The City of Miami City Commission is considering allowing the demolition of the East Coast Fisheries Building at Thursday’s meeting. The Historic and Environmental Preservation Review Board denied the application to demolish the derelict structure, but the Planning Department supports the appeal. The structure was designated historic in 2003, but now is at risk of demolishion. What good are our preservation laws if they don’t save structures from being demolished. This is embarrassing for our city, and even more for the Planning Department. Shame on you guys.
Here is a little more about the building from the Miami Histo-Presto website:
This Mediterranean Revival style building is one of the few remaining landmarks from the prosperous commercial fishing industry that was once centered along the Miami River. Advertisements described the building as the “South’s Most Beautiful Fish Market” when it opened as Miller’s Fish Market in 1926. East Coast Fisheries moved into the building in 1933 and continued its wholesale seafood operations and eatery until 2000.
I bike by the building everyday on the way home. It is gorgeous, even in its rather decrepit state. It’s amazing to me that such a wonderful building, on a river no less, could be left to wither. Preserve it. Current laws would probably prevent the construction of a building directly on the water.
This is similar to all arcaded buildings being torn down across the city. Because of ridiculously arcane traffic engineer standards, these building types are also illegal to build new. Before you know it, the very fabric that once made Miami a special place will be gone.
PRESERVE IT! It’s absolutely beautiful. Shame on the planning department, of all people, wow!
Preserve it! Who do we write?
If you live in the City of Miami write to your local Commissioner listed on the city directory
http://www.miamigov.com/City_Officials/
If not please send a letter to:
Mayor Manny Diaz (mannydiaz@ci.miami.fl.us) or
City Attorney Peter Hernandez (pgh@miamigov.com)
man, how great would it be if it were a fresh fish market!