WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016
A Singular Voice in an Evolving City
WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00
ART BASEL
Hotel revenues rocket 493% in Miami Art Week, pg. 13 POTENTIAL 85 NEW JOBS: County commissioners last week unanimously approved Confidential Project Leon as a Qualified Target Industry business, confirming $102,000 in local financial support to match the state’s 80%, or $408,000, over five years should the Europe-based producer and distributor of surfaces and materials used in residential and commercial architecture and design create 85 direct new jobs with an average annual salary of $85,000. The Beacon Council, Miami-Dade’s economic development agency, applied on the company’s behalf for the state’s Qualified Targeted Industry Tax Refund program.
269 galleries bringing in art here from 29 nations, pg. 15
The Achiever
By John Charles Robbins
REQUIRING A LIVING WAGE: The Miami City Commission has required a living wage of $15 an hour on city contracts. The legislation sponsored by Ken Russell and Keon Hardemon will require a living wage be paid in city service contracts entered into after Jan. 1 in which contractors provide services above $100,000 a year. Contractors that fall under the ordinance would be required to pay all employees who provide covered services no less than $15 hourly without health benefits or $13.19 an hour with health benefits. FOLLOW THE ON-ROAD GREENWAY: Federal funds administered through the state will help construct another portion of the riverwalk along the Miami River. River commission members learned that the state has awarded the city $1 million for riverwalk work. The riverwalk is an improved and landscaped public walkway on the river’s edge. The path turns inland at older established neighborhoods, marine-industrial properties and other sites, as the on-road greenway. This latest grant will be used for on-road greenway near Curtis Park. FUNDING TRAFFIC ENFORCEMENT: County commissioners unanimously ratified an application for a grant from the University of South Florida Center for Urban Transportation Research on behalf of the Miami-Dade Police Department’s special patrol bureau. The grant, which doesn’t require a match, would provide up to $150,000 in federal funds coming through the Florida Department of Transportation to the university. Ratification is needed as the state transportation department determined the services proposed, which include high visibility enforcement operations for pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists, were consistent with the grant-funded program model operated by the university. The Miami-Dade Police proposed program uses a data-driven approach to analyze traffic crash and traffic-related data to identify problem locations for enforcement.
Photo by Cristina Sullivan
Carolina García Jayaram
In pivotal role guiding National YoungArts Foundation The profile is on Page 4
US 1 mixed-use plan on county site has rail link By John Charles Robbins
A proposed mixed-use project on US 1 promising new office, retail and residential uses intends to take advantage of its location at the foot of a pedestrian overpass that connects to the Metrorail Douglas Road Station. Along with being transit oriented, Platform 3750 plans a mix of workforce housing and market-rate apartments. Platform 3750 LLC proposes to build on 2.1-acres at 3750 S Dixie Hwy. Miami’s Urban Development Review Board recommended approval Nov. 16, with a few suggested tweaks. The project will transform the southwest corner of US 1 and Southwest 37th Avenue (Douglas Road), said attorney Melissa Tapanes Llahues, representing the developer. She said the development will be a new gateway to Coconut Grove. The Miami-Dade County Community Action and Human Services Department owns the land. Platform 3750 was the subject of a Miami-Dade County request for proposals. The northern portion is designated for restricted commercial use, while the south
Agenda
Tower plan on bayfront at 61 stories
portion is for low density restricted commercial use, according to the City of Miami’s land use plan. The plan calls for a building from five to eight stories tall and about 396,751 square feet in total size. At its highest, the structure is projected to be 92 feet, 10 inches. Platform 3750 would be home to 192 residential units, 30,070 square feet of offices, 20,200 square feet of commercial and retail space, a garage for 403 vehicles and 10,863 square feet of open space. An existing gas station at the very corner isn’t part of the project and is to continue operations at that location. The developer is seeking waivers, including permission to reduce the number of required parking spaces by 10% and increase lot coverage by 10%. In a letter to the city, Ms. Llahues wrote, “The project is not only unique, but also a first-of-its kind mixed use and mixed income development that will include approximately 192 workforce and market-rate housing rental units.” Board member Neil Hall asked what the workforce-to-market ratio would be.
Ms. Llahues said that was still under negotiation with county officials but stood at 20% workforce units. An existing structure, built in 1967, will be demolished in order to construct the project. The county will use some of the new office space, Ms. Llahues said. The proposed retail space will focus on opportunities for businesses that provide services and jobs to neighborhood residents, she said. The proposal includes a Starbucks with drive-through service. Amenities are likely to include a spa, rooftop pool, common gourmet kitchen, in-house movie theater, coffee bistro and more. Review board members suggested limiting retail uses along US 1 in order to reduce pedestrian movement and discourage persons from crossing the busy divided highway instead of using the overpass. As conditions for the favorable recommendation, the board directed the developer to consider eliminating a curb cut on US 1, consider varying heights to break up the project’s volume, consider a corrugated metal surface rather than green landscaping for a wall in the planned courtyard and more.
