Archive for the 'Historic Preservation' Category

Is this preservation?

Published
by
Tony Garcia
on September 8, 2008
in Historic Preservation and Uncategorized
. 5 Comments

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.

Ocean Drive Accolades

Published
by
Ryan Sharp
on October 25, 2007
in APA, Art Deco, Awards, Historic Preservation, Miami Beach, Ocean Drive and public space
. 0 Comments

Congratulations, Miami Beach. The American Planning Association (APA) recently recognized Ocean Drive on South Beach as one of America’s Top 10 Great Streets of 2007. This is quite an honor, as Ocean Drive is in the company of other nationally famous streets such as Chicago’s North Michigan Avenue, Richmond’s Monument Avenue, and 125th Street in NYC.

According to the APA,


Great Places in America celebrates places of exemplary character, quality, and planning. Places are selected annually and represent the gold standard of communities. The designated streets and neighborhoods are defined by several characteristics, including good design, functionality, sustainability, and community involvement.

Specifically, Ocean Drive was recognized for its unique architectural legacy, citizen-led historic protection and planning efforts, mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented restoration and redevelopment, and ongoing public support.

Not really any surprises, there. I give credit where credit is due, and the planners and citizens of Miami Beach have done a heck of a job (excuse the Bushism) the last twenty years turning Ocean Drive and South Beach around by utilizing its natural resources (density, historic architecture) and engaging the public realm for people instead of cars. It’s really a great local case study that I wish more planners and citizens in neighboring municipalities would research.

Photo courtesy of CTPEKO3A’s Flickr photostream