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Bayfront Museum
What do you guys think about the museum idea? I'm not convinced about the design, but it sure as hell beats what is there now (nothing!)...
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Posted on Tue, Sep. 04, 2007
Bayfront museum, garage get support
By MATTHEW I. PINZUR
With an outpouring of emotion for one of the seminal moments in Cuban-American history, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported the notion of building a museum and parking garage on a small piece of bayfront land earlier promised as park land.
The site behind AmericanAirlines Arena, known as Parcel B, would host a Bay of Pigs museum on top of a parking garage -- a move that commissioners said would acknowledge the community's history while building for its future.
''Obviously the area has changed dramatically from what it was in the past,'' said Chairman Bruno Barreiro, fretting that nearby development was leaving the arena without sufficient parking. ``I think we might hamper and will hamper the arena if we do not really consider an additional parking structure with amenities on that site.''
A decade ago, voters were promised a soccer field, palm trees and a baywalk on the 4.5-acre parcel. Development has stalled, though, and the area is sealed behind a locked fence.
County Mayor Carlos Alvarez has voiced support for the commission's vote, which calls for a feasibility study to be completed by early December.
Some activists, including the Urban Environment League, have opposed any plans for building on Parcel B, one of the last pieces of open bayfront land in the city.
''A parking lot on the waterfront is even more offensive than something like this museum that would be a worthy project,'' Ernest Martin, the league's vice president, told The Miami Herald last week.
Commissioners, however, evoked images of a signature building that would draw tourists and locals alike.
''This is a very beautiful thing that will look good on the bay,'' said Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who said it could compare to Sydney's signature Opera House in Australia.
Some said it could maintain a park-like atmosphere with the right landscaping.
''You could design these things nowadays with a lot of greenery around the edges and borders, a very friendly pedestrian use,'' Barreiro said.
Two commissioners, Dennis Moss and Katy Sorenson, supported the study but said they might prefer it in another location. Other said the bayside site was crucial.
''It's going to be very close to the water and the history of Cuba is so close to the water,'' said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. ``Recognizing the Bay of Pigs veterans is something long due in this community.''
The museum project is sponsored by Brigade 2506, the organization of veterans of the failed 1961 invasion of Cuba, which marked a turning point in the history of Miami and Cuban exiles.
The group operates a small museum in a Little Havana house and has been working for years on plans to establish a bigger, more expansive exhibit space, said Executive Director William Muir Celorio.
A number of Bay of Pigs veterans were in the audience; one survivor, Commissioner Javier Souto, recused himself from the otherwise unanimous vote.
Commissioners also urged the museum to share resources with existing institutions such as the University of Miami and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.
''It's ours, not as the Cuban community, but the community that represents Dade County: diversified, strong and always together,'' Seijas said. ``This is another time for us all to join and I know it'll be a beautiful thing.''
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Posted on Tue, Sep. 04, 2007
Bayfront museum, garage get support
By MATTHEW I. PINZUR
With an outpouring of emotion for one of the seminal moments in Cuban-American history, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported the notion of building a museum and parking garage on a small piece of bayfront land earlier promised as park land.
The site behind AmericanAirlines Arena, known as Parcel B, would host a Bay of Pigs museum on top of a parking garage -- a move that commissioners said would acknowledge the community's history while building for its future.
''Obviously the area has changed dramatically from what it was in the past,'' said Chairman Bruno Barreiro, fretting that nearby development was leaving the arena without sufficient parking. ``I think we might hamper and will hamper the arena if we do not really consider an additional parking structure with amenities on that site.''
A decade ago, voters were promised a soccer field, palm trees and a baywalk on the 4.5-acre parcel. Development has stalled, though, and the area is sealed behind a locked fence.
County Mayor Carlos Alvarez has voiced support for the commission's vote, which calls for a feasibility study to be completed by early December.
Some activists, including the Urban Environment League, have opposed any plans for building on Parcel B, one of the last pieces of open bayfront land in the city.
