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Sinking buildings -

Dozens of luxury condos and hotels across Miami are sinking. The affected areas include Surfside, Bal Harbour, Miami Beach, and Sunny Isles Beach.

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Sunny Isles Beach -

In Sunny Isles Beach, for instance, nearly 70% of the buildings in the northern and central area are affected.

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Research -

According to a new study by the University of Miami, between 2016 and 2023 a total of 35 buildings sank by as much as three inches (7.62 cm).

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Affected buildings -

Some of the affected buildings include the Surf Club Towers, the Faena Hotel, and the Porsche Design Tower.

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Affected buildings -

The Ritz-Carlton Residences, Trump Tower III, and the Trump International Beach Resorts are also affected.

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The beachfront is sinking -

“Almost all the buildings at the coast itself, they’re subsiding,” said Falk Amelung, a geophysicist at the University of Miami’s Rosenstiel School of Marine, Atmospheric and Earth Science and one of the authors of the study.

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Questions -

The study has been raising a number of questions among experts, namely if this is a sign of rising sea levels and accelerating erosion.

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It may be a bigger problem than we think -

“It’s probably a much larger problem than we know,” said Paul Chinowsky, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Colorado Boulder.

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Reevaluating an old case -

In 2021, the collapse of Champlain Towers in Surfside killed 98 people. As a result, new laws about structural reviews were implemented.

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Reevaluating an old case -

At the time, the investigation found that "settlement was not the cause of collapse.” Subsidence was, however, found at nearby beachside buildings. Settlement is when a structure's foundation sinks (caused by the weight of the building), while subsidence is when sinking is caused by material movement underground.

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Assessing future damage -

It’s not clear that the slow sinking will lead to damage, but it’s a possibility. “Ongoing monitoring and a deeper understanding of the long-term implications for these structures” will be needed, explains lead author Farzaneh Aziz Zanjani.

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Most buildings sink -

Buildings naturally sink as the soil underneath gets compressed over the years. This is not a problem when the sinking is even. But problems may arise when it’s not. “That’s where you can get structural damage,” said Chinowsky.

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The impact of sinking remains unknown -

The long-term impact on the buildings remains unknown. “Sometimes it can be dangerous, sometimes not–it will have to be evaluated,” said Shimon Wdowinski, a geophysicist at Florida International University.

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What’s next? -

For the buildings found to be sinking, Wdowinski suggests checking the integrity and design plans. “If there is differential subsidence, it could cause structural damage, and it would need immediate attention,” he said.

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Signs of differential subsidence -

There are a number of signs to look for, including cracks in walls, as well as doors and windows that won’t shut.

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Reactions: Mayor of Sunny Isles Beach -

Larisa Svechin, mayor of Sunny Isles Beach, said that she was not aware of any structural issues that required immediate actions. “My priority is the safety of our residents,” she added.

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Reactions: Mayor of Sunny Isles Beach -

Mayor Svechin pointed out that building inspections are up to date and that “the law also requires inspection records to be posted online and shared with residents.”

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Reactions: Mayor of Surfside -

Charles Burkett, the mayor of Surfside, said he hasn’t been made aware of the study. “I’d like to know if it’s unsafe,” he said. Mayor Burkett said he would review the study “in due time.”

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Connection with construction -

A possible connection was made between settlements appearing around the time when new buildings were being built nearby. This, however, was discarded because some settlement had started before such construction began.

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Connection with climate change -

Another hypothesis put forward is the rising sea levels encroaching on sand and limestone, leading to corrosion of the buildings’ pillars.

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Limestone -

Limestone is already a soft rock, so it’s like “standing on sand, and someone came with a spoon and started taking the sand out,” Chinowsky explains.

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Limestone -

“I would expect that they would see this all throughout the barrier islands and on into the main coastline–wherever there is limestone, basically,” he added.

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Many buildings are affected -

In addition to the aforementioned buildings, many others have been identified as experiencing subsidence. Let’s take a look at the full list of affected buildings.

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Affected buildings -

Here is the full list: Regalia (pictured), Ocean II, Residences by Armani Casa, Ocean III, Marenas Beach Resort, Millennium Condominiums, Porsche Design Tower, Bentley Residence Development site, Trump International Beach Resort ...

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Affected buildings -

... Aqualina Resort and Residences on the Beach (pictured), The Mansions at Aqualina, Pinnacle, Chateau Beach Residences, Double Tree Resort and Spa, Sole Mia A Noble House Resort ...

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Affected buildings -

The Fendi Chateau (pictured), 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, Marbella Condominium ...

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Affected buildings -

The Waverly (pictured), Carlisle on the Ocean, Residence Inn by Mariott, 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.

Sources: (Miami Herald)

See also: Is New York City sinking?

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