Miami Today: Week of Thursday, May 10, 2018

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DEALERS MIGHT STORE OVERFLOW NEW CARS IN MALLS’ UNDERUSED PARKING SPACES, PG. 2 HURRICANE EMERGENCY APP: Miami-Dade County staff is developing an emergency application for mobile devices and expects to have it ready for the hurricane season, Mayor Carlos Giménez told commissioners in a memo this week. The commission had passed a resolution in December asking for a free app to use during emergencies. The mayor said the application will include an interactive map to allow users to find their evacuation zone, available nearby storm shelters with current information in capacity and services offered, transit evacuation shuttle stops and frequency of pickup, preparedness guidelines, non-emergency recovery information, and an ability to transmit emergency-related requests to the county. The mayor said staff is shifting priorities and doing the work in-house, so the app won’t add to county costs.

The Achiever

By John Charles Robbins

SUIT OF CAROLLO FAILS: A state appeals court last week rejected a lawsuit aimed at ousting Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo, who was accused of failing to meet a residency requirement. A three-judge panel of the 3rd District Court of Appeal upheld a circuit judge’s ruling in favor of Mr. Carollo. The lawsuit was filed after Alfonso “Alfie” Leon lost a runoff election to Mr. Carollo in November and alleged that Mr. Carollo had violated part of the city charter that requires candidates to live in their districts at least one year before qualifying to run.

FAST AND FURIOUS: Imagine Formula 1 race cars zooming from the mainland to PortMiami and back again. It’s a possibility as the city commission prepares to consider a deal bringing the Formula 1 Racing Circuit to the City of Miami. On the commission’s May 10 agenda is a resolution supporting the efforts to bring Formula 1 racing to the city for the Formula 1 Miami Grand Prix from 2019 to 2028. It would direct the city manager to seal the deal in a contract between the city and Formula One World Championship Limited. The Formula One World Championship is considered the pinnacle of motorsport, showcasing high-speed, open-wheeled racing since 1950. A map provided to city commissioners shows the potential race course. It would have cars looping around AmericanAirlines Arena, traversing a portion of Biscayne Boulevard, onto a half-circle entry drive to Bayside Marketplace, and onto Port Boulevard to PortMiami and back on Northeast Sixth Street.

GAS PRICES INCH DOWN: Miami’s gasoline prices slipped by 1.7 cents per gallon in the past week to average $2.77 per gallon, still 36.1 cents per gallon higher than the same date a year ago, according to GasBuddy gasoline price tracking service. The drop was more than the national decline of 0.9 cents per gallon in the past week to average $2.80 per gallon across the nation, which is 46.5 cents per gallon higher than a year ago, GasBuddy said.

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

Chana Budgazad Sheldon

Directing Museum of Contemporary Art North Miami The profile is on Page 4

To save, county to contract for 6 more bus routes

By Gabi Maspons

After a long back-and-forth between the Department of Transportation and Public Works and the Transit Workers Union last week, Miami-Dade commissioners OK’d a one-year extension to a private contract to run 14 low-ridership bus routes and added six routes, saving the county at least $3 million.

“If we don’t vote for this item, the routes are going to stop and we won’t be giving service to the community,” said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. “I’m not willing to leave the community – the people who pay our salaries – without service.”

Last year, the department picked 14 lowridership routes to contract out using smaller vehicles, the legislation says.

The transit department used a City of Miami contractor to save money.

“We chose this [contract] because we needed immediate savings,” said Transportation Director Alice Bravo. “We looked at all of the contracts for trolleys and the City of Miami offered the lowest rate by at least $8 an hour.”

In the first five months contracting out the

City’s swap of river site flows ahead

routes, the department saved $1.28 million, a 49% saving from previous costs. In a full year, the department expects to save over $3 million contracting out the routes.

Under its contract with the Transit Workers Union, the county must notify the union when it is considering contracting out routes and have a face-to-face meeting, giving the union 20 days to make a counter-offer.

The department and the county attorney’s office confirmed that the department scheduled two meetings with the union, both of which the union cancelled the day before.

The department then scheduled a third meeting immediately following a meeting where it knew the union would be present.

Union Vice President Pedro Flores attended that meeting, satisfying the contract requirement for a face-to-face meeting.

When Commissioner Barbara Jordan asked if the agreement with the union had been complied with, Assistant County Attorney Bruce Libhaber said it was.

“I see a lot of declining meetings here, which seems to me the union was playing games,” said Commissioner Audrey Edmonson.

Ms. Jordan agreed: “It sounds suspicious when you reject two meetings that were scheduled and don’t provide a reason.”

Commissioner Jean Monestime seemed unfazed by the dispute, saying it’s a routine outcome. His biggest concern, he said, was how the dispute could hurt residents: “My biggest concern is that when these disagreements happen with labor associations and the administration, it makes the employees unhappy,” he said. “Unhappy employees aren’t good for the people that we serve.”

Commissioners ultimately extended the contract by one year, adding six routes.

Dennis Moss and Ms. Jordan dissented.

Though the contract was extended, Ms. Bravo said her department would “probably” issue a competitive solicitation by year’s end to seek better, cheaper options for the routes.

Ms. Jordan also requested that a member of the county attorney’s office be present at all meetings between the union and the transit department.

“This sounds messy,” Ms. Jordan said.

“As far as I’m concerned, nobody is clean, and the only way to clean it up is to have the attorney present at these meetings.”

A high-value deal to build new City of Miami offices and open up riverfront for a three-tower private development could go to city voters in November.

The city charter requires a referendum on any sale or lease of city-owned waterfront.

The city aims to sell or lease Miami Riverside Center, its office tower complex on the river at 444 SW Second Ave. Officials say they’ve outgrown the building. A few years ago, they began to explore a sale or swap with a developer to gain a new main office building elsewhere.

Attorneys for Lancelot Miami River LLC, an affiliate of the Adler Group, and officials with the city’s Department of Real Estate and Asset Management on Monday gave the Miami River Commission a status report.

Negotiations between Adler and the city have been ongoing more than a year, and river commission officials have kept close contact with the city about the fate of the high-profile site.

