Today, UNIDAD of Miami Beach is celebrating the groundbreaking of its long-awaited North Beach Oceanfront Center, right next to the North Beach Band Shell on 73 Street and Collins Avenue.

Soon, the bandshell itself and the park surrounding it will also undergo a renovation, together creating a community campus for arts, culture and social services. At the other end of Ocean Terrace, the newly forming Altos Del Mar Sculpture Park will help anchor the entire district as a cultural destination for the entire community and visitors.

The convergence of these projects could not have come at a better time.

For years, the park area between 72^nd and 73^rd streets has been less than desirable – consisting of a broken-down building now boarded up, a run-down band shell with a glorious past, and a bus shelter from which riders and pedestrians can contemplate the traffic whizzing past a vast parking lot, or the homeless encamped around the empty facilities behind them.

Only on those nights when the bandshell is activated can you experience a bit of North Beach magic on display as couples and families fill the band shell and the lawn outside, listening to music often heard nowhere else in Miami before wandering off to grab a bite to eat or stroll the new beachwalk.  The installation of the volleyball courts and the free yoga classes on Monday and Friday mornings has also provided a vision for what this park could be for our community.

But in the next few months, a slew of public projects will ensure that the magic lasts for more than one night.

The two-story North Beach Oceanfront Center, built in partnership with the City of Miami Beach on the former site of a historic U.S. Coast Guard’s House of Refuge, will house an array of services for seniors. Services will include nutritious meals, employment training and placement, counseling, support groups, health screenings, and assistance with immigration-related issues. The Center will also provide cultural enrichment and fitness classes. The building itself, designed by architect Rene Gonzalez, will be suiting tribute to MiMo architecture and include a terrace on the second floor providing a spectacular ocean view.

Hand in hand with that exciting development, the city will also soon begin renovating and restoring the former glory of the North Beach Bandshell, which was built in the early 1960s by famed architect Norman Giller. The contractor is expected to begin work on this project soon, with a completion date of next Spring.

We’re very excited about this one, which will not only fix up the bandshell and emphasize all the original features that made it a MiMo classic, but will also add capacity to make it a more attractive venue for community events and entertainment.

New features will include renovated bathrooms, enhanced dressing rooms, an extended stage, sound system and a movie projector and screen.

Right now, the North Beach Bandshell Trust is raising money so that when the renovations are done, the bandshell can offer programs for the community at least once a week, such as movies, small concerts, skate night, and other performances.

Not only that, but the city is also planning a complete renovation of the entire park area from 72^nd to 73^rd streets, taking out the old bus stop and adding new landscaping that will make it feel more like a real park and less like a highway rest area. There will be new walkways, paths and lighting along with an electronic marquis for the bandshell that will announce community news and events.

The only thing that’s missing from the first phase of renovation is a walkway connecting the 72^nd Street entrance to the newly constructed beachwalk. This may happen later, but it is disappointing to see this important connection left on the sidelines. With the upcoming pedestrian improvements along 72nd Street that are part of the Capital Improvement Project for the North Shore Neighborhood, we will be inviting individuals to come to this park only to be guided to 73rd Street to access the beach.

Now is your opportunity to weigh in on the renovation plans for the park. There is a Community Design Review Meeting scheduled for Thursday, July 22^nd @ 6:30 PM at the North Shore Youth Center (501 72^nd Street). Please attend and let the city know what you think!

This is a long awaited project that will have a lasting impact on our community. “After almost a decade of hope, inspiration and hard work, we are about to embark upon the construction of UNIDAD’s Senior Center, an example of public-private partnerships at their best. We are excited; this new building will offer an array of services to local residents and the community at-large” says Margarita Cepeda-Leonardo, Executive Director for UNIDAD.

The Oceanfront Center is just one of three separate projects that encompass the complete renovation of Bandshell Park. On Thursday, July 22nd, there will also be a Community Design Review meeting for the plans to Bandshell Park. The community is encourged to attend this important meeting and provide their input for the proposed North Beach Bandshell Park plan. 

Thursday, July 22nd 6:30 PM
North Shore Youth Center
501 72nd Street

Additional information will be published later this week on the detailed plans for the park.

North Beach Bandshell Proposed Park Plan - High Resolution

The classes are informal and small, allowing for communication between instructor and participants. Residents enrolled in the classes have an opportunity to meet the people responsible for providing City services, gain insight into how the City works, and understand the role of each department. Additionally, there will be a question and answer period at the end of each session and students will also evaluate each class.

Become an effective neighborhood leader and add the NLA to your resume. Many of the graduates of the program have gone on to become homeowner’s association presidents, City board and committee members, and have even been elected to public office. Classes are offered in English or Spanish.

Fall Sessions Begins
September 13, 2010
Mondays: 6PM – 8PM

Academia en Español Comienza
1° de septiembre, 2010
miércoles: 6PM – 8PM

Registration is easy. Simply contact Caroline Defreze @ 305.673.7010 or email her at carolinedefreze@miamibeachfl.gov.

