South Florida real estate: Safety, subsidence, new trends

A new study found that nearly 70% of buildings in central and northern Sunny Isles Beach are affected by subsidence, leading city officials to review their high-rises and reassure residents about safety. Surfside is responding by discussing tighter monitoring and regulation of nearby construction, following concerns that vibrations from new projects may further accelerate sinking in buildings such as Surf Club Towers and Porsche Design Tower.

At the same time, the region’s real estate market remains active, with luxury developments like Soreno Fort Lauderdale offering glass towers with rooftop amenities, and affordable housing projects like Desoto Apartments transforming former mall sites. Meanwhile, in Miami's Brickell area, condo owners at Solaris are pushing back against perceived low buyout offers as developers like Citadel plan new headquarters and reshape the neighborhood. Together, these updates highlight how South Florida’s real estate sector is adapting to both safety concerns and ongoing demand for diverse housing options.

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories below were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.

Aerial view of high-rises along Collins Avenue in Sunny Isles, Florida, June, 2021. Photo by Pedro Portal

NO. 1: SUNNY ISLES BUILDINGS ’100 PERCENT SAFE’ BUT CITY REVIEWING THEM IN WAKE OF SINKING STUDY

Too much construction, too much load on sand, and too much water could all play a role | Published December 17, 2024 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby

An aerial view of Jackson Medical Towers, at 1500 NW 12th Avenue in Miami, Florida on Jan. 2, 2025. The Public Health Trust of Jackson Health System has approved a deal with Related Urban to demolish two existing towers, known as Jackson Medical Towers, and construct affordable workforce housing and an extended stay hotel.

NO. 2: CAN THESE TOWERS HELP AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN MIAMI? TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLANS

The complex includes hundreds of rentals and a hotel. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante Rebecca San Juan

Condo owners Gil Hall pose next to his wife Elizabeth CZerny in their home in Solaris at Brickell Bay in Miami on Tuesday January 21st., 2025. Story: Developers are trying to buy out all the units, seemingly so Ken Griffin can redevelop the building as part of a project for Citadel’s HQ in the area. By Alexia Foderé

NO. 3: CONDO OWNERS NEXT TO CITADEL’S PLANNED MIAMI HQ REJECT ‘CHEAPSKATE’ BUYOUT OFFERS

Griffin, a billionaire hedge-fund manager bringing his company headquarters to Miami, has been mum about his intentions for the Solaris condo building. | Published January 23, 2025 | Read Full Story by Aaron Leibowitz

An affordable housing apartment complex is planned for the DeSoto Square Mall property where currently storm debris is being processed. By Tiffany Tompkins

NO. 4: WANT TO LIVE WHERE A MALL USED TO BE? AFFORDABLE APARTMENTS COMING TO THIS FLORIDA AREA

Check out what’s planned. | Published January 22, 2025 | Read Full Story by Jason Dill

A view of the Sunny Isles Beach skyline on Tuesday, July 23, 2019. By DAVID SANTIAGO

NO. 5: SURFSIDE WEIGHS TIGHTER MONITORING OF NEW CONSTRUCTION IN WAKE OF SINKING BUILDINGS STUDY

‘There’s a lot of flaws, a lot of loopholes there, because they (developers) just go through the motions,’ said Vice Mayor Tina Paul | Published January 31, 2025 | Read Full Story by Denise Hruby

Integra Investments, a Miami-based real estate development firm, and co-developer Flying Point announced plans for Sereno Fort Lauderdale, a luxury condominium with prices starting at $1.4 million. The building offers 360 views of nearby parks and Atlantic Ocean.

NO. 6: ‘LUXURY COASTAL LIVING’: MIAMI DEVELOPER BRINGING 14-STORY BUILDING TO FORT LAUDERDALE

Love the ‘Fort Lauderdale active lifestyle’? A new development is coming to town | Published March 20, 2025 | Read Full Story by Amanda Rosa

This report was produced with the help of AI tools, which summarized previous stories reported and written by McClatchy journalists. It was edited by journalists in our News division.