Michael Llorente, an attorney for Adler, told the commission negotiations had progressed enough to target the August primary election for the proposal, and the parties asked to go on the May 7 agenda. But he said Monday that “upon further reflection,” they agreed to shoot for a November vote, affording more time to work out details and get a full review by all players.

So he asked to meet with the commission’s Urban Infill and Greenways Subcommittee in June, and the river commission July 9.

Final approvals will be up to the city commission.

No one objected, and River Commission Chairman Horacio Stuart Aguirre approved that schedule.

In December 2016, city commissioners approved negotiations with Lancelot (Adler), chosen via a request for proposals. Adler proposed to build new offices for the city elsewhere and turn the river site into Nexus Riverside Central – residential towers, a hotel, retail and restaurants.

COUNTY’S AUDIO VISUAL DEMAND RISES TO $14 MILLION ...

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CITY MAY BUY, RENOVATE OLD LIBERTY CITY THEATER ...

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COMPENSATION COSTS FOR PRIVATE WORKERS RISE 2.4% ...

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NATIONAL REGISTER MAY LIST EX-BACARDI BUILDINGS ...

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VIEWPOINT: VISITOR INDUSTRY GAINS MERIT ATTENTION ...

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COMMUNITY HEALTH IMPROVEMENT PLAN IN PROCESS ...

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DUTY-FREE MIA RETAILER TO UPGRADE, LEASE LONGER ...

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PLANS FOR JACKSON WEST REST ON KEY CERTIFICATION ...

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

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

Bright green in the visitor industry merits closer attention

Miami-Dade’s visitor industry has every reason to smile as it looks ahead. Every visitor figure is a bright green – green as in growing revenues.

Last year overnight visitors spent $26 billion here, up 2.1% from 2016. That’s a lot of green.

It’s easy for those of us not officially in the industry to minimize what those guests mean to us. But once we look at the numbers, suddenly we realize that we’re all in the visitor industry.

Last year, Miami-Dade hotels filled their beds to equal 15.4 million room nights. That’s 55,000 or more individuals every day who are staying, eating, shopping, attending events – yes, and using our roadways, because visitors share most of our resources with us. They’re an economic bonanza, but a bonanza that is not free, because we provide for them to enjoy themselves.

We know we share the resources every time we see an out-of-state plate on our roadways, though many of those plates are on the cars of part-year residents, not visitor industry guests. In fact, about 96% of our overnight guests don’t drive here, they fly in. They’re most likely to be riding in taxis and Ubers.

But before we grumble about sharing, look at what visitors mean in concrete terms. In hotel revenues alone, the number is staggering: according to research firm STR, those revenues topped $2.9 billion in 2017. And the largest single expenditures in any hotel are wages, so hotel salaries fuel a good share of our county’s income.

Those hotel revenues are on the grow, which means more visitor money circulating in Miami-Dade. The $2.9 billion in 2017 was up 4% from 2016. And in March alone, according to STR, the $403.5 million in hotel revenues was up 17.9% from March 2017.

What that revenue is doing is paying 143,100 people who today work in MiamiDade’s visitor industry. That’s a tad more than 12% of all of our county’s 1.19 million non-farm jobs, according to the most recent US Bureau of Labor Statistics report.

Clearly, we’re not going to maintain a

pace of 17.9% revenue growth in hotels year over year. Nothing goes up that fast forever.

But as Bill Talbert, CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, pointed out to us last week, our rapid industry growth last year came despite Hurricane Irma, despite the Zika scare that kept many visitors away, and despite the fact that one of our great visitor magnets, the Miami Beach Convention Center, has been virtually closed for renovation for several years.

As Mr. Talbert counted down to us, the center’s reopening as he spoke was just 144 days off, with immediate bookings as soon as reopening is official.

Imagine how much better the convention center would do if it also had an 800-room or larger hotel attached, enabling many events that cannot now book at the center to come here. That large hotel should be on the agenda for the Miami Beach City Commission, which will have its usual difficult job convincing Beach residents – who live on paying guests – that they should enable the industry’s growth.

It’s not that we don’t have many hotels planned for this county. But of the 19 that STR lists as now under construction, none

is as large as even 300 rooms. These hotels will handle satisfied guests but will not by and large handle convention or meeting guests.

If we’re looking to put the maraschino cherry on top of the visitor industry sundae, that hotel is still it. We have 432 hotels with 55,221 rooms in the county today, yet none serves as that convention hub.

Meanwhile, we can rejoice in an increase of almost 5% in international air travelers here, knowing that these travelers spend more on meals, shopping and car rentals daily than do domestic visitors, and that they stay an average of 6.9 days versus 5.2 days for domestic overnight visitors.

Yes, the visitor industry’s growth is across the board. That’s great. But we can’t take continued gains for granted.

When we get an opportunity, as we do in a big way with a convention center hotel in Miami Beach or with other amenities, we need to think of the 143,100 people who earn a direct living from visitors and the others of us who all – every one of us – benefit from them.

There is no free lunch. We enjoyed $26 billion in visitor spending last year. We need to make sure in every way that we serve those visitors well – and better.

By water or air, travel trouble Letters to the Editor Our student was to get married on a beautiful island in the Caribbean, and my wife and I were invited. The bride put us in touch with her wedding planner to learn about the most accessible route to get to the Isaac Prilleltensky island, since Ora, my wife, uses a wheelchair.

We had two options: either fly to the neighboring island and take a small plane to our destination, or cross from the big island to the small one on a ferry.

We explained to the wedding planner that it is challenging for a person with a disability to maneuver access to small planes and get into ferries without proper ramps. Since she lived on the island, we figured we could trust her. Without hesitation she recommended that we fly to St. Martin and then we take the ferry to the island.

Her ineptitude revealed one of two things: She either never took the ferry, or never saw a wheelchair. Third option: She never gave a darn.

To get to the ferry, Ora and I had to take an inaccessible taxi for a 45-minute ride to the other side of St. Martin, and traverse a rocky path to the dock with the scooter, only to discover that the ferry DID NOT have an accessible ramp.

