Residential Condos in Surfside, FL – Courtesy: Shutterstock – Image by Blueee77
According to new research from the University of Miami, about 70 percent of buildings in the northern and central isles of Florida are sinking to the ground at “unexpected” rates.
35 structures in locations like Miami Beach, Bay Harbor, Surfside, and Sunny Isles Beach have been found by researchers to have sunk between 0.8 and 3 inches between 2016 and 2023.
The Porsche Design Tower, Trump Tower III, Trump International Beach Resorts, The Surf Club Four Seasons, Ritz Carlton Residences, and the Faena Hotel are some of these structures.
Tens of thousands of inhabitants and visitors are housed in these high-rises, some of which have more than 300 units, including penthouses that cost millions of dollars.
The Porsche Design Tower, The Trump Organization, The Surf Club Four Seasons, and The Faena Hotel have all been contacted by Newsweek via email for comment, as has the Ritz Carlton Residences using an online form.
The Miami-Dade beachfront is home to the 35 high-rise condominiums.
Experts have suggested that the sinking condos may indicate that the limestone foundation of South Florida is being eroded more quickly due to rising sea levels, according to the Miami Herald.
Scientists examined satellite imagery that can quantify subsidence. Subsidence, which can be measured by fractions of an inch using satellite images, is the phenomenon where the ground beneath a building dips and pulls the foundations down with it.
Following the 98-person Champlain Towers collapse in Surfside in 2021, which prompted legislation requiring structural evaluations of older condominiums throughout the state, this preliminary study was conducted.
According to the Miami Herald, the researchers found no evidence of settlement prior to the collapse, suggesting that this was not the cause.
Subsidence was discovered at neighboring beachfront residences north and south of the Champlain Towers.
The amount of subsidence, which ranged from 0.8 to slightly more than 3 inches, was mostly detected in Surfside, Sunny Isles Beach, two structures in Miami Beach (the Faena Hotel and L’atileur apartment), and another in Bal Harbour.
The consequences of this sinking remain unknown, as is the possibility of long-term harm from this gradual subsidence.
According to experts quoted by the Miami Herald, the problem could worsen more quickly due to groundwater extraction, erosion, and larger waves.
Larisa Svechin, the mayor of Sunny Isles Beach, told the Herald that she had requested a meeting with the city manager despite not knowing about structural difficulties, indicating that local politicians and building management officials are starting to react to the report.
There are still many unanswered questions regarding the sinking claims, and more investigation is probably needed to determine the long-term effects on these structures.
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Mike has more than 30 years of experience in marketing and public relations. He once owned his own agency and has worked with some of the largest brands in the world.
