett’s Waterway Cafe on his Facebook page along with the following information:

“City issues Notice of Unsafe Building and Intent to Condemn to Brett’s Waterway Cafe. Failing building substructure is cited by City Engineer as a ‘potential life safety risk to the public, to continue to occupy this structure.’ The building is owned by the City and leased to Center Street Restaurant Group, INC. The notice is posted below, click to enlarge to read.”

READ: 7 JFRD personnel who helped with Surfside condo collapse response have contracted COVID-19

The notice from city engineer Charles George says his staff observed “active collapse of a concrete double-tee substructure member” and that this substructure could face significant damage during a hurricane or high-wind event.

The notice goes on to state that if repairs do not begin within the next 60 days, the building must be vacated “to prevent further occupancy until the work is completed and the building official, or his designee, may cause the work to be done and all costs incurred charged against the property owner of record.”

Lednovich directed many people who commented on his post with questions about the notice to read a study on the building done by Passero Associates, which was posted in the Fernandina Observer.

©2021 Cox Media Group