We somehow got into the ferry, to experience the most vomit-inducing experience of our lives. The 25-minute ride felt like 25 years of incessant convulsions. It was like having my internal organs in a Vitamix stuck on max. The small boat was obviously not built for the rough seas we faced, unless you enjoy near-death experiences.

Upon arrival at the hotel we discovered that the promised accessible room had a “small” step, which proved, once again, that the wedding planner had

The Writer

Isaac Prilleltensky is an academic and humor writer. His most recent book is The Laughing Guide to Well-Being: Using Humor and Science to Become Happier and Healthier. Follow his humor blog at www.thelaughingguide.com. You can reach him at prilleltensky@ gmail.com

never seen the room or had never seen a wheelchair, or, more likely, had never cared. We returned by plane, which was small and challenging to get into, but more tolerable than the vomit boat.

On another trip, we were about to board the business class section of the Airbus when a Lufthansa employee turned to the flight attendant to ask her for help with our bags. She asked the flight attendant for assistance while I helped Ora to her seat. I turned to the flight attendant and politely asked her to place two small bags in 24E and F while I assisted my wife.

Since she did not acknowledge my request, I assumed that she could not hear me because of the noise on the tarmac. I courteously repeated the seat numbers, at which point she yelled at me, in the rudest of terms, “I HEARD YOU SIR.” Apparently, she felt that it was beneath her to help passengers with their bags.

I had seen such attitude before.

A few minutes later the same flight attendant handed us the oxygen tank that Ora uses in long flights. As two Jewish passengers in the hands of a German wearing a uniform, we could not help but laugh at the fact that she was handing us a tank that seem to contain gas.

I hasten to point out that all the other German flight attendants were exceedingly polite and did not remind us of the Holocaust.

Mass transit last choice

Enjoy Manhattan South

As long as there is parking everywhere, Love it. Can’t wait. gasoline taxes are low, and the ever expanPeople have to realize that Miami is now sion of suburban growth continues, mass Manhattan South. Get over it and enjoy. transit will be the last option for anyone, Peter R. Evans anywhere in the city.

Grato de Cardenas

Shocking certification gap

It is shocking to learn that 10% of teachers are not certified to teach the classes they Why do you think it’s failing? People “teach.” Yet we wonder why education in are getting tired of buses taking forever South Florida ranks so low. to show. In most cases people sit more Gerwyn Flax than two hours on a commute just to get where they’re going. If I have to get to work, Miami-Dade Transit will not be an Congratulations! It’s so great to see option, and I’m 10 minutes away from my workplace. If it means keeping my a nurse in such a powerful position. job and paying more for transportation, Perhaps you could look at patient nurse ratios, which have been an issue forever!

Uber/Lyft it is.

Robert Benyard Please keep our nurses happy and safe!

It’s not always about the bottom line if you have unhappy employees. Turnover is also costly and is unnecessary in a happy I just got off a bus that I rode for free the work environment. third time this week. I’ll keep my money.

Renee Marcinkoski Dominic Wilson

Got to get to work on time

On Baptist Hospital CEO

I’ll ride the bus – it’s free

Uber, mover, no parking

It seems to me a missed opportunity for them to incorporate an elevated walkway/ access route directly from and to the building to the nearby Metromover. The design encourages residents to hop the metro INSIDE their building and dropped off the same. The design should incorporate an Uber/Lyft pick-up and drop-off specifically for residents who do not own cars.

No car ownership of condos should begin to be part of the mix. In other words, you can buy a condo or rent an apartment but there is no parking. Instead, incorporate Metromover and Uber/Lyft designated areas. Imagine how that would generate future copycats reducing or at least maintaining current traffic levels.

Mike Moskwa

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Duty-free retailer to upgrade 21 stores, get leases extended The Western Hemisphere’s largest duty-free retailer is pledging to spend $17 million to upgrade its 21 stores in Miami InternationalAirport in extending its leases at two of the airport’s three terminals to 2024 in a no-bid deal.

The deal is part of the fifth amendment to the lease of Duty Free Americas Miami that the MiamiDade County Commission approved in November 2005 and that was to expire at the end of 2017. The first four amendments waived some rent and reset some lease dates multiple times to compensate the firm for lower airport passenger traffic or construction delays.

The county’s Economic Development and Tourism Committee is to act on the lease extension proposal today (5/10). The full county commission would then take a final vote.

Duty-free shops of the type the company runs are big business. The company currently pays the county a minimum annual guaranteed rent of $26,710,605, a total payment that in some years reaches $30 million.

The stores sell only to outbound passengers on international flights, Duty free signs lure shoppers in Miami International Airport terminals. offering name-brand luxury goods

P The Resort Group names senior VP The Resort Group PLC has named Ricardo Taño Feijoó senior vice president of sales and marketing of the Americas. Mr. Feijoó had been an international senior associate at Coldwell Banker Commercial Advisors. He holds a master’s Ricardo Taño Feijoó Bob Dickinson degree from Barry University.

Health Foundation adds to board The Health Foundation of South Florida has added Bob Dickinson to its board of directors. Mr. Dickson had been president and chief executive officer at Carnival Cruise Lines and is chairman emeritus of Camillus House and a trustee for St. Thomas University.

has named Patrick Young senior vice president of business development and account management.

Mr. Young had been senior vice president of travel and event partnerships at Allianz Global Assistance. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Syracuse University and a master’s degree from the University of Phoenix.

Allen Morris Co. promotes three The Allen Morris Company has promoted W. A. Spencer Morris to executive vice president of Allen Morris Residential, Enrique Piñeiro to senior vice president of The Allen Morris Co. and Leonely Valdes to controller and human resource director.

Mr. Morris had been an assistant project manager at SLS LUXBrickell hotel and condominium.

Cross Country He holds a bachelor’s degree from names senior VP Cross Country Home Services Boston University.

Berkowitz Pollack adds to firm Berkowitz Pollack Brant Advisors and Accountants has added Judd Appel to the firm. In his new role, Mr. Appel will assist clients with raising capital, exploring strategic partnerships, and mergers and acquisitions activity. He holds a bachelor’s degree and a master’s degree from the University of Florida.

at a discount that is typically not available to domestic buyers of the same goods. The 21 stores deliver the purchased goods directly to the gates of outbound flights.

