Heritage at Risk Survey 2023

Excellent

Heritage at Risk Survey 2023

Site overview

Awards

Documentation

Award of Excellence

An Inventory/Survey Award of Excellence is bestowed upon the Heritage at Risk Survey 2023 of Miami-Dade County, which addressed a significant gap in knowledge about buildings and resources constructed between 1941 and 1981. This survey provides a critical assessment of post-war development and its impact on the county's architectural landscape. Launched in 2021, the project integrates innovative methodologies that connect historic preservation with broader planning and development policies. It focuses on areas facing redevelopment pressures, gentrification, housing affordability challenges, and climate resiliency, while also ensuring inclusive representation of historically underrepresented communities. To define the project area, a layered series of maps were created that illustrate communities where the County has already adopted policies that incentivize development. These areas were also evaluated in relation to FEMA flood zones, and the inclusion of historically excluded communities. The survey identified 7,870 sites, with 1,200 prioritized for further study. Among these, 406 resources were deemed potentially eligible for listing in the National Register, and 15% of properties surveyed were found to be associated with historically excluded communities. The Heritage at Risk Survey highlights the architectural significance of post-war structures and provides a strategic framework for future preservation efforts. 

“When at-risk resources seem too ‘ordinary,’ they often get knocked down simply based on aesthetics or style before there is even a discussion about any other types of significance. This survey surfaces a wide variety of preservation candidates that would not have been recognized by traditional survey methodologies. Given the very strong climate-change impacts Miami-Dade is experiencing, it has identified many at risk properties.”

- James Russell, FAIA, 2024 Jury Member

“This was a massive effort with positive results. It will be interesting to see scholars draw on this information for future work around architecture, urban planning, redlining, and more.”

- Rocío Aranda-Alvarado, 2024 Jury Member
Client

Miami-Dade County

Restoration Team

Miami-Dade County Office of Historic Preservation: Jerry Bell (Assistant Director for Planning); Sarah Cody (Historic Preservation Chief); Adrienne Burke (Principal Planner); Alex Dambach (Planning Development Manager); Tamara McDonald (Historic Preservation Specialist); Jeff Ransom (County Archaeologist); Shulman + Associates (Research, Mapping, Surveying, Analysis, Text): Allan Shulman (Principal in Charge & author of main texts); Miriam Alenezi (Project Manager); Rebecca Stanier-Shulman (Project Administrator); Tori Cohen (Graphic Designer); Luis Sanchez (Architectural drafting); Lucas Rosen (Graphics Support); Ivo Rondinoni (Data Processing); Geo-Urban Consulting (Community Outreach): Hernan Guerrero Applewhite (Principal); Karen Moore (Community Liaison); Jay Molokwu (Designer)