Hosted by the City of Miami Beach

Rides such as the mechanical surfboard, slides and mobile arcade will be on hand for the children to enjoy. Performances by the City of Miami Beach Parks and Recreation Department’s summer camp participants will liven up the evening, along with “Hula” type music throughout the event. In addition to the fun, the Seniors will be selling a variety of knick knacks at their “Seniors Bazaar”.

Attendees can cool down with virgin piña coladas and strawberry daiquiris for a great price (sorry parents, no alcohol will be sold). The highlight of the evening features a Polynesian performance consisting of authentic hula dancers, limbo contests, live drummers, fire dancing and the history of the South Pacific warrior. Admission is free. Tickets for rides and concessions will be sold separately. Mark your calendars and don’t miss out on this night of fun and tropical good times.

If you have not attended an event at North Shore Park in the past, I highly recommend you stop by. It’s fun for the entire family.

North Shore Part and Youth Center
501 72nd Street
Friday, June 25th, 2010
6:00 – 7:30 PM

For more information on the “Loco Luau” please call the North Shore Park and Youth Center at 305-861-3616.

Look for future events and other Miami Beach Parks and Recreation programming in your Recreation Review, call our offices at 305-673-7730 or visit our website at www.miamibeachparks.com

The park, the brainchild of Altos Del Mar residents Peter and Marlene Saile, will feature world-class sculpture from established artist of the 19th, 20th and 21st centuries inter-mixed with a shaded garden oasis and cultural programming. The exhibitions will be in rotation – large sculptures every 18 months while the small to midsized sculptures will rotate every 12 months – offering visitors something new to see. The park will be open to the public 365 days a year and admission will be free. It will be located just north of the North Beach library on 76th Street, nestled between Collins Avenue and the beautiful beach boardwalk.

When fully opened to the public in November 2011, the park will focus the eye of the international art world on North Beach , providing a stimulus for other wonderful dreams to come true in this under-developed neighborhood.

In May, Miami Beach City Manager Jorge M. Gonzalez signed off on the preliminary plans for the park, which were designed by Les Beilinson of Beilinson Gomez Architects. The park is located on land owned by the city and currently is mostly just open field. The City Commission approved the initial concept in previous meetings, giving permission for the city to enter into a long-term management agreement with Altos Del Mar Sculpture Park to build and run the park and its rotating exhibits.

The city manager got a very early glimpse at what the park will look like in these initial plans. Beautiful, full-color renderings illustrated the Butterfly Vivarium, the Entrance Pavilion, the Tree Allées, the Lawn and the Pergola among others. You can check additional images at Altos Del Mar Sculpture Park.

City staff helped make the plans even better by suggesting reorienting the pavilion and parking lot to allow for the tree-lined walkways to grow better and provide a better flow for pedestrian wandering.

The next step for the Altos Del Mar Sculpture Park will be a review by the Historic Preservation Board, expected to occur in July. The HP board will be looking at the latest plans, which include a full landscape design created by landscape architect Orlando Comas.

Comas, a visionary landscape architect noted for his lush tropical designs. Comas’ vision of creating enchanting and soothing outdoor oasis will work hand-in-hand with the overall concept of ArquitectonicaGEO’s Margarita Blanco. Blanco had the brilliant thought that the park should incorporate the look and feel of its surrounding environment on a limestone and sand barrier island on the ocean.

In line with this concept, the park is divided into natural “rooms”: the Dunefield, the Maritime Garden , the Tree Allées and the Lawn. Within this stimulating outdoor museum, people can meander along different-colored pathways, discovering sculptures from the 19^th - 21^st centuries along the way.

All paths eventually lead to the park’s center, where the community programs will take place. These programs will include free community art classes, fitness, entertainment, and social services aimed at the community, including outreach services for the homeless and unemployed.

At the entrance the park will feature a touchable, playful sculpture resembling a jungle gym that will be commissioned by ADMSP as its logo.

Comas is currently hard at work choosing the mix of trees for the Tree Allées, the maritime planting palette for the Maritime Garden, the grass for the Lawn, the dunes and their coastal plantings for the Dunefield. He is also picking recyclable, sustainable landscaping materials that will be used to create the pathways and sculpture display areas.

“I’m absolutely thrilled that the city came forward in partnership with the professionals, entrepreneurs, community leaders and activists who have been working to make the Altos Del Mar Sculpture Park a reality since 2004,” said ADMSP chairman Peter Saile.

“Without the energy and support of the city manager and his staff and the Mayor and Commission, this incredible opportunity to literally transform a neighborhood through culture would not be possible.”

The ADMSP group is now launching a social media campaign called “This Focus Focus (not Hocus Pocus!)” to raise awareness about the park project. Visit the ADMSP  social media site to stay informed and and to participate in the development of the park.  The group is also embarked on a very promising fundraising campaign which is already proving successful.

“ADMSP would like to thank Jorge M. Gonzalez, the city staff, Les Beilinson, and everyone else involved in the collective effort to achieve yet another milestone in its development towards achieving its mission,” Saile said. “I can’t wait to see what happens next.”