Potential customers are numerous: in March alone, 935,680 persons flew from Miami International Airport to destinations abroad, the airport reported. The county legislation lists gross annual sales for the 21 stores at more than $87.7 million.

Duty Free Americas Miami is 70% owned by Duty Free Americas Airports Inc., which operates 150 duty-free stores and international border boutiques. It is the largest of about 10 duty free operators at US airports.

Duty-free operators typically have airport monopolies. The legislation that the county committee is to consider today says that having multiple delivery operators delivering to all three airport terminals could be confusing and would delay flights, so the county is being asked to waive bids from others. Indeed, most airports have monopoly operators of dutyfree shops.

Duty Free Americas has those monopolies at JFK and LaGuardia

in New York, Dulles and Reagan airports in Washington, and in Detroit, Atlanta, Baltimore, San Antonio, Phoenix, San Diego, Charlotte and Salt Lake City in addition to Miami.

The lease amendment that commissioners are considering would extend South and Central Terminal leases to Sept. 13, 2024, to match the lease expiration date of the company’s North Terminal stores.

The county had advanced the North Terminal initial lease date more than eight years in an earlier lease amendment because gate openings in the terminal were delayed so there were fewer passengers than concessionaries had anticipated.

Duty Free Americas, Miami is based at 6100 Hollywood Blvd. in Hollywood. In addition to Duty Free Americas, which owns 70% of the firm, Concourse Concessions Inc., a national privately held woman and minority owned corporation, owns 20% and Siboney Wine & Spirits Merchants, a Miami company, owns 10%. The county lists the latter two owners as meeting the county’s 30% Airport Concession Disadvantaged Business Enterprise goal.

e o p l e

Judd Appel

To Submit Information Miami Today welcomes news of job changes, promotions, hiring and awards. Please send your submissions to Katya Maruri at People @Miamitodaynews.com or mail them to Miami Today, 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami FL 33133. Be sure to include contact information. We will select submissions for publication.

Patrick Young

Enrique Piñeiro

ESJ Capital Partners adds two to team ESJ Capital Partners LLC has added Thomas Long as managing director of investments and David Schneider as vice president within the organization’s investment team.

Mr. Long had been vice president and co-head of educational investments at EPR Properties.

He holds a bachelor’s degree from Kansas State University and a master’s degree and JD from the University of Kansas.

Mr. Schneider had been vice president of acquisitions at New Boston Fund. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Pennsylvania and a master’s degree from Columbia University.

In his new role, Mr. Piñeiro will oversee the asset management of the company’s portfolio of properties. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida International University.

In her new role, Ms. Valdes will oversee the accounting department’s activities and managing the firm’s human resources and FIU names payroll departments. She holds assistant dean Florida International Univera bachelor’s degree from Florida sity’s School of Communication, International University.

Leonely Valdes

Architecture + The Arts has named Lilia Silverio-Minaya assistant dean of student services and strategic planning. In her new role, Ms. Silverio-Minaya will offer data analysis and insight in support of strategic planning and subsequent resource allocation in support of student success initiatives, especially recruitment, advising, retention, timely graduation, graduate school readiness, and employment. She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Florida International University.

CBRE names VP CBRE has named Alex Cesar vice president of advisory and transaction services. Mr. Cesar had been senior director of retail at Robert K. Futterman. He holds a bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

Former Bacardi complex may enter national historic register

By John Charles Robbins

A pair of unique and colorful structures, making a statement in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood for decades, is being considered for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

The city commission is to consider a resolution today (5/10) to support the nomination of the Bacardi Buildings Complex.

City code requires the City of Miami Historic and Environmental Preservation Board to obtain a written recommendation from the city commission as to whether a property should be nominated to the National Register.

The city commission earlier this year took the same action in regard to historic Miami Marine Stadium, which was added to the National Register last month.

The Bacardi Buildings Complex at 2100 Biscayne Blvd. has been a locally protected historic resource since Oct. 6, 2009, when it was designated by unanimous decision by the Historic and Environmental Preservation Board.

The resolution says the Bacardi Building Complex meets National Register criteria, in that the property embodies the distinctive characteristics of a type, period or method of construction in the areas of architecture and art, as the

The Jewel Box designed by Ignacio Carrera-Justiz of Coral Gables is raised off the ground on a pedestal.

buildings are locally significant examples of the international style of architecture, with unique artistic flairs that disregard some of the fundamental tenets of the style.

Also, the property is less than 50 years old and, while the Bacardi complex was created in 1963, the administration building was constructed in 1973, but contributes to the significance of the complex

because it follows many of the same design principles and influences as the original parts of the Bacardi complex.

The Bacardi Buildings Complex was nominated for the national listing by the State Historic Preservation Office.

For more than a half-dozen years, the Bacardi Buildings Complex has been the headquar-

ters of The National YoungArts Foundation.

The foundation acquired the landmark Bacardi tower and museum buildings in October 2012 and has since converted the buildings into the YoungArts Campus – the organization’s first national headquarters.

Since acquiring the historic Bacardi complex in 2012, YoungArts has been working to transform the campus into a multidisciplinary cultural center while preserving its beloved structures, according to the foundation.

The uniqueness of the Bacardi structures is celebrated and promoted by the foundation on its website.

Located on the easternmost side of the plaza facing Biscayne Boulevard, the tower was commissioned by former Bacardi president José “Pepin” Bosch and houses the YoungArts Gallery, Ted’s at YoungArts and staff offices. Designed by Cuban architect Enrique Gutierrez of Saenz, Cancio, Martin and Gutierrez, the tower comprises a rectangular seven-story structure, which appears to float weightlessly over a square glass pedestal at the plaza level, the website says.

The building has four reinforced concrete columns, a set of two flat trusses and two end walls. The north and south end walls of the tower contain panels of ribbed precast concrete with a contemporary azulejo mural created by Brazilian artist Francisco Brennand. More than 28,000 tiles were fired in Brazil and installed as a giant puzzle.