A plan for Brickell Bay Drive bayfront would amass more than 700 apartments and nearly 260 hotel rooms along with new retail. The property at 1111 Brickell Bay Drive already houses the 32-story Yacht Club at Brickell apartments, which would be redeveloped, adding a 61-story apartment tower and garage. The project was the last on the Nov. 16 agenda of Miami’s Urban Development Review Board. The meeting was running long and when the case was called, developers’ attorney Iris Escarra asked for a deferral to Dec. 21, saying it will give the developer more time for community outreach “to work with our neighbors.” The site is across the street from Florida East Coast Realty’s Panorama Tower, an 83-story mixed-use project now rising at 1101 Brickell Ave. Amico Yacht Club at Brickell LLC proposes the mixed-use project for the 2.4 acres, calling it “a mixed-use luxury retail, hotel and apartment residences development.” Plans call for redeveloping the current apartment building into hotel, residential, commercial and retail (258 hotel rooms, 178 residences), a new 961-space garage, new residential liner units along Biscayne Bay, a new 61-story apartment building and retail. Plans from Stantec Architecture Inc. show 15,486 square feet of commercial and retail and 34,669 square feet of offices. Zoning permits 48 stories, reaching a total of 80 stories through use of the Public Benefits Program bonuses, the developer says. The 61-story tower is to rise 690 feet 2 inches and have 560 residences. The developer would demolish the existing garage and build an 11-story garage. Plans include a new pedestrian garden walk to and along the bay; new arrival area, resident lobby and pool deck; and floor-to-ceiling windows, glass balconies and updated interior paint and finishes on the existing building.
DOWNTOWN TEAM REJECTS BOARD MEMBER – PERHAPS ...
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NEW SOUTH DADE MARKETING DRIVE SEEKS STATE AID ...
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FLAGLER REVAMP SLOWS AS CITY OUSTS CONTRACTOR ...
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MIAMI ASKS COUNTY FOR 25 MPH SPEED LIMIT BACKING ...
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VIEWPOINT: RETURN TO SEPARATE COUNTY MANAGER ...
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VOTERS MAY RULE IN YEAR ON VIRGINIA KEY MARINAS ...
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ELECTION GIVES BAL HARBOUR SHOPS WAY TO EXPAND ...
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CHAIR FRUSTRATED WITH BEACH HOTEL PLAN INACTION ...
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MIAMI TODAY
VIEWPOINT
WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016
Miami Today is an independent voice of the community, published weekly at 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133. Telephone (305) 358-2663
County hall can’t rely on luck: shift to professional manager Although a county committee just left a review of Miami-Dade’s charter at the starting gate, neither the aim nor the need for review has vanished. T h a t ’ s good, because our charter – a county’s constitution Michael Lewis – shapes how local government can meet community needs, and it needs repairs. Some changes would be quick fixes. Others would prevent catastrophes where the county now works well. They’re like changing your oil before a car engine suddenly conks out. As Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava tries to reignite her charter change drive that died when nobody in a committee would call for a vote, look ahead at just one of many reasons for a review beyond the fact that the county must study the charter every five years and time is almost up. The key change is to restore a pivotal job that voters dumped in 2012, the impartial professional manager who works for mayor and commissioners alike to carry out policies and orders to make machinery smooth and efficient.
That job disappeared when Carlos Alvarez insisted that he be manager in addition to mayor. He persuaded voters, became what was called a strong mayor and soon furious voters recalled him from office. That left successor Carlos Gimenez to balance two conflicting roles. In one role, he’s elected county leader, seeking to persuade all to pull in a common direction. If there is a broad vision for a county’s future, it’s the mayor who enunciates it. In the other role, manager, he takes regular orders from the commission to provide reports, carry out policies and have about 25,000 employees do commission bidding in day-to-day activities. One job is very political, forcing the mayor to win election from among 2.6 million residents and then lead them. The other job is as a trained technocrat who balances competing interests and serves the wishes of 13 elected leaders, each of whom has a distinct constituency with widely varied interests and needs. If those sound like the same job, stop reading here. On the other hand, if you can see builtin conflicts you’ll understand why the county should at least consider separating the visionary political leader from the person who hires, fires and oversees 25,000 county workers for the benefit of all, no matter whom they voted for or gave campaign money to.