Here is a peak:

Click here to view the embedded video.

Here are some images:

For more information on the Town Center Plan, please read our article, Town Center Zoning Changes go to Planning Board.

Planning Board Meeting
June 22nd, 1:30 PM
City Hall Commission Chambers
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL  33139

INCIDENT: Strong Arm Robbery (Arrest) Area 3
DATE:06/17/2010
TIME:0145 hrs
CASE NUMBER: 2010-62866
LOCATION: 2070 Bay Drive #511
COMMANDER: Lieutenant J. Duque
SUPERVISOR: Sergeant M. Rojo
LEAD OFFICER: Officer J. Mercado
LEAD DETECTIVE: N/A

DESCRIPTION OF INCIDENT: The victim (elderly 74 yoa) and subject in this case are known to each other. The subject was in the home of the victim drinking alcoholic beverages together. The victim states at some point the subject pushed him to the ground and stole his computer, fleeing the apartment. The victim calls Police and directs Officers to the apartment building where the subject resides. Officers located the subject in a swimming pool where he was positively identified by the victim. Subject arrested. Computer was not recovered. Crimes scene notified. No injuries to the victim. Cleared by arrest.

ARRESTEE:
Luis Kropke W/M
2301 Normandy Drive #210
Miami Beach 33141
DOB-03-20-1990

CHARGE(S):
Strong Arm Robbery, Battery upon Elderly over 65

The mile-long paved path from 64^th Street, at Allison Park, to 79^th Street, took twelve years of lobbying, planning and construction. It finally officially opened in October of 2009, bringing the type of amenity to North Beach that has long been enjoyed by residents and visitors in both mid-Beach and South Beach.

The strip of land formerly just crossed to get to the ocean today attracts strollers, joggers, skaters and bike riders from before sunrise to well past dark.  City contracted security personnel regularly cruise the Beachwalk on bicycles, bringing additional security for users.

The sandy paths that were replaced had limited accessibility. The paved path easily accommodates wheelchairs as well as strollers and carriages, making it especially popular for families with young children.

The subdued lighting along the Beachwalk, including the stretch of sidewalk along Ocean Terrace, is designed to be environmentally friendly to the turtles that lay their eggs on the beaches. The city project also involved putting in plantings on both sides of the path, from sea oats and grasses that help maintain dunes and prevent erosion to native flowering species.

Longer-term city plans call for extending the walkway South that would connect with the planned paved walkway that will eventually replace the wooden boardwalk in mid-Beach.

The newly constructed Beachwalk ends at 79th St but users can head west – a path now covered with wheel-friendly mesh – to use the paths inside North Shore Open Space Park. More ambitious walkers, runners and bike riders can navigate the sandy beachside path in Surfside and continue north into Bal Harbor, as far as the pier overlooking Haulover Cut, all without dealing with automobile traffic on busy city streets.

For those residents that have not yet taken a stroll on the Beachwalk, there’s no better time than the present.

What: 90-minute walking tours of the North Shore National Register District

When: June 5th at 10:30 AM (will continue on the first Saturday of each month)

Where: North Beach Bandshell (SE corner of 73rd Street and Collins Avenue)

Cost: The tour costs $25.  Please bring cash or check (made out to MDPL).

No reservations necessary.

The Normandy Isles Historic District, which principally encompasses the multi-family homes and commercial district east of Rue Notre Dame on the southern half of Normandy Isle, was created in November 2008. The North Shore district, which runs roughly from 73^rd Street to 87^th Street between the ocean and Crespi Boulevard, followed in November 2009.

The historic designations of the two North Beach districts are based on the concentrations of a post-war style of building known as Miami Modernism, or MiMo, that was developed by architects living and working in South Florida, including Morris Lapidus and Norman Giller. In their book “MiMo: Miami Modern Revealed,” authors Eric Nash and Randall Robinson, Jr., cite the Deco Palm Apartments on Rue Versailles, designed by Gilbert Fein in 1958, and the former Union Planters Bank (now Regions ) at 1133 Normandy Drive, designed by Francis Hoffman, also in 1958, as prime examples of MiMo style.

The North Beach districts are also home to such styles as Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, and Moderne.

Miami Beach city officials hope the designation will spur the renovation and restoration of buildings in the districts, since certain properties may be eligible for incentives to do so. They also hope that it will foster appreciation of the unique character of North Beach.

“We hope that MiMo will be to North Beach as Art Deco was to South Beach,” Miami Beach Mayor Matti Herrera Bower said in a statement.

The 1979 designation of South Beach lay the groundwork for the transformation of a moribund area into an internationally recognized destination of which the renovated pastel-hued hotels and residential buildings are an integral part of the appeal.

However, unlike South Beach, the North Beach districts have not been according historic status by the city proper, meaning that the buildings are not legally protected against demolition, the Miami Herald reported (click here to read the article). A number of MiMo structures were torn down over the last decade to make way for new construction in North Beach.

Only one other MiMo district exists in the country: in the city of Miami, along Biscayne Boulevard (click here for more on that nearby district).