Keeping the tower company in colorful fashion is the building known as The Jewel Box, designed

by Ignacio Carrera-Justiz of Coral

Gables. The exterior is covered in thick hammered stained glass tapestries, designed by S.E.A.R. under the direction of Gabriel and Jacques Loire of Chartres, France, based on an abstract painting by German artist Johannes Dietz.

An example of modern cantilever construction, the square building is raised 47 feet off the ground by a pedestal. The two-story space cantilevers out 24 feet from its central core on all sides as each floor is hung from 28-foot tensor rods from a reinforced roof, the website says.

The Jewel Box has been transformed into spaces for artists to work, collaborate and create.

A report by the state historic office says: “The Bacardi Buildings complex retains a very high level of integrity. There have been very few significant alterations to either building, the site itself, or to the surrounding neighborhood. Because of this, the Bacardi Buildings retain a high degree of integrity of location, design, setting, materials, workmanship, feeling, and association.”

The report goes on to say the Bacardi buildings are significant at the local level in the areas of architecture and art.

The period of significance of these buildings ranges from 1963, when the Bacardi Imports Tower was constructed, to 1973, when the Bacardi Imports Administration Annex building was built.

“The Bacardi buildings are iconic examples of mid-century modern International-style architecture, notable for their uses of steel and glass, each featuring imaginative cantilevered overhangs as the bulk of the building … The buildings are notable for the way that they embrace international influences within architecture and art to create visually impressive works,” the report reads.

It is the National Park Service that administers the National Register of Historic Places.

The National Register is the official federal list of districts, sites, buildings, structures and objects significant in American history, architecture, archaeology, engineering and culture.

According to the National Park Service, National Register properties have significance to the history of their community, state or the nation.

Nominations for listing historic properties come from state historic preservation officers, from federal preservation officers for properties owned or controlled by the US government, and from tribal historic preservation officers for properties on tribal lands.

Biscayne Boulevard tower houses the National YoungArts Foundation.

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

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Health Update County’s Community Health Improvement Plan in works

By Katherine Lewin

The Miami-Dade County Health Department is working on its own updated county-wide health assessment in response to the State Health Improvement Plan, released in April, that seeks to hit 18 goals in improving Floridians’ health.

Miami-Dade’s updated Community Health Improvement Plan should be finished by the end of 2018 as the previous one expires, with a new five-year plan released by the middle of 2019, said Karen Weller, director of the Office of Community Health and Planning for Miami-Dade.

The assessment, called the Community Health Improvement Plan, uses health indicators to monitor how individuals are or are not participating in local healthcare.

Health indicators are a wide range of factors that can be measured, from how many women are getting prenatal care in their first trimester to the number of individuals getting mammograms to check for cancer.

Each of these indicators is monitored and responded to by local agencies and the offices in the county health department that work with them.

Over a five-year period, each State Health Improvement Plan is meant to improve the health of Floridians.

The State Health Improvement Plan has eight areas of priorities for the next five years, selected using the State Health Assessment, released in September 2017.

These eight areas include health equity, maternal and child health, immunizations, injury, safety and violence, healthy weight, nutrition and physical activity, behavioral health, sexually transmitted and infectious diseases and chronic dis-

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

The department is working with the community on an assessment to set new goals, said Karen Weller.

ease prevention. The eight priorities have 18 separate goals the state is attempting to meet by 2021.

The Miami-Dade Health Department is working with and within the community to complete the new assessment and then work on the county’s updated goals together, Ms. Weller said.

Ms. Weller’s office is specifically in charge of inputting health indicators into its system, but different programs also contribute to adding and monitoring health indicators.

Every office within the county health department is in charge of pieces of both the State Health Improvement Plan and the Community Health Improvement Plan.

“So many different agencies help contribute to one particular indicator. If we need to change strategies we do so and we meet

on a quarterly basis,” Ms. Weller said. “Different members within our health department and different coalitions and groups within the county all work together, so that our voice is there so we can have health included in all policies. We’re hoping that everybody is going in the right direction.”

For example, the Miami-Dade Health Department brings together leaders from area hospitals to work with its offices to make sure in the event of an emergency that both the local government and healthcare providers can work together.

In the area of chronic disease management, the Consortium for a Healthier Miami-Dade brings together a coalition of agencies. The same is done with the rest of the State Health Improvement Plan’s eight priorities, with the Miami-Dade

County Health Department tailoring it specifically for the county’s needs.

The county health department zeroed in on five topic areas in the Community Health Improvement Plan as major focus areas from the State Health Improvement Plan’s larger list. The health department has been working on these topics for the past five years: health equity, chronic disease prevention, healthcare disparities, mental health and infectious diseases.

As the health department has continued with the new assessment for the upcoming five-year plan, Ms. Weller said mental health once again stands out as a major factor affecting residents, including substance abuse and the opioid crisis, which is simultaneously sweeping through the rest of the country.

As Miami-Dade’s Community

Health Improvement Plan expires this year, Ms. Weller reflected on the gains made over the past five years of work and collaboration.

“We still have work to do, but people are being more conscious of what they’re eating. For example, in child care centers and schools you see that they’ve made great strides to include healthier options. The Parks and Recreation Department has put healthier options in the vending machines,” Ms. Weller said.

“More people want communities to be developed for active lifestyles like building walk-able communities with more trails and bike lanes.”

Goals in the upcoming Community Health Improvement Plan will focus on improved mental health and making sure that everyone has the same access to quality healthcare, regardless of life circumstance. Ms. Weller said her personal goal is to have nutritious meals for all.

“We want everybody to have access to healthcare. There are some people who are in a better position to have that and others don’t. We want to give resources to those who need it,” Ms. Weller said. “Anywhere in the county, they should be able to feel safe and benefit from being able to eat, walk and be stress-free in their immediate environment.”

Details: http://miamidade. floridahealth.gov/about-us/community-health-improvementplan.html http://www.floridahealth.gov/ about-the-department-of-health/ about-us/state-and-communityhealth-assessment/ship-process/_documents/SHIP-execsummary.pdf http://www.healthymiamidade.org/

As patients await treatment, second proton therapy unit due this month

By Katya Maruri

The Miami Cancer Institute, which opened its doors to its first Proton Therapy Center in November, anticipates opening up two more units in the next couple of months, according to Minesh Mehta, deputy director and chief of radiation oncology at the institute.