Imagine as a parallel the president of the United States providing broad leadership as Commander in Chief but at the same time being forced to carry out orders from 535 members of Congress, making sure to meet their wishes. It can’t work. That said, let it be noted that in MiamiDade the awkward structure that should never be is functioning well. It’s a fluke that is never likely to be repeated, so enjoy success while you may. The unusual combination is that Mayor Carlos Gimenez is also a former Miami city manager and before that a career city employee, and that most commissioners face term limits that will move them out of office after many years, mostly in 2020. That means that neither the mayor nor most commissioners will be there after 2020. This is their last hurrah. That the political leader happens to have his greatest skills as manager, not politician, has made relations between a political mayor-manager and commissioners as smooth as you’ll ever see. Don’t expect it to work nearly as well in 2021 or thereafter, when the mayor we elect is highly unlikely to also have been a manager reporting to commissioners or know all about how government agencies work in detail. As the guard changes from the current mayor and commission, timing is perfect to revert to a tried-and-true trained pro-
fessional manager working under both mayor and commission, as this county successfully did for decades. Commissioner Rebeca Sosa recognized this need last spring and tried to pass legislation to make it happen. At that time, then-commissioner Juan Zapata noted that “in six years there will be an entirely new commission with a new mayor.” Now, we’re getting by on pure luck that they won’t have. What better legacy to leave them than for the current commission to give successors a structure that won’t depend on luck. Let’s be clear: unusual circumstances today minimize the problem of a political mayor-manager. The 14 elected officials today balance frictions well. We are far better served than we have any right to expect. But it will all be different next time. No big-city manager who worked up through the ranks and then has also done service as an elected county commissioner is going to win the mayor’s job. Dollars to doughnuts the winner will be a politician. With luck the winner will have vision, goodwill and brains and be a strong leader. That will give us a good political mayor. But a good manager too? Highly unlikely. Now is the time to separate those jobs, mayor from manager, to the benefit of all. After all, how lucky can we get?
Many sources offer quality care for aging family members Those with aging parents find it increasingly difficult to juggle the pressures of child-rearing while at the same time looking after aging parents. For most individuals, aging in place – at their own residence or that of a relative – is Carlos Martinez the best solution. Older adults are loath to leave their families and their communities. That is especially true in South Florida’s large Hispanic and Jewish populations. Emotionally, American society is changing rapidly as baby boomers retire and medical advances allow people to live longer, healthier lives. By 2040, the population aged 75-84 is expected to rise from 13 million to over 30 million. Those over 85 are expected to increase from 6 million to over 14 million. Living longer will bring challenges for families and for society as a whole. Longer lifespans already are putting a strain on Social Security, as the system never contemplated that beneficiaries would live much beyond 70. The recession of 2008 wiped out an enormous amount of wealth in this country, including the retirement accounts and home values of many older Americans. The economic recovery has been lackluster at best, with many workers still under-employed. Financially and physically, living with family and in the neighborhood they are accustomed to is the optimal choice. However, as we all know, aging takes a toll on the body and often on the psyche as well. Caring for aging parents can be stressful, time-consuming and financially draining. Children often try to care for their parents on their own and fail to seek
The Writer
Carlos Martinez is president and CEO of United HomeCare, a nonprofit home and community care organization and senior assisted living community in West Kendall, The Residences of United HomeCare. Visit www.TheResidencesUhc.com. out professional assistance or tap into community sources that can help alleviate the burden. When caretaking becomes increasingly difficult, many turn to hired help, often an untrained (and sometimes undocumented) individual, to help care for that frail family member. This can be a huge mistake. Caring for elderly family members is not a job for amateurs, no matter how well-intentioned or loving the individual may appear to be. An untrained caregiver can worsen the condition of a frail family member, especially if they are not familiar with an acute disease or debilitating condition that may be affecting them. It also happens when dealing with bed-bound individuals who require special care when being transferred to and from their bed. This lack of training also can expose you to potential liability as the ill-prepared caregiver can hurt himself or herself when moving your loved one. Luckily, there are a number of home care organizations, both non-profit and for profit, that can provide vetted and trained individuals to assist you with caring for an older adult. When choosing one, ask some important questions, including: How long have they been in business and can they provide references? Are they licensed and accredited?
What are their fees and when are the services provided? Some entities only provide daytime care. Do they have case managers or nurses to regularly evaluate your family member and monitor the home health aide caring for your loved one? Can they assist you in finding other community resources (e.g. meals on wheels, adult day care) that can complement your care at home? Do their home health aides work for the company as employees or are they independent contractors? If they are independent contractors, are they trained and do they have workers’ compensation coverage? Finally, as much as you would like to keep your loved one at home, there may come a time when that simply isn’t feasible any longer. When that happens, you might need help with referrals to specialized care (e.g. to treat dementia) or other facilities and
programs that can provide a higher level of monitoring and attentiveness, including assisted living housing, skilled nursing care or hospice. Managing that transition is usually very stressful on a family. A good home care partner can put you in touch with social workers and mental health professionals to help you deal with difficult family dynamics and the anxiety that often comes from such hard choices. Getting older isn’t easy, but there are resources available to help you cope with the challenges. Here are a few to get you started: www.allianceforaging.org (or their Elder Telephone Helpline 305-670-4357); United HomeCare Customer Service 305716-0710). As much as we want to care for our loved ones, it is also important to care for ourselves. Don’t try to do it by yourself. Reach out and seek the help you need. Quality assistance is available, including many affordable options.
