Miami Waterfront Property: The Environmental Risk

Nowhere in the United States is the coatline more developed than in Miami. Towering condos and sprawling Miami waterfront property crowd beaches, yet developers continue to fight for the right to develop what little unused space is left. Scientists and environmentalists have warned for years that the Miami coast is dangerously overbuilt, but the warnings have fallen upon deaf ears, as Miami waterfront property is still some of the most sought after in the country.

Americans and foreign investors love Miami waterfront property, and environmentalists feel that "the federal government has fueled that love through flood insurance that minimizes its risk and by paying for infrastructure such as bridges and roads that make it more accessible."

The development of Miami waterfront property is of such concern because its construction "often degrades the barrier beaches and coastal wetlands that can serve as natural buffers against hurricanes." If a storm the size of Katrina hits Miami directly, the city lacks the protection necessary to avoid complete devastation.