The second unit, Dr. Mehta said, “is set to open before the end of May and the third unit is expected to open by Labor Day.” “Proton therapy is one of the most advanced methods of radiation oncology available today due to its unique ability to allow radiation treatment to be delivered to cancerous tumors while minimizing radiation exposure to healthy tissues and organs,” Dr. Mehta said.

40 patients treated: Minesh Mehta.

By minimizing the amount of radiation exposure, he said, patients could see fewer short and long-term side effects.

In addition to lessening the amount of side effects, Dr. Mehta said, the addition of the

new proton therapy units will increase the center’s ability to treat more patients who are currently on the waiting list to receive radiation therapy.

“We have treated 40 patients to date,” Dr. Mehta said, “and currently have patients on a waiting list to receive treatment.”

Of those patients who have completed treatments at the center, he said, “patients can receive five treatments a day or can undergo 30 or more treatments daily.”

It all depends, he said, on the patient’s specific needs.

As for offering patients other treatment options, Dr. Mehta said, “The key thing is that we offer not just proton therapy, but every major type of radiation therapy under one roof.”

Proton therapy unit targets radiation treatments to cancerous tumors.

“We aim to offer patients treatment options, he said, “that are the most appropriate for the patient.”

As a result, he said, the institute has remained at full capacity.

“We are one of only a few cancer facilities in the world to

provide patients with this level of advanced radiation therapy,” said Michael Zinner, founding CEO and executive medical director at the Miami Cancer Institute. “I couldn’t be prouder of the hard work and dedication of our staff in delivering this center to our community.”

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MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

TODAY’S NEWS

River commission backs Hyatt redevelopment, city acts next

By John Charles Robbins

The Miami River Commission is endorsing the latest plan to redevelop a city-owned property in the heart of downtown.

By unanimous vote Monday the commission recommended approval of a proposal to redevelop a 4.2-acre site at 400 SE Second Ave., home to a Hyatt Regency Hotel and the city’s James L. Knight Convention Center.

The matter is up for review by the Miami City Commission today (5/10).

The commission will consider two resolutions: one to waive competitive bidding and approve an amended and restated lease with Hyatt Equities LLC, and one that places the matter on the Aug. 28 ballot.

The city charter requires the proposed sale or lease of cityowned waterfront go to referendum.

The supportive vote from the river commission came after a review of the site plan and a new set of colorful renderings showing the conceptual plan to clear the site, start from scratch, and build a sleek three-tower mixeduse project.

It would mean razing the old convention center and hotel, and constructing a new hotel and two residential buildings with possible space for office and retail uses.

The latest proposal is similar to an idea considered last year, which the city commission put off with a directive to negotiate further.

Officials with the city and Hyatt, along with CBRE representatives, are presenting the latest proposal to city review boards with a goal of getting the plan before voters in August.

A draft of the ballot wording reads: “Shall the City Charter be amended to extend City’s Lease with Hyatt of 4.2 acres of waterfront land at 400 S.E. 2nd Avenue for additional 49 years (total 99-year term) and include:

In the proposal, the convention center and hotel would be replaced by a hotel and two residential towers.

convention center land; new hotel and mixed-use development; new public Riverwalk and other public amenities; and Minimum guaranteed rent to City of $2,000,000 annually, plus percentage of gross profits from all other uses?”

Hyatt now pays about $1 million a year.

The plan calls for adoption of a new master plan and selection of a third-party developer.

At Monday’s meeting, Hyatt’s Tim Gomez said the city and Hyatt have gone the extra mile to plan a more “family friendly” use of the important site.

A CBRE representative said a study a decade ago found the convention center was outdated and had served its purpose. Removal of the hulking, low-profile convention center opens the site to added view corridors, green space and plaza design, said officials working on the latest proposal.

The concept of open vistas and landscaped plaza space, extending back from the water and the public riverwalk, was the focus of a presentation by architect Kobi Karp.

Mr. Karp said redevelopment

of the property offers opportunities of public access second to none.

He said the intent is to create a type of town square green space – a community gathering place, with terraced sections, green lawn, public promenade, where people who call Brickell and Flagler Street home can congregate.

Mr. Karp said the openness of the plan relies on elevating the new buildings 45 to 50 feet.

This open design on pedestals would allow free flow of the breeze and light, and offer views of the riverfront, he explained.

Mr. Karp showed the river commission new renderings showing the open green spaces, riverwalk and more.

In one, he pointed out how people on the site will be able to see the Brickell Avenue Bridge, the statue that’s part of the span, and the bridge operator’s building.

“This will allow a lot more cross breeze and light coming in,” he said.

Mr. Karp said that after a meeting with the Urban Infill and Greenways Subcommittee of the river commission in April, the design team refocused on the

potential for multi functions in the green space.

River Commission Chairman Horacio Stuart Aguirre complimented Mr. Karp on a great presentation and an imaginative design.

Vice Chair Frank Balzebre asked about a probable timeline to redevelop the site.

Mr. Gomez said if the voters approve the lease extension in August, negotiations toward a master plan layout and final plan would commence immediately.

He said the goal would be to have a final plan and a developer selected for a vote by city commissioners in the fall of 2019.

Under that timetable, Mr. Gomez anticipates a groundbreaking in the first quarter of 2020.

There was some discussion of the ways the land will be cleared, noting the cramped site with its close proximity to the river, an I-95 feeder ramp, and one of the busiest intersections in the city.

Mr. Gomez said the buildings will probably be dismantled floor by floor.

“It’s got to be done as delicately as you can, when demolishing a building,” he said.

River commission members

also asked about the connection to a proposed tunnel under the river to handle Brickell Avenue traffic to and from downtown.

When the city commission put off the Hyatt plan last summer, some commissioners suggested keeping options open to allow for using part of the site to stage construction of a tunnel. Others pushed for a new master plan to redevelop the entire riverfront in that area to connect to cityowned Fort Dallas Park just to the west.