Letters to the Editor
FIU isn’t better than Fair
While the perspective of FIU growing to further the education of our young adults is sensible, I find it disturbing that they lack the respect warranted of a Miami-Dade institution as is the Youth Fair. In addition to the fact that the land also offers many other venues for the enjoyment of our populace, and has done so for decades, I totally disagree with the assessment that one is better or more beneficial than the other. After all, the youth fair and its many venues offer a far more intrinsic value to the general population. This venue should be protected for the general public, period. George Dagnesses
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MIAMI TODAY
TODAY’S NEWS
WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016
Voters in a year may decide fate of Virginia Key marinas By John Charles Robbins
If everything falls into place, one year from now voters in the City of Miami will get to decide the fate of marina development on Virginia Key. City commissioners on Nov. 17 discussed a new request for proposals being prepared by the Department of Real Estate and Asset Management, for a redevelopment and management plan for the two marinas northwest of Marine Stadium. Commissioners also approved a $45 million special obligation bond proposal to borrow money to fund stadium renovation and improvements, among other work on the barrier island, most of which is owned by the city. Commissioners may be asked to vote on a new bid solicitation package for the marinas at their next meeting Dec. 8. City Manager Daniel Alfonso said the new request for proposals needs to stay on track in order to afford enough time for review and approval so the proposal – including the vital lease of the city-owned property – can be placed on the November 2017 ballot by the county. The lease of city-owned waterfront property must go to referendum. The request for proposals process would need to be completed in July to make the November ballot, he said. The bid solicitation must be active for a minimum of 90 days, and once the proposals are received, there will be a 60-day review period, said Mr. Alfonso. The request for proposals was a discussion item Nov. 17, along with a report from CBRE Valuation & Advisory Services recommending the city not take the risk of redeveloping and managing the larger marina known as Rickenbacker Marina. Without a vote, commissioners indicated they would follow that recommendation. The idea to have the city itself develop and manage what’s
Photo by Maxine Usdan
Commissioners may be asked Dec. 8 to vote on a bid solicitation including the Rickenbacker Marina.
known as Rickenbacker Marina arose from the dust of a bidding war that entangled three private developers and the city for months. CBRE analyzed the potential redevelopment of Rickenbacker and Marine Stadium marinas by either the city or the private sector. The firm’s conclusion: “In our opinion, there is a very high risk of financial loss to the city associated with hidden costs and a very lengthy permitting process associated with the redevelopment of the south basin and the development of the [larger] north basin. Based on these risk factors alone, it is our opinion that the city should not undertake the risks and unknown costs associated with attempting to develop and operate the subject. Rather, the private sector is better suited to redevelop based upon their marina specific experience and expertise.” The conclusion is rooted in the potential high cost of dredging and mitigation as part of redeveloping both the larger marina and smaller Marine Stadium Marina. A private firm operates the ma-
rina that fills the basin northwest of the abandoned stadium. The city has worked for years to line up a new operator. In June 2015, the city requested proposals to build and operate two marinas, dry storage, wet slips, at least one restaurant and more. Three companies offered proposals. After evaluation, a selection committee chose Virginia Key LLC, also known as RCI Group. The second and third place bidders filed protests. After several long, contentious meetings, the battle culminated July 20 when commissioners voted 3 to 2 to throw out all proposals and seek new ones. Immediately after, the commission voted unanimously to direct the city manager to study whether the city’s Marinas Division should operate, develop and manage a new city marina on Virginia Key. “This is Round Two,” said and Daniel Rotenberg, director of the Department of Real Estate and Asset Management. With this new request for proposals, his department is seeking feedback from the new Virginia Key Advisory Board, the city
commission and the public before issuing a request for proposals instead of the other way around, he told commissioners. “That’s all right. That’s the way it should be,” said Commissioner Francis Suarez. Successful redevelopment and management of the Rickenbacker Marina and the smaller Marine Stadium Marina are key to the city’s plan to pay off $45 million in special obligation bonds for the restoration of the stadium, shuttered since 1992 after Hurricane Andrew. Revenue from the marinas and from an as-yet-undefined flex park adjacent to the stadium will help to pay off the debt, city officials said. “We need this [marina redevelopment] to fund the debt we just approved,” said Commissioner Ken Russell. “We’ll need the marina to perform.” Mr. Russell said they need to move forward with the new request for proposals and make certain to get the new Virginia Key Advisory Board involved in the process, along with public review and input. The restoration of Marine Sta-
dium has been a long time coming, and approval of the funding was a delight to the many residents in the audience who spoke in support of renovating the waterfront venue. “Bring that wonderful facility back to life,” said Steve Wernick, chair of the city’s Waterfront Advisory Board. “People want it,” said Don Worth, a long-time champion of restoring the stadium. If done right, a renovated Marine Stadium could be “one of the great open air venues in the world,” he said. “With today’s vote you can show the world that the city is serious about restoring the stadium,” he said. Mr. Worth advised that commissioners should work to devise a use plan for the site. “We need a business plan – it will not rent itself,” he said. Miami-Dade County Commissioner Xavier Suarez told commissioners they needn’t worry about the stadium being put to good use. “Please, don’t worry about operations there. If you build it, they will come,” he said, borrowing a line from the movie “Field of Dreams.” A former mayor of the city, Xavier Suarez said a former city manager wanted to demolish the stadium back in 1992. “We fought to save it,” he said. “It is a spectacular facility.” He has since worked to get some money for restoration. County commissioners have approved about $3 million to go toward the work. “It’s a jewel – it really is,” Xavier Suarez said. A restored stadium can host art and music events, serve as an open air chapel, host rowing competitions and much more, he said. The Virginia Key Advisory Board recommended the $45 million bond proposal and requested that plans to spend those funds for restoration of the stadium and the development of the surrounding areas be brought before the advisory board for recommendations by it and the public.
