In the face of legislation that could put Miami Beach's historic buildings at risk, the city is hustling to come up with incentives to protect its architectural legacy. According to Miami Today News, a new advisory committee is being tapped to brainstorm measures to encourage preservation over destruction.

The so-called Historic Preservation Ordinance Review Advisory Committee, as referred by a January commission meeting, is Miami Beach's latest bid to save its iconic structures from the wrecking ball. Yet a recently signed state law, known as the Resiliency and Safe Structures Act, threatens to upend local efforts. The law strips the Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board of its authority over the demolition of historic sites, a move which has preservationists and locals concerned about the future of the city's distinctive look.

Architectural jewels like the Eden Roc Hotel, which still breaths the post-war glamor of Miami Beach, could now face a grim fate. As The New York Times reports, these buildings embody a significant part of the city's charm and history—and the new law could facilitate their replacement with less character-full high-rise condos.

Despite the legislation passing with overwhelming support in the Florida Legislature, not everyone is onboard with this pivot from the past. "Let's just bulldoze the past — that's their idea," Daniel Ciraldo, the executive director of the nonprofit Miami Design Preservation League, told The New York Times. Critics fear that the true essence of Miami Beach is being traded for modernity, contrary to the city's established commitment to historic preservation since the 1980s.

This tension between development and conservation is not merely a local issue but one that echoes the broader conflict of preservation versus progress. As the Miami Beach commission scrambles to find workable incentives, the debate continues over how to honor the city's architectural heritage while responding to contemporary challenges.