Mr. Gomez said the tunnel impact was considered and mentioned the Hyatt plan is a phased development, leaving the eastern side of the site the last to be developed.

Questions were also raised about Fort Dallas Park. Officials clarified that the redevelopment plan does not include a privately owned parcel and hotel, sandwiched between the Knight Center and Fort Dallas Park.

A public riverwalk extends from the Hyatt-Knight property and connects to the park.

In proposed developer guidelines, one says to renovate and expand the riverwalk to encourage safe public use, walkability, connectivity, and ease of access to the nearby Fort Dallas Park and Riverwalk Metromover Station.

The city owns the park at 6064 SE Fourth St., home to The Flagler Worker’s House, the last known building in Miami directly associated with railroad magnate and developer Henry M. Flagler.

City officials have been pursuing separate plans to improve and reopen the park.

At Monday’s meeting, city officials indicated the park will not be redeveloped with a major commercial use. A restaurant had operated there before under lease.

The city intends to keep the property and will focus efforts on restoration of the historic house and introducing an educational component to reopen the cityowned site, officials said.

New lease for US Sailing Center in Grove on city’s agenda

By John Charles Robbins

The fate of the US Sailing Center on the waterfront in Coconut Grove may be decided this week.

A new lease for the city-owned site is on the Miami commission’s agenda for today (5/10).

The resolution, if approved, would authorize a new lease between the city and the United States Sailing Center Inc., a Florida not for profit corporation, for use of part of a city waterfront property at 2476 S Bayshore Drive.

The proposal came up at an April meeting but was deferred. Many residents and athletes who have used the sailing center spoke strongly in favor of the new deal, and some begged commissioners to do all they could to keep the facility in the Grove.

The city is the owner of real property and improvements at the site and the US Sailing Center as lessee has been operating the center within David Kennedy Park since 1986.

The city and US Sailing Center aim for

a new 15-year lease with two additional five-year options to renew.

The rent would be increased to $2,250 a month or 12% of gross revenues, whichever is greater, and increased annually by 3%.

The proposed resolution says the new lease’s proposed rent has been determined by two independent appraisers to be fair market rent for the property.

The US Sailing Center has agreed to “initiate and continue a summer sailing program specifically geared toward underprivileged children within the city, exposing the children to the benefits of the facilities for the duration of the lease; and … the Lessee and the City desire to allow further public access through adjacent greenway areas to enable increased public participation in the programs offered by the [center] for the benefit of City residents,” the resolution says.

Section 29-D of the city charter provides that the city commission may waive competitive bidding and referendum requirements when entering into a lease or extending an existing lease

with a non-profit, noncommercial, water-dependent organization which provides or seeks to provide marinerecreation services and/or activities to the community at any city-owned waterfront property, provided certain conditions are met pertaining to public access, public use, waterfront setback and view-corridor requirements, fair return to the city, compliance with the master plan and requirements prescribed by ordinance pertaining to an organization using city-owned facilities.

The resolution says both parties wish to utilize Section 29-D. An open letter from Jack Gierhart, CEO of US Sailing, calls upon sailors and others to support the new lease.

“The lease is up for renewal at the US Sailing Center Miami. We need your help in renewing the lease to ensure this facility remains a Miami community sailing center and an official Olympic Training site,” he wrote.

The US Sailing Center Miami is one of only 18 official US Olympic Training sites sanctioned by the U.S. Olympic

Committee, and the only one for sailing in the United States. This volunteer based, non-for-profit organization provides public access to Miami’s waterfront, along with public storage and launching, regatta hosting, team training and community outreach, according to Mr. Gierhart.

“For the past 15 years, US Sailing Center Miami has served as a critically important training site for the US Sailing Team and Olympic sailing hopefuls with year-round training. Young sailors of all levels learn, train, compete, and make long-lasting friendships here.

“Sailors come to the US Sailing Center Miami from all over the world to train and compete in premiere international regattas. The US Sailing Center Miami has hosted an internationally renowned Olympic Class regatta for the past 25 years, bringing thousands of world class, Olympic-caliber sailors to the waters of Biscayne Bay, while offering the local community an opportunity to learn more about the sport and the benefits of sailing as a sustainable recreational activity for everyone,” Mr. Gierhart wrote.

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, MAY 10, 2018

Office lease prices show major gain, but vacancies creep up

By Marcus Lim

Miami-Dade’s office market in the first quarter showed prices markedly above three years ago but vacancy rates also higher, with the central business district in particular having growing vacancy. Despite a changing landscape, experts say they aren’t worried, as reports show the market on track to surpass absorption levels due to increased popularity in co-working offices.

A presentation of the disruptors and future of the South Florida office market was given last week at WeWork, hosted by the Commercial Industrial Association of South Florida (CIASF). The report aimed to analyze trends, disruptions, solutions and revolutions for the market.

The report compared the overall asking rent and overall occupancy in 2015 and 2018. Three years ago, the average full service asking rent was $33.60, whereas now it’s $37.77, showing the increase in price. Occupancy was 87.1% in 2015 and currently it’s 86.5%, slightly lower but not a concern to Marc Miller, research manager of JLL, who gave the presentation detailing the findings.

“What we saw is a slight uptick due to the amount of space delivered to the market, but we have seen tenants have an appetite for these high-quality class A spaces,” Mr. Miller told Miami Today. “That slight uptick is more of a blimp in the radar than anything worth getting concerned over.”

Tenants seeking quality space has been a key reason for the office market’s success. Since 2010, 82% of all absorption gains have been in ClassAspaces. Developments since 2016 have outperformed the overall market. Specifically, co-working space has burst on the scene pretty

‘There is this crossroad where we can all work remotely; we don’t have to sit behind our desks to be productive. But not being at the office is an opportunity lost, hearing about deals or opportunities’ “We are changing as an industry and we need to adapt. What is coming is not stopping,” said Marc Miller.

quickly, with many companies favoring the physical open space.

“Co-working space is one of the biggest differentiators. It wasn’t before, but now it is one of the largest drivers in the Miami office market,” Mr. Miller said, “the whole idea of a hospitality-type approach to space management.”