Team crossing county lines to declare a ‘Public Transit Day’ By Susan Danseyar
Entrepreneurs Rebecca Fishman Lipsey of Radical Partners and Marta Viciedo of Urban Impact Lab are teaming up to engage locals in solutions for strengthening our public transit system. Building upon the steps Miami’s leaders have taken, Ms. Fishman-Lipsey and Ms. Viciedo have joined with Miami-Dade as well as Broward officials to declare Dec. 9 as “Public Transit Day” and encourage everyone to use public transportation for the day. What started as a Miami-focused effort has now expanded to include transit riders and leaders in Broward and Palm Beach. Public Transit Day is being co-hosted by local organizations and businesses committed to improving South Florida’s public transit system. Ms. Fishman-Lipsey and Ms. Viciedo are urging public officials, community leaders and
Photo by Maxine Usdan
Everything from city trolley systems to urban rail lines is included.
residents to take the pledge to use public transportation for the day Dec. 9. Getting stuck in Miami rush hour is an all-too-familiar ex-
perience. According to the 2015 Urban Mobility Scorecard from the Texas A&M Transportation Institute, traffic congestion in the Miami-Dade/Broward/Palm
Beach region ranks 12th worst for US urban areas. People can share thoughts about their riding experience using #PublicTransitDay and follow social media posts through Twitter, @MIATransitDay, Instagram, miatransitday, and Facebook, the 100 Great Ideas page. “Earlier this year, we facilitated a massive community brainstorm with 1,700 locals on social-media, and they generated 400 unique ideas to strengthen transit in Miami,” Ms. FishmanLipsey said. “The most popular idea was to engage residents and local leaders in using public transit and we’re excited to bring it to life.” “Public Transit Day is an open invitation for everyone, especially people that have never or rarely use our transit system,” said Ms. Viciedo. “This is about taking action and gaining insight around one of the most important local issues of our generation.”
Activations will occur all over the county. In Miami, there will be a Lunch @The Underline (Brickell Metrorail stop) where locals can eat with elected leaders and their community at the county’s longest picnic table. Buskerfest Miami, a street performance festival now in its fourth year, is also taking place from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. Dec. 9. Ms. Fishman-Lipsey and Ms. Viciedo are working with Director of Transportation and Public Works Alice Bravo. Lyft, which will have a special offer that day for new users (use promo code MIATRANSITDAY to receive $5 off each of 10 rides in a two-week period). The Miami Foundation is the lead sponsor for the event, and Ride2MD, the Miami Center for Architecture & Design, Whole Foods and Tri-Rail are core supporters. Details: www.publictransitday.com.
MIAMI TODAY
WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016
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Art Basel Hotel revenues during Art Basel rise 493% in 14 years By Camila Cepero
Fourteen years ago, when one of the largest internationally recognized contemporary art festivals announced it would be calling Miami Beach its US home for a few days each December, hoteliers were understandably excited. Still, few people – and maybe nobody at all – could predict its success and the multi-million-dollar impact it would have on the local hotel industry. Now, as the event nears its Dec. 1 kickoff at the Miami Beach Convention Center, hotels prepare for what has historically become their busiest time of the year. During the first week of December in 2001, shortly after the 9/11 terrorist attacks, Miami Beach hotels held an average 45% occupancy rate, according to hotel industry analytics firm STR. One year later, Art Basel launched in Miami Beach and occupancy levels rose to 56%. During last year ’s event, Miami Beach hotels reached an average occupancy rate of 79%, according to the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. And because average occupancy and average daily rates are almost always positively correlated, daily rates have also risen. In 2001, before Art Basel became a cultural phenomenon, room rates on Miami Beach sat at an average of $106.87 per night during the same period that would soon be dominated by Art Basel. Last year, the average rate was $355.77 – a 233% increase over 14 years, according to the
‘Going into Art Basel, we find our booking pace is equivalent to past years in terms of occupancy.’ Photo by Maxine Usdan
Mike Kovensky
The crowds that attend Art Basel Miami Beach have sent hotel occupancies and room rates soaring.
