Comments on: Understanding The Wheels of Government: A Conversation with Javier Betancourt http://www.transitmiami.com/2009/11/06/understanding-the-wheels-of-government-a-conversation-with-javier-betancourt/ Moving Together, Faster Wed, 10 Mar 2010 08:00:36 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.9 hourly 1 By: Brad K. http://www.transitmiami.com/2009/11/06/understanding-the-wheels-of-government-a-conversation-with-javier-betancourt/comment-page-1/#comment-79029 Brad K. Mon, 09 Nov 2009 17:04:00 +0000 http://www.transitmiami.com/?p=5072#comment-79029 The DDA, with the appointment of Ms. Robertson, has made good progress over the past several years. Witness the improvements in the urban core and Brickell in terms of streetscapes and quality of life - big change. However, we need to be vigilant about the the allocation and spending of public money and make sure that stakeholder's interests are served, not just those of lobbyists and big developers. The area north of 5th street has received little to no funding over the years, despite property owneers being assessed by the agency up to 22nd street There is also the tendancy to spend millions on studies and consultants, heavily criticized under the fomer Director Mr. Nottingham. While the master plan represents a great vision for Downtown Miami, it is heavily skewed towards mega projects and cost the taxpayers $1.6 million. The DDA's spending role for the implementation of this plan should end there. Nothing wrong with lobbying and promoting the projects, but downtown stakeholders want more money spend "making Miami the most liveable Urban Center in the nation". Big development projects which may of may not happen in the future are not the way to go. We need liveable streets, more and more businesses and LOTS more people living downtown. The recent $180,000 study to EVALUATE signage downtown is already being snickered about around town. Then there is the planned convention center study, another story of public funds spent with little short term benefit to the community. The people of Miami have spooken in the recent election - focus on services and making our neighborhoods more liveable, not more big development. We need to take a breather and absorb what as happened the past 8 years, not sharge full steam ahead. Miami DDA - keep doing what you do well- focusing on "facts on the ground" and improvements for those that live and work downtown. But be careful about falling into the same patterns as in the past - every study, markting campaign, or outside consultant should be discussed publicly and vetted for its true benefits to the downtown community. The DDA, with the appointment of Ms. Robertson, has made good progress over the past several years. Witness the improvements in the urban core and Brickell in terms of streetscapes and quality of life – big change.

However, we need to be vigilant about the the allocation and spending of public money and make sure that stakeholder’s interests are served, not just those of lobbyists and big developers. The area north of 5th street has received little to no funding over the years, despite property owneers being assessed by the agency up to 22nd street There is also the tendancy to spend millions on studies and consultants, heavily criticized under the fomer Director Mr. Nottingham. While the master plan represents a great vision for Downtown Miami, it is heavily skewed towards mega projects and cost the taxpayers $1.6 million. The DDA’s spending role for the implementation of this plan should end there. Nothing wrong with lobbying and promoting the projects, but downtown stakeholders want more money spend “making Miami the most liveable Urban Center in the nation”. Big development projects which may of may not happen in the future are not the way to go. We need liveable streets, more and more businesses and LOTS more people living downtown. The recent $180,000 study to EVALUATE signage downtown is already being snickered about around town. Then there is the planned convention center study, another story of public funds spent with little short term benefit to the community.

The people of Miami have spooken in the recent election – focus on services and making our neighborhoods more liveable, not more big development. We need to take a breather and absorb what as happened the past 8 years, not sharge full steam ahead. Miami DDA – keep doing what you do well- focusing on “facts on the ground” and improvements for those that live and work downtown. But be careful about falling into the same patterns as in the past – every study, markting campaign, or outside consultant should be discussed publicly and vetted for its true benefits to the downtown community.

]]> By: Tony http://www.transitmiami.com/2009/11/06/understanding-the-wheels-of-government-a-conversation-with-javier-betancourt/comment-page-1/#comment-78570 Tony Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:46:37 +0000 http://www.transitmiami.com/?p=5072#comment-78570 Good points on both accounts. I think that the DDa can do more, but that doesn't take into account what it already does. TD: 'vertical subdivisions' - awesome! That is less likely to happen around downtown because of the places to go within walking distance. As a *former* resident of the Skyline, I believe the insulated nature of life on Brickell has to do with the previous 'resort style' zoning, that populates the neighborhood with single use, uber-setback buildings, and with minimal transit access. Design plays s huge role in the way our streets are used. South Brickell is a good example of density without design. (Either way, downtown needs a grocery store stat!!) Good points on both accounts. I think that the DDa can do more, but that doesn’t take into account what it already does.

TD: ‘vertical subdivisions’ – awesome! That is less likely to happen around downtown because of the places to go within walking distance. As a *former* resident of the Skyline, I believe the insulated nature of life on Brickell has to do with the previous ‘resort style’ zoning, that populates the neighborhood with single use, uber-setback buildings, and with minimal transit access. Design plays s huge role in the way our streets are used. South Brickell is a good example of density without design. (Either way, downtown needs a grocery store stat!!)

]]> By: TransitDave http://www.transitmiami.com/2009/11/06/understanding-the-wheels-of-government-a-conversation-with-javier-betancourt/comment-page-1/#comment-78562 TransitDave Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:03:22 +0000 http://www.transitmiami.com/?p=5072#comment-78562 As a real estate guy who has worked downtown since 1995,I can recall back then thinking how under-utilized, and undervalued the older core of downtown was (and is). Not to step on DDA's toes, but I'm not real fired up by their DWNTWN label; to me, this part of town always was, and always will be simply "Old Miami" Even the boom years didn't change the Old Miami much, but it's showing definate signs of progress, and as the empty condos town town fill up,hopefully the one element that has always been needed will arrive in critical mass: Residents. Add them, and everything else will follow. But they need to be real downtowners, not people who want to live in verticle subdivisions, as are so many Brickell residents. (present company excluded) Even so, the core has something the Brickell are doesn't have: Great parks on the bay. And, Brickell has something most of the other areas don't; A publix close by. Both are, in my book, essential for urban living in Miami. As a real estate guy who has worked downtown since 1995,I can recall back then thinking how under-utilized, and undervalued the older core of downtown was (and is). Not to step on DDA’s toes, but I’m not real fired up by their DWNTWN label; to me, this part of town always was, and always will be simply “Old Miami” Even the boom years didn’t change the Old Miami much, but it’s showing definate signs of progress, and as the empty condos town town fill up,hopefully the one element that has always been needed will arrive in critical mass: Residents. Add them, and everything else will follow. But they need to be real downtowners, not people who want to live in verticle subdivisions, as are so many Brickell residents. (present company excluded) Even so, the core has something the Brickell are doesn’t have: Great parks on the bay. And, Brickell has something most of the other areas don’t; A publix close by. Both are, in my book, essential for urban living in Miami.

]]> By: Andre Devoto http://www.transitmiami.com/2009/11/06/understanding-the-wheels-of-government-a-conversation-with-javier-betancourt/comment-page-1/#comment-78561 Andre Devoto Sat, 07 Nov 2009 16:00:57 +0000 http://www.transitmiami.com/?p=5072#comment-78561 The Downtown Development Authority should be doing more. With a massive $9.4 mil budget, downtown and Park West look worse than many third world countries. Further, the DDA should not let itself be lead by lobbyists on its board. The numerous conflicts of interest should attract attention. The Downtown Development Authority should be doing more. With a massive $9.4 mil budget, downtown and Park West look worse than many third world countries.

Further, the DDA should not let itself be lead by lobbyists on its board. The numerous conflicts of interest should attract attention.

]]>