Transit Miami

Recent articles in the herald have covered the topic of new urbanism, a type of regional planning which I stand by, so long as it is done correctly. We all know that in the greater Miami area things are often not done this way, let alone actually planned properly, the new urbanism projects are no exception. Now, don’t get me wrong, they are much better than the sprawling strip shopping centers, single family home subdivisions, and everything else we tend to find rising in the western parts of the county, but, they still have a multitude of flaws.

Dadeland Station
Dadeland station was a prime example of the urbanization of our retail industry. It’s the first vertical big-box retail mall of its kind in our area and prime example of how we can use our land and resources much more effectively. Using just seven acres of land, we are able to easily vertically integrate five big-box stores along with smaller specialty shops, rental units, and parking garages. It’s built within a convenient distance from Metrorail too. However, here lies one of our main obstacles. The integration of Metrorail with the structure is haphazard and gives the appearance of an afterthought. It’s covered walkway, although protects pedestrians from the weather, is nothing more than a cheap tarp anchored by a couple of metal poles. The scene is just as uninviting for those visiting Dadeland mall, they are forced to cross the parking lot- a constant reminder that pedestrian needs are secondary to vehicular accommodations.

Midtown Miami
2,900 parking spaces. No public transit. Enough said. This complex thus far is looking like a nightmare for the area streets. The newly constructed sidewalks aren’t faring much better either seeing that they lack any cohesive covered portico which would make walking through the area feasible and pleasant in all types of weather (look at Miracle Mile in the Gables as a positive example.) The developer also neglected on street parking, a vital component to any real urban center.

Shops at Mayfair & Las Olas Riverfront
These are two are older attempts to create lifestyle centers in the community. We’ve seen how poorly they both have fared so far, facing a glut of retail space without sufficient amount of space allotted for residential or office components. “Parking issues” plague both complexes along with a serious need for public transit.

This article builds upon a term I have come to hate; Town Center. A town center has become in my mind a euphemism for a Nimby-like community which is giving a half-assed attempt to create an urban culture, with sufficient parking for all Mercedes Benzes of course. Town Centers build upon the urban concept without factoring in public transit, mobility, or any other neighborhood in the vicinity. They do have some advantages; making individual community centers easier to link by public transit if the funds ever become available. However, I still believe there wouldn’t be a use for the town center concept if we hadn’t abandoned our actual main cities and downtowns to begin with…