bureau. When looking at the revenue per available room – what the industry defines as the actual revenue received per room sold – numbers jumped from $48 in 2001 to about $365 in 2014. During Art Basel last year, the Loews Miami Beach Hotel had rates in the mid-$600s, an increase of about $30 to $40 per night compared to the previous year. Meanwhile, rates at the Mandarin Oriental on Brickell Key started at $519 a night, according to a hotel spokeswoman. As the hotel sponsor of the Art Miami and Context art fairs for the fourth year in a row, the JW Marriott Marquis Miami expects Art Basel week to be successful for business, said Paul Pebley, director of sales and marketing for the hotel. The InterContinental sold
JWMarriott, which sponsors two art fairs, expect a successful week for business: Paul Pebley.
rooms for $350 to $450 a night in 2015, which equated to a double-digit percentage growth compared to the previous year. “Going into Art Basel, we find our booking pace is equivalent to past years in terms of occu-
pancy,” said Mike Kovensky, director of sales and marketing at the InterContinental Miami. Countywide, hotel occupancy levels have increased from 65% to 85% since the art festival first launched. Average daily rates went from $98 in 2002 to $266 in 2014, when revenue per available room hit $227. “December used to be a relatively slow period of time for the hotel community – you had Thanksgiving and then the holidays – but December has now become the most profitable time for the hotel community in terms of room rates and occupancy rates” said Rolando Aedo, executive vice president and chief marketing officer for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. And not only does the hotel itself reap the profits for every
booked hotel room, the government sees revenue by way of taxes, meaning that the overall generated revenue goes far beyond revenue per room. Thanks to the increased rates, generated revenue has gone from $6.4 million before Art Basel to $37.9 million last year – an astounding 493% increase. “Needless to say, a 500% increase in room revenue is not only dramatic for the hotel, but it’s dramatic for the local government that counts not just on sales taxes but all of those tourist taxes that stay locally and stay in our community,” Mr. Aedo said. Nonetheless, festival-goers seem to brush off the rising hotel costs. About 60,000 people attended Art Basel last year, maintaining a steady growth in attendance that sees an extra 4,000 to 5,000 attendees a year.
Museums hold their own receptions to lure Basel crowds By Camila Cepero
As the Art Basel and Miami Art Week crowds begin to descend on Miami’s art scene, local institutions make the final preparations for their plans to welcome the fairgoers. The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum at Florida International University will be hosting its 13th annual “Breakfast in the Park” from 9:30 a.m. to noon Dec. 4. Each year, a noted sculptor is invited to speak, with Judy Pfaff filling the role this year. The free event is public, though RSVP is encouraged. Guests enjoy a complimentary outdoor breakfast, informal lecture and guided tours of the university’s Sculpture Park. Photo by Maxine Usdan The event draws hundreds of The Patricia and Phillip Frost Art Museum at FIU will hold its 13th art enthusiasts, patrons, collec“Breakfast in the Park,” said museum director Jordana Pomeroy. tors, gallery owners and artists grown consistently in popularity from around the world, many according to the museum. visiting Miami for Art Basel, “Breakfast in the Park has as word spreads about the high
quality of the event, which takes place on the final day of Basel,” said Frost Art Museum director Jordana Pomeroy. Breakfast in the Park began as Haitian-American Miami author Edwidge Danticat spoke at the inaugural event in conjunction with a Haitian sculpture exhibition. Back then, Dr. Pomeroy said, the event took place outside in front of the museum. Now, it takes place indoors, which allows guest speakers to use PowerPoint. “It seems that with the expanding global reputation of Art Basel Miami Beach,” she said, “our Breakfast in the Park attracts more visitors each year, as well as an increasingly international crowd.” The event has seen as many as 700 guests, Dr. Pomeroy said, with the headcount consistently increasing. The Institute of Contemporary Art Miami will be celebrating the opening of “One Day on Success
Street,” a major survey for the work of Thomas Bayrle, on Nov. 29. A members-only reception to kick off the beginning of Art Week will be followed by the museum’s typical free access to the general public. “We always have a grand reception and a major exhibition opening for the arts community [and] the local community,” said Ellen Salpeter, director of the Institute of Contemporary Art Miami. The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse will be hosting breakfast from Nov. 30 through Dec. 2 from 9 a.m. onwards. The Rubell Family Collection will be hosting an exclusive preview of its three upcoming exhibitions High Anxiety: New Acquisitions, New Shamans/ Novos Xamãs: Brazilian Artists, and Video Art in Latin America: Selections from Brazil. The event is from 8 to 10 p.m. Nov. 29.
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ART BASEL
MIAMI TODAY
WEEK OF THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2016
Multiple art fairs make it hard to choose what to see first will once again collaborate with Art Miami and will feature an installation by visual artist Brian Eno, as he displays light boxes, which seamlessly phase through combinations of self-generated “colourscapes.” The fair will also present a VIP preview benefitting the Pérez Art Museum Miami, which will give collectors an inside look at contemporary works of art before both fairs open to the public on Nov. 30, continuing through Dec. 4. The fairs will take place at The Context/Art Miami Pavilion, 2901 NE First Ave., Wynwood Art District. Details: contextartmiami.com.
