MIAMI BEACH, FL — Florida’s push to fix its housing crisis is colliding with one of its most iconic landmarks — the art deco architecture of Miami Beach.
New changes to the Live Local Act, a 2023 law aimed at speeding up affordable housing development, may lead to the demolition of hundreds of low-rise historic buildings. In their place? Massive high-rise apartment towers — some potentially as tall as 50 stories — that critics say could erase Miami Beach’s architectural soul.
🎨 The World’s Largest Art Deco District Under Threat
Miami Beach is home to the largest concentration of art deco architecture on the planet, featuring pastel-colored hotels, rounded corners, and neon signs that have defined the city’s vibe for nearly a century. Legendary sites like the Raleigh Hotel and the Tides Hotel aren’t just buildings — they’re cultural icons.
“Our art deco architecture is our Leaning Tower of Pisa, our Eiffel Tower,” said City Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, defending the city’s design heritage at a recent press event on Ocean Drive.
The art deco district brings in more tourism revenue than any Florida destination besides Disney World — a major reason locals are sounding the alarm.
