<\/p>\n
The Delano Miami Beach opened to the public in May. The Art Deco hotel, first opened in 1947, was closed in 2020 for restoration.<\/p>\n
Photograph by Al Diaz<\/p>\n
adiaz@miamiherald.com<\/p>\n
Unintended consequences<\/p>\n
The Live Local Act (LLA), on the surface, has noble goals in that it seeks to create an incentive for developers to build affordable housing for Florida workers in areas where they work. To accommodate this, the Act addresses constraints on scale and building size that communities impose to maintain design cohesion. Zoning critics say the system discriminates against workers and lower income families.<\/p>\n
Miami Beach contains the world\u2019s largest and most meaningful collection of Art Deco buildings. The area is a major tourist attraction, drawing millions to South Florida annually. The LLA enables aggressive builders to breeze through approval processes and erect massive towers more suited for Shanghai or Tokyo than South Florida, let alone the famous Art Deco district.<\/p>\n
Why?<\/p>\n
Perhaps these builders have a deep affiliation for local working families and want to help. But obviously that is not their motivation. By including a few floors of rental units inside a massive tower, these builders can create a huge lucrative venture for their companies by offering increasingly rare ocean views to well-heeled patrons. Beach clubs, valets and high-end service round out the offerings.<\/p>\n
Miami Beach will be redesigned to look like Shanghai and many part-time residents will have lovely, albeit lofty, ocean views. Over time, rents will creep up on the 40 or so units on floors 3,4 and 5 of these new \u2014 and some would say architecturally bland \u2014 edifices. Eventually, these units will be converted to starter-condos. Local workers will be forced to adapt again.<\/p>\n
It may have been better, in retrospect, to have more options inland on the Beach, which is still walkable to the resorts. Unfortunately, it won\u2019t matter, as in a few short years Miami Beach will just resemble every other bloated and overdeveloped seaside town (hello, Atlantic City). Perhaps funnel cakes will make a comeback or maybe a petting zoo.<\/p>\n
The beauty of the historically significant Art Deco district will be dead, with no reason for anyone to visit because there will be nothing to see. Tourists will just move on, as they always do. The builders will be wealthier from their fast-tracked projects, politicians will retire and Florida\u2019s 100-year-old international landmark will be a faded Wikipedia entry, sort of like a cultural Kodak, not made extinct by technological change, but by sheer short-sightedness and greed.<\/p>\n
Patricia McKenna,<\/p>\n
Miami Beach<\/p>\n
Exiles in limbo<\/p>\n
Re: Amanda Rosa\u2019s Oct. 13 Miami Herald report, \u201cNicaragua\u2019s exiles trapped in limbo<\/a>.\u201d South Florida\u2019s congressional representatives should be ardently pushing for legislation that secures for Haitian, Nicaraguan and Venezuelan immigrants the TPS status that has been so arbitrarily stripped by President Trump\u2019s administration.<\/p>\n Many of these fine people have been forced to flee their countries for their opposition to tyranny. Many face horrendous violence and economic chaos if forced to return.<\/p>\n How can our South Florida community not be at the forefront of defending their right to be among us?<\/p>\n How can Secretary of State Marco Rubio, with his illegal oil sanctions against Cuba, not speak up for actual patriots who suffered for their opposition to communist rule?<\/p>\n Ralph Remis,<\/p>\n Miami<\/p>\n A.I. accountability<\/p>\n