By Katya Maruri
Art Basel Miami Beach’s 15th year will display sculptures, installations, drawings, paintings, photographs, prints, film, editioned works and digital art from more than 4,015 artists Dec. 1-4 at the Miami Beach Convention Center. The fair will feature nine sectors: Galleries, Positions, Edition, Nova, Kabinett, Public, Film, Magazines and Survey. The Public Sector will feature over 20 site-specific installations that examine ways in which artists invent and imagine new kinds of physical, social and psychic space as part of its David Bowie inspired, “Ground Control” theme, featuring works by established and emerging artists as part of the fair’s sixth year collaboration with The Bass Museum of Art. Additionally, the fair will host its conversations and salons series featuring artists, art historians, writers, curators, museum directors and collectors as they offer their perspective on producing, collecting and exhibiting art. The conversations series will feature a “Premiere Artist Talk” with artist Julio Le Parc about his latest exhibition “Form into Action,” at the Pérez Art Museum Miami. The series will also include a panel discussion based on the future of Buenos Aires cultural landscape as part of its salon talk series. Art Basel Miami Beach and curator David Gryn, director of Artprojx and Daata Editions, have paired up once again to present an evening program of several works that engage with music, including a set of 28 short films screened under the title “Best Dressed Chicken in Town.” A new addition to the film sector is the feature-length film “Maurizio Cattelan: Be Right Back,” selected by film curator Marian Masone as part of a special screening at the Colony Theater. The film depicts the life of Italian artist Maurizio Cattelan and chronicles how he launched his career with playful and subversive works that mocked the artistic establishment. All other films will be projected onto a 7,000-square-foot outdoor projection wall outside the New World Center at SoundScape Park.
Miami Project hosts its fifth art fair, which will be constructed within the existing architecture of an expansive structure in Miami Beach, while displaying exhibition spaces that showcase works by international artists and galleries. This year’s fair will partner up with Artsy, an online art collection platform, to provide guests with a first look at the fair’s modern and contemporary art pieces and allow users to explore exhibitor booths, save favorites and make sale inquiries on available artworks before the fair’s official opening. Events are at 6625 Indian Creek Drive on Miami Beach Dec.1-4. Details: miami-project.com.
“Mti, 1973,” presented by Betye Saar is featured in the Nova section.
Screenings are free every evening from Nov. 30-Dec. 3. Lastly, the fair will host several collection visits featuring “Design Miami,” “The Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance,” “The Margulies Collection at the Warehouse,” “de la Cruz Collection,” the “Rubell Family Collection” and more. Attendees can view artists’ new exhibitions and get a behindthe-scenes look at the inspiration and thought process behind each exhibit. Details: www.artbasel. com/en/miami-beach.
OUTSIDE ART FAIRS Red Dot Miami hosts its 10th art show featuring galleries showcasing over 500 contemporary artists and will include a lineup of specially curated programs,
including Art Labs, Art Talks, Spotlight Galleries and more. This year’s show will also feature over 75 international galleries exhibiting paintings, sculpture, photography and secondary market works. One Art Talk is “pARTicipate with Life is Art,” which offers an immersive experience that melds virtual reality, visual art, music, film and fashion into one. The show will be at Red Dot Miami Tent, 1700 NE Second Ave., Wynwood Art District. Details: reddotfair.com. Context Art Miami hosts its fifth edition, showcasing over 100 international contemporary galleries from more than 20 countries and 50 cities. This year’s fair
programs of 16 female art dealers who were great innovators in their day, supporting and championing new concepts within American art. The fair will take place at Nobu Hotel, 4525 Collins Ave., Miami Beach. Details: xcontemporary.com. Pulse Miami Beach’s 12th edition returns with its first projects special commission featuring digital artist Ann Spalter as she presents her latest installation “Miami Marbles,” which showcases two large spheres, featuring a vibrant print made from digitally-altered and abstracted images of the city of Miami that Spalter captured during last year’s Miami Art Week. The fair will be held at Indian Beach Park, 4601 Collins Ave., Miami Beach through Dec. 1-4. Details: pulse-art.com.