Despite rapid growth, the coworking segment accounts for a small proportion of total office stock but an outsized portion of space in Miami compared to the nation.

Miami has 1.2 million square feet of co-working space, 3.3% of all inventory. That’s much smaller than New York’s 6.5 million square feet, but that represents only 1.4% of New York’s inventory.

With the workplace being more than just a space to work, where workers spend the majority of their

more open-space concepts, that company may only need 8,500 square feet.

“There is this crossroad where we can all work remotely; we don’t have to sit behind our desks to be productive,” said Brian Gale, vice chair of Cushman & Wakefield and a panelist for the event. “But not being at the office is an opportunity lost, hearing about deals or opportunities. It’s amazing how much information you can get from being at an open space where breakout sessions occur.”

Additionally, the report analyzed the pipeline, where combining what is under construction and what is proposed or in the planning stage, the office market can see an inventory increase of 8.3%, with Coconut Grove’s inventory possibly increasing by over 20%.

Mr. Gale also observed, “if all that is proposed gets built, there will be a huge oversupply and that will negatively affect the market.”

Because of the rise and reliance on co-working space, Miami’s central business district (CBD) is “extremely” impacted. In the previous five years, nearly one-third of all new-to-market square footage leased in the CBD has been driven by co-working space, followed by bread-and-butter drivers. Mr. Miller said that’s why it isn’t a concern – the industry is changing and the sector should change its methods in order to stay ahead of the curve.

“We are changing as an industry and we need to adapt. What is coming is not stopping,” he said. “We are traditionally very averse to change in the real estate industry, but we have to adapt pretty quickly.”

Commissioners debate whether rule of early agenda is made to be broken

Traffic cameras use gets a boost in highest court

By Gabi Maspons

By Jim Saunders The News Service of Florida

In a victory for local governments and red-light camera companies, the state Supreme Court last week unanimously rejected a motorist’s challenge to the way Aventura has handled potential red-light traffic violations.

The case centered on Aventura but involved questions that have popped up in other areas of the state where motorists can be nabbed on camera for running red lights. Motorist Luis Torres Jimenez, who was ticketed in Aventura, argued that the city had given too much authority to a red-light camera company in reviewing potential violations.

But justices, upholding a decision by the 3rd District Court of Appeal, said Aventura could use a private contractor to review images as long as a city officer makes the ultimate decision about whether motorists are ticketed.

“The Legislature has expressly authorized local governments to allow traffic enforcement officers to issue citations for traffic infractions captured by red light cameras,” said a main opinion,

week at the office, companies are looking to real estate strategies to improve their productivity and talent retention. Open spaces that invite collaboration and with many amenities have seen increased leasing activity.

“There is an extreme intentional movement in organizations to establish opportunities for purposeful collaborations in open space that will spark ideas,” said Alan Kleber, managing director of JLL and a panelist for the event. “The whole reason we have space is to drive productivity and drive revenue.”

That workplace strategy has also taken a key role in a shrinking footprint. An example given was that a company five years ago may have taken 10,000 square feet, but now because of strategies designed on utilizing space more wisely, and

Brian Gale

Barbara Pariente wrote opinion.

written by Justice Barbara Pariente and joined by Chief Justice Jorge Labarga and Justice Peggy Quince.

Aventura contracted with American Traffic Solutions Inc. – a major player in the industry – to help in operating its red-light camera system.

City of Miami commissioners voted in December to end the city’s red-light camera program, and Mayor Francis Suarez announced in March that it had ended.

Miami-Dade County approved its own red-light camera program in 2010 but never installed any cameras, though some municipalities did install red-light cameras on county roadways.

After Miami-Dade County’s Government Operations Committee deferred legislation that would have created an exemption to the county’s 4-day rule policy, commissioners at the committee meeting next month are to re-vote on the item after getting more information.

“My concern is that if we do exemptions or exceptions for 4-day rules, everything will become exempt at some point in time,” said Commissioner Joe Martinez at the Government Operations Committee meeting Tuesday.

The 4-day rule requires that a copy of each agenda item must be provided to each member of the county commission at least four working days before the start of the meeting if they are to vote on the item, Miami-Dade County’s Commission’s Legislative Glossary says.

The 4-day rule is always considered waived unless a commissioner chooses to invoke the 4-day rule prior to the motion.

The item was sponsored by Rebeca Sosa, and would amend the 4-day rule to not apply to items that “urge the codesigna-

tion of a road and approve a codesignation of the same or an adjacent segment of the road,” the legislation says.

Mr. Martinez was confused by the need for the legislation, asking committee members for background information.

“Did something happen where a commissioner presented a [road codesignation] that was 4-day ruled?” Mr. Martinez asked.

Ms. Sosa is not a member of the Government Operations Committee, and was not present to defend her item.

Dennis Moss said it was likely an issue of timing: “There may be a need to really get a codesignation done within a certain timeframe and if we go through a normal procedure, it may not wind up being heard by the county commission in a timely manner,” Mr. Moss said. “It’s so certain deadlines can be met.”

Mr. Martinez wasn’t satisfied with that explanation, saying he values the time that commissioners have to review items and doesn’t want to make exceptions to open the floodgates.

“If we make exceptions, the whole point of giving each of us enough time to go over the

items to be ready to vote and be knowledgeable on the items to represent our citizens will be lost,” Mr. Martinez said. “I don’t want to sneak something in that can expand later on.”

The county’s rules and procedures identifies that the 4-day rule already has a few exceptions: the rule doesn’t apply to special or emergency meetings, resolutions recommending an acceleration or deceleration of Building Better Communities General Obligation Bond Program funding, items approved at committee meetings recommending or rejecting award of contracts for public improvement, and others.

Though Mr. Martinez said he has a high respect for Ms. Sosa, he said he couldn’t support the item at the Government Operations Committee meeting.

When the vote was called, Jean Monestime also dissented, tallying two no-votes in a group of four.

Mr. Moss then moved to have the item deferred until the next Government Operations Committee, when Ms. Sosa could have the opportunity to attend and defend her item with ample notice.

The next meeting is to be June 12.

24

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