### Study Reveals Dozens of Miami-Area Beachfront Buildings Are Sinking at Alarming Rates
A recent study conducted by the University of Miami has revealed that numerous luxury beachfront condos and hotels in Surfside, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, and Sunny Isles are sinking into the ground at unexpected rates. The research found that nearly 70% of buildings in northern and central Sunny Isles have been affected, raising concerns about the stability of these structures.
The study, published on Friday, identified 35 buildings that have sunk by as much as three inches between 2016 and 2023. Among the affected properties are iconic landmarks such as the Surf Club Towers, Faena Hotel, Porsche Design Tower, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Trump Tower III, and Trump International Beach Resorts. These high-rises house thousands of residents and tourists, with some featuring penthouses worth millions of dollars.
“Almost all the buildings along the coast are subsiding,” said Falk Amelung, a geophysicist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science and the study’s senior author. “It’s a lot.”
Preliminary findings also suggest that some buildings along the coasts of Broward and Palm Beach counties are experiencing similar subsidence.
### A Wake-Up Call for Development on Barrier Islands
Experts have called the study a “game changer,” highlighting the urgent need to address the risks of developing on vulnerable barrier islands. One potential factor is the impact of rising sea levels, driven by greenhouse gas emissions, which may be accelerating the erosion of the limestone foundation beneath South Florida.
“This is likely a much bigger problem than we currently understand,” said Paul Chinowsky, a civil engineering professor at the University of Colorado Boulder.
The research initially aimed to analyze satellite data to determine if subsidence played a role in the 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside, which killed 98 people. While the study found no evidence of settlement leading to that tragedy, it did identify subsidence in nearby beachside buildings.
### Surprising Findings
“What surprised us was that subsidence was happening at all,” said Amelung. After verifying the data through multiple sources, his team confirmed the findings and decided to investigate further.
The study found subsidence ranging from 0.8 inches to just over 3 inches, primarily in Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, and a few buildings in Miami Beach and Bal Harbour, including the Faena Hotel and L’atelier Condominium. The implications of this slow sinking remain unclear, but experts agree that further research and on-site inspections are necessary.
“These findings raise additional questions that require further investigation,” said Gregor Eberli, a geoscience professor and co-author of the study, which was published in the journal *Earth and Space Science*. Lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani emphasized the need for ongoing monitoring to understand the long-term effects on these structures.
While some subsidence is normal during and shortly after construction due to soil compression, uneven sinking—known as differential subsidence—can lead to significant structural damage. “The real problems start when one part of a building sinks faster than another,” Chinowsky explained.
### Potential Risks and Next Steps
Shimon Wdowinski, a geophysicist at Florida International University, noted that differential subsidence could pose serious risks. “If there is uneven sinking, it could cause structural damage that requires immediate attention,” he said. Wdowinski previously conducted a 2020 study that found land subsidence near Champlain Towers in the 1990s, though it was not linked to the building’s collapse.
Signs of differential subsidence include cracks in walls, malfunctioning utilities, and doors or windows that no longer close properly, according to Hota GangaRao, a civil engineering professor at West Virginia University. In extreme cases, buildings could sink dramatically over time, particularly if the subsidence is uneven.
### Local Officials Respond
Sunny Isles Beach Mayor Larisa Svechin, whose city has over 20 affected buildings, emphasized the importance of resident safety. She stated that all required building inspections are up to date and that inspection records are publicly accessible. Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett, however, said he was unaware of the study and its findings but plans to review it.
Some settlement appears to coincide with nearby construction activity, which may have caused sand layers to compress. However, researchers noted that subsidence in some buildings began before construction and continued after it ended, suggesting additional factors are at play. “There’s no sign that it’s stopping,” Amelung said.
### Climate Change and Long-Term Implications
Experts also pointed to climate change as a potential contributor to the issue. Rising sea levels, stronger waves, heavier rainfall, and increased flooding could accelerate the erosion of the porous limestone that forms the foundation of South Florida. This erosion could destabilize building foundations, likened by Chinowsky to “standing on sand while someone scoops it out with a spoon.”
“If limestone erosion is the cause, there may be ways to salvage these buildings by reinforcing their foundations,” said GangaRao.
Chinowsky warned that the problem could extend beyond barrier islands to the mainland, given the region’s reliance on limestone. “This is happening where you can’t see it, which is why it’s often overlooked,” he said.
### List of Affected Buildings
The study identified the following buildings as experiencing subsidence between 2016 and 2023: Regalia, Ocean II, Residences by Armani Casa, Ocean III, Marenas Beach Resort, Millennium Condominiums, Porsche Design Tower, Bentley Residence Development site, Trump International Beach Resort, Aqualina Resort and Residences, The Mansions at Aqualina, Pinnacle, Chateau Beach Residences, DoubleTree Resort and Spa, Sole Mia A Noble House Resort, Florida Ocean Club, Ocean Four Condominium, Muse Residences, Jade Ocean Condos, Jade Beach Condos, Jade Signature Condominium, Kings Point Imperial Condo, Trump Tower III, The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Oceana Bal Harbour, Fendi Chateau, Marbella Condominium, Waverly, Carlisle on the Ocean, Residence Inn by Marriott, Luxury Condo Cabarete, The Surf Club North Tower, The Surf Club Hotel Tower, The Surf Club South Tower, Arte Residence, 87 Park Tower, L’atelier Condominium, and Faena House.
### Moving Forward
The findings underscore the need for further research, stricter building inspections, and proactive measures to address the risks posed by subsidence and climate change. While the study has raised critical questions, it also highlights the importance of monitoring and maintaining the structural integrity of buildings in vulnerable areas.
*This report was produced in partnership with the Florida Climate Reporting Network and funded by Florida International University, the Knight Foundation, and the David and Christina Martin Family Foundation.*
Source: wusf.org