Design Miami’s fair returns with works from 31 design galleries and four first-time exhibitors including the Chamber of New York City, The Future Perfect of New York City and San Francisco, Mercado Moderno of Rio de Janeiro and Giovanni Beltran of Miami. This year’s fair will host its design curio program showcasing six viewpoints from innovators, experimental designers and artists. The fair will be at Meridian Avenue and 19th Street, adjacent Satellite Art Show returns for to the Miami Beach Convention its second year, showcasing 45 Center, Miami Beach. Details: spaces that emphasize concept- http://www.designmiami.com/. driven rooms. The fair will feature more than 50 experiential Aqua Art Miami returns with exhibitions and a lively music and its five-day art show, which will performance art program. feature 47 international exhibitors Highlights from this year’s showcasing fresh new works by show include Le Provocateurs young, emerging and mid-career “afro-futuristic erotica DIY artists. This year the show has queer cabaret” presented by partnered with the Association of Dangerous Rose, Flatsitter’s Women Art Dealers, a non-profit therapeutic “Theta” installation trade network focused on facilifeaturing virtual reality pods with tating business between and for aroma therapy, Performance is women art dealers. Alive’s non-stop performance As a result of their recent partart lounge and more. The show nership both Aqua Art Miami will take place at The Parisian, and the Association of Women 1510 Collins Ave., Miami Beach Art Dealers will host a morning through Dec. 1-4. Details: panel on Friday, Dec. 2, that will satellite-show.com. address “Unconscious Bias and the Art World,” moderated by X Contemporary celebrates its Susan Mumford, founder and second edition Nov. 30-Dec. 4 by CEO of AWAD. The show will be showcasing its latest exhibit “The at the Aqua Hotel, 1530 Collins Women Who Made Art Modern,” Ave., Miami Beach Nov. 30-Dec. which explores the careers and 4. Details: aquaartmiami.com.
“Die Erinnerung untersockelt (Drei Zitate),” wall formation series, 1983, by Franz “Miami Mountain,” 2016, by Ugo Rondinone, will be in the Public Sector as one of more Erhard Walther, will be in the Galleries Sector at the Miami Beach Convention Center. than 20 site-specific installations that examine ways artists invent new kinds of space.
ART BASEL
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269 galleries bringing art from 29 nations to Art Basel
By Catherine Lackner
This year will be the 15th for Art Basel Miami Beach and features 269 leading international galleries from 29 countries, with 50% of all exhibitors having spaces in the Americas. There are 21 new galleries this year, and more than 85 galleries exhibiting also took part in the first edition in Miami Beach in 2002, according to a spokesperson. The show is divided into sections: Nova, which is dedicated to younger galleries showing new work by one to three artists, features works from 35 galleries; Positions, a sector for solo presentations with a specific project, comprises 16 exhibitors; Survey, which is for curated presentations of historical works, has 14 participants; Edition, focused on multiple works, has 11 participants; and Kabinett features 29 distinct curated projects set within select gallery booths. “We have some very exciting galleries participating in the Miami Beach show for the first time, from Gaga Fine Arts in Mexico and Leo Xu Projects in China, to Galerie Greta Meert in Belgium and Galleria d’Arte Maggiore G.A.M in Italy, to Di Donna and Callicoon Fine Arts in New York, as well as Marc Selwyn Fine Art and Various Small Fires in Los Angeles,” said Noah Horowitz, Art Basel director for the Americas. “I personally always enjoy getting to know new artists presented in Nova and Positions. Rita Ponce de León
and Ishmael Randall Weeks at Ignacio Liprandi and Max Hooper Schneider with High Art come to mind, in particular, in this regard.” Public, the exhibition of largescale and site-specific work within Collins Park, will again be curated by Nicholas Baume and will feature 20 artists, including Magdalena Abakanowicz, David Adamo, Jean-Marie Appriou, Eric Baudart, Huma Bhabha, Yoan Capote, Claudia Comte, Matías Duville, Camille Henrot, Glenn Kaino, Alicja Kwade, Sol LeWitt, Wagner Malta Tavares, Tony Matelli, William J. O’Brien, Anthony Pearson, Norbert Prangenberg, Ugo Rondinone, Tony Tasset and Erwin Wurm. The show’s evening film screenings are curated by David Gryn, and the feature film selected by curator Marian Masone explores the artist Maurizio Cattelan. Screenings run from Nov. 30 to Dec. 3 at SoundScape Park, and at Miami’s Colony Theater. Art Basel’s acclaimed Conversations & Salon sector presents diverse discussions. At Miami Beach Convention Center, talks will feature artists, gallery owners, art historians, writers, curators, museum directors and collectors from across the globe, including Alexandre Arrechea, Wafaa Bilal, Francesco Clemente, Mark Dion, Lady Bunny, Julio Le Parc, Glenn Ligon, Tony Matelli, Jill Magid, Hans Ulrich Obrist, Damián Ortega, Bernardo Ortiz, Molly Palmer, Howardena Pindell, HE
Photos by Maxine Usdan
At the 2014 fair, visitors wondered at Urs Fischer’s “Small Rain” installation of 1,080 oversize droplets.
Sheikha Hoor Al Qasimi, Howard Rachofsky and Sun Xun. Local art museums are doing their share to keep the momentum alive. On Nov. 29, Pérez Art Museum Miami will debut a self-titled solo show by David Reed, which will run until the end of June 2017. Work by Ulla von Brandenberg in the museum’s project gallery will be on view until Jan. 25. “Julio Le Parc: Form into Action” will be on view until March 19, “Sarah Oppenheimer: S-281913” and “Susan Hiller: Lost and Found” until June 4. The Institute of Contemporary Art, Miami will debut a show by Thomas Bayrle Nov. 29, which will Visitors from around the globe will be viewing the works at Art Basel. be on view until March 26.
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