''A parking lot on the waterfront is even more offensive than something like this museum that would be a worthy project,'' Ernest Martin, the league's vice president, told The Miami Herald last week.
Commissioners, however, evoked images of a signature building that would draw tourists and locals alike.
''This is a very beautiful thing that will look good on the bay,'' said Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who said it could compare to Sydney's signature Opera House in Australia.
Some said it could maintain a park-like atmosphere with the right landscaping.
''You could design these things nowadays with a lot of greenery around the edges and borders, a very friendly pedestrian use,'' Barreiro said.
Two commissioners, Dennis Moss and Katy Sorenson, supported the study but said they might prefer it in another location. Other said the bayside site was crucial.
''It's going to be very close to the water and the history of Cuba is so close to the water,'' said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. ``Recognizing the Bay of Pigs veterans is something long due in this community.''
The museum project is sponsored by Brigade 2506, the organization of veterans of the failed 1961 invasion of Cuba, which marked a turning point in the history of Miami and Cuban exiles.
The group operates a small museum in a Little Havana house and has been working for years on plans to establish a bigger, more expansive exhibit space, said Executive Director William Muir Celorio.
A number of Bay of Pigs veterans were in the audience; one survivor, Commissioner Javier Souto, recused himself from the otherwise unanimous vote.
Commissioners also urged the museum to share resources with existing institutions such as the University of Miami and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.
''It's ours, not as the Cuban community, but the community that represents Dade County: diversified, strong and always together,'' Seijas said. ``This is another time for us all to join and I know it'll be a beautiful thing.''
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Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Alex (MUL) on
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I think they can do much better on the design. I don't think it fits the "Miami Look"...
Luckily they won't build anything too tall that may block the view of some of the nearby condos.
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Permalink Reply by Chris on
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I completely disagree with putting the museum there while the Freedom Tower a much more historic (and pertinent Cuban heritage site) sits unused only a block away.
The original plan was for a soccer field or something similar. Something that the entire city (not just one ethnic group) could enjoy.
And by the way, I am Cuban.
And the design is horrible. A concrete terrace with no shade or green? Has the architect even visited Miami in the summer?
(Also, is there even enough information on the Bay of Pigs to fill a museum of that size?)
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Permalink Reply by Mike P on
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I think the location is much better suited for something like Fisherman's Wharf in San Francisco:
This could easily become a prime tourist attraction in Miami if properly planned and developed. I don't think the museum idea will do much for anyone.
Here's a nice article about it:
http://www.sftravel.com/fish.html
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Fisherman's Warf is a great idea except I think Bayside covers that already. I know most residents avoid it, but I think the same goes for San Franciscans and Pier 39.
But now figure going to Bayside for dinner and then a stroll long a beautifully landscape waterfront park.
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The way it stands now, it's not too safe to walk around or ride bike in the park (day or night). It pretty much feels abandoned and there are bums everywhere. I hope they do something soon.
Yesterday I drove by and it looks like they are getting ready to build some kind of a boat slip or marina on the north side of the Americal Airlines Arena. They cleared a bunch of stuff out and I saw stacks of wooden posts which look like they will be used to build a dock.
There was also an article posted about Parkwest that looks interesting:
http://bobmiami.com/2007/11/05/big-plans-for-parkwest/
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I was by there today and noticed the same thing. It looks like they are going to build a boat dock or marina there.
I wonder if it has anything to do with the parcel of land directly east of the American Airlines Arena:
http://bobmiami.com/2007/11/06/pondering-parcel-b/
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Revised Miami Museum Park plan to be unveiled
Miami city officials are concerned that plans for a redesign of Bicentennial Park are too elaborate and pricey. The new park's future will be discussed at a public hearing Tuesday.
A recent rendering shows an overhead view of the master plan for Museum Park in downtown Miami. There is debate over what a city park should be.
Read the full story:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/304581.html
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The only thing that annoys me about the whole thing is that these people living across the street are going to have a better back yard than me.
Sad that city officials think the design is too elaborate or pricey. One of the few things that would actually benefit the city (rather than all of the scandals uncovered in 2007).
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