4 December 26, 2024 - January 1, 2025 miaminewtimes.com | browardpalmbeach.com New Times | music | cafe | culture | Night+Day | news | letters | coNteNts | MONTH XX–MONTH XX, 2008 miaminewtimes.com MIAMI NEW TIMES | MUSIC | CAFE | FILM | ART | STAGE | NIGHT+DAY | METRO | RIPTIDE | LETTERS | CONTENTS | ▼ MIAMI-DADE WHAT LIES BENEATH 35 MIAMI BUILDINGS ARE SINKING. IS YOURS ONE OF THEM? BY ZULEKHA PITTS T he ground beneath Miami’s fancy beachside condos and high-rises isn’t as solid as you might think. According to a new study from the University of Miami, 35 buildings across Miami Beach, Sunny Isles Beach, Surfside, and Bal Harbour are sinking. Not falling into giant sinkholes or anything (this isn’t a disaster movie), but they’re sink- ing slowly — by as much as three inches over the past seven years. That might not sound like much, but in a city built on limestone and sand, even tiny shifts can be a big deal. So, what’s happening? And why does it matter? Let’s break it down. The study found the most sinking in Sunny Isles Beach, where nearly 70 percent of buildings in the northern part of the city are slowly settling into the ground. Surfside, Bal Harbour, and a couple of spots in Miami Beach are also sinking, but not as much as Sunny Isles. Researchers used satellites to measure this sinking (called “subsidence”) down to the millimeter. It’s like a super high-tech ruler floating in space, pointing out exactly where the ground is moving. Here’s the deal. Construction Vibrations: Imagine a giant jackhammer next to a sandcastle — that’s kind of what happens when a new high-rise is built. All the digging, pumping, and pound- ing shakes up the sandy layers under Miami’s buildings. Over time, the sand compacts, and the ground sinks. Water Movement: The ground beneath us isn’t just sitting still. Water from tides, storms, and construction sites flows through Miami’s porous limestone like a sponge, shifting sand grains and causing the ground to settle even more. The study calls this “creep deformation” — basically, the sand is slowly rearranging itself and sinking under the weight of all those massive buildings. How much creep are we talking here? From 2016 to 2023, the buildings in the study sank anywhere between 0.8 inches and three inches. That doesn’t sound like a skyscraper- toppling amount, but here’s the catch: If a building sinks evenly, it’s not a huge problem. But if one part sinks faster than another (called “differential subsidence”), it can put stress on a building’s structure. Think about a table with one short leg — it wobbles, right? That’s what happens to buildings when the ground underneath them doesn’t sink evenly. The tragic 2021 collapse of Champlain Towers South in Surfside that killed 98 people still weighs heavy in hearts and minds. This study found no signs of sinking beneath the Champlain Towers site before it collapsed. Still, the research highlights a troubling pattern in nearby buildings, suggesting that subsidence may not be isolated. Miami isn’t built on solid rock like other cities. Instead, it sits on limestone, a soft, po- rous rock rife with holes and pockets. It’s ba- sically a giant sponge. Atop the limestone are layers of sand, especially in places like Sunny Isles Beach. That mix of soft rock and sand makes Mi- ami’s ground more likely to sink under pres- sure. Add rising sea levels, increased construction, and tidal water movement, and you get the perfect recipe for ground settle- ment. The good news is that subsidence happens slowly; these buildings are not just going to tip over tomorrow. But left unchecked, uneven sinking can cause cracks, misaligned doors, and other structural problems. The study suggests more monitoring is needed to keep an eye on what’s happening beneath Miami’s buildings. For now, the sinking is a reminder that when you build luxury high-rises on sand and lime- stone, the ground might have its own plans. If you live in one of the buildings listed be- low, it might be worth asking management about inspection records and plans to address any potential sinking. At the very least, it’ll give you a conversation starter for your next HOA meeting. • Porsche Design Tower • Ritz-Carlton Residences • Faena Hotel • Trump Tower III • Surf Club Towers (North, South, and Hotel Tower) • Regalia • Residences by Armani Casa • Muse Residences • Jade Ocean Condos • Jade Beach Condos • Jade Signature Condos • Chateau Beach Residences • Marenas Beach Resort • Millennium Condominiums • Ocean II, III, and IV • Florida Ocean Club • Trump International Beach Resort • Aqualina Resort and Residences • Mansions at Aqualina • Bentley Residence Development Site • Pinnacle • Double Tree Resort and Spa • Sole Mia Resort • Kings Point Imperial Condo • Fendi Chateau • Oceana Bal Harbour • Marbella Condominium • Waverly • Carlisle on the Ocean • Residence Inn by Marriott • 87 Park Tower • Arte Residence • L’Atelier Condo • Faena House • Luxury Condo Cabarete [email protected] | RIPTIDE | GET MORE NEWS & COMMENTARY AT MIAMINEWTIMES.COM/NEWS The Porsche Design Tower in Sunny Isles Beach, one of 35 buildings identified in a University of Miami study as experiencing subsidence along Miami’s coastline. Porsche Design Tower Miami photo ▼ WEST PALM BEACH FIRST BUDDY? ELON MUSK EYES $100M CONDO NEAR MAR-A-LAGO. BY NAOMI FEINSTEIN E lon Musk, now better known as the “First Buddy,” cannot go too long without spending time with his bestie, President- elect Donald Trump. So much so that he has ap- parently supplanted Laura Loomer, not to mention Melania, Trump’s third wife. Given that the two moguls have spent many a waking moment together since their election- night sleepover at Mar-a-Lago in West Palm Beach, Musk might be growing weary of being a houseguest in the realm of orange-stained sheets. Rumor has it the billionaire and Tesla CEO might purchase a $100 million condomin- ium in West Palm Beach to keep the lovefest go- ing from a more respectable remove. According to a post on the account of fancy- pants magazine PalmerPB, Musk put in an offer of more than $100 million to purchase late beauty mogul Sydell Miller’s “majestic 19,000 square-foot penthouse” at the Bristol, located at 1125 S. Flagler Dr. — a mere eight-minute Tesla drive from Mar-a- Lago. “If accepted, the deal would likely top $100 mil- lion and break ev- ery imaginable West Palm Beach real estate record,” the magazine re- ported. “When first built, the luxury apartment was said to be “fit for a king.’” In 2019, Miller, cofounder of Matrix Essentials, paid in excess of $42 million for the two condos that comprise the building’s 24th floor. The Palm Beach Daily News reported at the time that the deal was the most expensive in Palm Beach history. The luxurious waterfront condominium is 25 stories tall and offers unobstructed views of the Intracoastal Waterway, Atlantic Ocean, and the barrier island. “With its sparkling glass façade, the Bristol is a modern take on gracious living,” its website boasts. “The amenities rival those of five-star re- sorts while the sweeping flow-through resi- dences are perfectly outfitted for modern life — handsomely appointed, carefully curated and detailed with bespoke finishes.” In the run-up to Election Day, Musk threw his support behind the former president and do- nated $118 million to the candidate’s America PAC. Additionally, the SpaceX CEO used X, the social-media platform formerly known as Twitter that he purchased and dubiously rebranded, to spread pro-Trump propaganda and election mis- information. He also made appearances on the campaign trail with the Republican nominee, sometimes dancing (to use the term loosely). As Trump filled out his cabinet, the president- elect tapped Musk and entrepreneur/erstwhile Republican presidential rival Vivek Ramaswamy to lead the Department of Government Effi- ciency (DOGE) — a presidential advisory com- mission that will ostensibly help regulate government spending and improve efficiency. “Together, these two wonderful Americans will pave the way for my administration to dis- mantle government bureaucracy, slash excess regulations, cut wasteful expenditures, and re- structure federal agencies — essential to the ‘Save America’ Movement,” Trump trumpeted in November. Added Musk, “This will send shockwaves through the system and anyone involved in gov- ernment waste, which is a lot of people!” Here’s to many more slumber parties for the BFFLs! [email protected] MUSK MIGHT BE GROWING WEARY OF BEING A HOUSEGUEST IN THE REALM OF ORANGE- STAINED SHEETS.
