The conflict between developer Harvey Hernandez and his Brickell condo project’s robotic garage operator has come to a head: In the last two weeks, a bankruptcy judge reportedly cut the operator’s contract with Hernandez’s firm.
A photo of the 46-story BrickellHouse tower when it was under construction
Boomerang Systems, a New Jersey design and engineering firm, installed its signature RoboticValet parking system in the 46-story BrickellHouse tower when the building first opened in late 2014. It was Miami’s first-ever fully automated parking system, according to a report in the South Florida Business Journal, and was a big part of the 374-unit tower’s marketing campaign.
The original pitch was a quick and hassle-free parking system. But within months residents were saying otherwise, with some claiming delays during rush hour stretched for hours at a time, according to the SFBJ.
Boomerang filed Chapter 11 in August and claimed its maintenance contract was hemorrhaging money.
Boomerang then shut down the garage completely in November — meaning residents, including Hernandez himself, had to find parking elsewhere.
U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Mary Walrath then agreed to cancel the contract on Boomerang’s request in late December. Newguard Development Group, Hernandez’s firm, is now free to hire a new operator to use all of Boomerang’s already installed equipment. [SFBJ] — Sean Stewart-Muniz
Check out a video demonstration of how BrickellHouse’s garage works below: