
Jason Halpern is the founder of JMH Development, a leading real estate development company headquartered in New York. With years of experience in a third-generation real estate business, Jason Halpern focuses on historical renovations and designing unique residential buildings. One of the company’s recent projects in South Miami protects a historical building from encroaching sea levels.
There are several ways to protect buildings against the rising sea level. With 97 percent of the Miami-Dade county below 12 feet above sea level, the rapidly rising sea level doesn’t give more than a century for construction designers to develop new ideas and plans. One of the most ambitious plans is to raise entire streets and buildings above sea level. Elevated structures are one of the better temporary solutions and are one of the best ways to protect low-lying infrastructure, like roads and airports.
Another popular option is to construct flood barriers to protect existing buildings and reinforce the coast to prevent erosion. One of the most prominent examples of dams is the Venetian MOSE, which uses rising barriers to protect the city during exceptionally high tides.







