A Florida judge has approved the sale of the oceanfront property where Champlain Towers South once stood, with proceeds intended to benefit victims of the deadly collapse.
According to CNN, Eleventh Judicial Circuit Court Judge Michael Hanzman, who is overseeing the civil lawsuits, said during a hearing that Surfside victims will not be asked to donate their real estate for the public good, referring to the calls for a memorial to be erected in place of the now-demolished building.
NPR notes that the site of Champlain Towers South could fetch $100-110 million according to court records.
The judge also said on Wednesday that victims and families who suffered losses in the collapse will get a minimum of $150 million in initial compensation. That sum includes insurance on the South building and the expected proceeds from sale.
Attorney Michael Goldberg, the court-appointed receiver handling finances related to the building, said the decision to allow a land sale does not necessarily preclude a buyer from turning at least a portion of the site into a memorial. Others, though, want the structure rebuilt so survivors can move back in.
Since the collapse on June 24, more than 22 million pounds of debris have been removed from the site.