fall/winter 2017 801 arthur godfrey road suite 600 miami beach, fl 33140
By Andrea Speedy
“Nearly every major retail destination has had a diverse dining element as an anchor to the experience,” says Josh Gelfman, Director of Development for Terranova Corp. “The same is true worldwide – from one end of the globe to the other – and for decades running.” Gelfman’s insights help shed light on the real estate and management company’s recent addition to the South Beach market – The Lincoln Eatery. Inspired by such famous international food halls as Harrods in London, BoulangEpicer (BE) in Paris, and the Bouqeria in Barcelona, as well as more domestic hot spots like Seattle’s Pike Place Market or San Francisco’s Ferry Plaza Farmers Market – The Lincoln Eatery is an evolutionary leap forward for Miami. “South Florida is very familiar with the concept of a Food Court,” Gelfman continues, “but an eatery or food hall is a new idea.” As the region continues to move away from the traditional shopping mall concept with ever-expanding high-street retail locations and more connected, pedestrian-driven retail development, the humble food court has struggled to keep pace with current consumer behavior. This does not mean, however, that there has been a decline in consumer desire for casual, accessible dining options. On and around Lincoln Road the current culinary landscape is mostly made up of full-service restaurants, leaving an opportunity for fast-casual dining options and prices
that are affordable on a daily basis by the working, residential, and tourist populations of the area
first established Lincoln Road’s tremendous outdoor café seating atmosphere.
High Profile. High RENT. The Lincoln Road Business Equation.
Mindy McIlroy, Terranova’s Executive Vice President, going on her 20th year with the company, has personally seen the pedestrian traffic explode along Lincoln Road with competition (and lease rates) following suit close behind. “Many people simply don’t know or don’t remember when Lincoln Road was an afterthought on South Beach. It has reinvented itself dozens of times, piece by piece, to become what it is today.” Among the changes to which McIlroy refers is a shift from smaller, independent boutique retail and locally-owned,
Retail prices with Lincoln Road frontage average $305 per square foot, with locations on connecting or adjacent streets only slightly lower. When factored in to what the typical restaurant can afford on a monthly basis, plus the expense of a kitchen build out, food costs, and labor costs, high rental rates are driving restaurants to operate more efficiently and in smaller indoor footprints. This was the scenario that
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the lincoln eatery FEATURES Typical “exhibitor-style” tenant space – 130 to 374 square feet Cooked/Prepared-on-site spaces – 376 to 500 square feet Total eatery guest seating area – 94+ indoor and 122+ outdoor seats
Frontage along Meridian Avenue and Lincoln Lane
one-off café concepts to more flagship fashion and designer retail and proven restaurant operations with significant financial backing, often opening a new Miami extension of a successful New York, Los Angeles, or international restaurant. Vanessa Francis, a leasing agent with Terranova agrees. “Lower-ticket food and beverage options simply cannot generate enough sales to compete for space with national and international concepts,” she says. “That’s not a knock against their offering, but the absolute reality of what the market on Lincoln Road will bear. You have to sell hundreds of $5 smoothies every month to cover the same rent that a larger $70-a-seat upscale restaurant covers.” Francis’s point can also be broadly applied to all restaurant concepts in that most are designed to serve a niche market. Mexican, Asian, confections, delicatessen, Sushi, Italian – no single type of cuisine can realistically expect daily repeat customers indefinitely. In fact, most of Lincoln Road’s most popular and enduring restaurants are those that: • Offer either broad-based appeal such as burger joints and steakhouses • Boast diverse “regional” menus that cover a variety of cuisines such as Mediterranean • Specialize in an innovative “fusion” menu that may offer a mix between seafood and grilled items for example. Others hold their ground as “bars that also serve food,” counting on their liquor mark-up to compensate for limited food options. However, as space continues to be at a premium, and as redevelopment plans continue to accomodate flagship stores for national tenants, the Lincoln Road address is often out of reach for entrepreneurs and strong start-up concepts.
Enter “The LINCOLN Eatery”
In attracting big-name or high-end retail there needs to be great care taken against homogenizing the market. Too much of the same thing serves to pigeonhole a destination, both limiting its appeal and shrinking its audience over time. In many ways, this is the challenge that the suburban mega-mall and outlet malls now face – a glut of value-priced and/ or middle-market retail shops has ceased to deliver fresh, engaging experiences consumers are eager to repeat. “The health of the Lincoln Road market has always been strongly rooted in its diversity,” says Gelfman. “In developing The Lincoln Eatery, we wanted to present a food and beverage mosaic that answered the needs of local visitors, tourists, and everyday residents and workers in the area. Our goal from the start was always – and will continue to be – about choice.” The plan for The Lincoln Eatery was simple: Feature a variety of unique, on-trend dining at accessible price points, all in a single destination just steps from Lincoln Road. Making such a destination a reality, on the other hand, would prove to be a bit more involved. Starting from the ground up, Terranova had to make decisions about space and density early on. Market analysis, combined with an internal evaluation of property management thresholds yielded the 16-tenant design that now sits in the center of the NoLi district on 723 North Lincoln Lane (just off Lincoln Road and Meridian Avenue). Then came infrastructure planning – coordinating plumbing, electrical, delivery docks, grease traps, and sanitation that could equally serve all tenants while minimizing operational complexity or building maintenance issues. Similar thinking applied to interior build-outs as well – with efficient space usage an imperative. All of this combined to place more up-front cost on the
Shared amenities include: Delivery dock Custodial Women’s, Men’s, and Family Restrooms for patrons Single management point of contact
landlord side of the equation, but also gave Terranova more control over the environment, which Francis explains is vital to its success. “The Lincoln Eatery goes beyond ‘food court’ by being a carefully curated community of tenants. It’s our responsibility as landlords to not place three sandwich concepts all side by side, or force an emerging brand to compete head-to-head with a franchised global brand.” To date, Terranova does not allow franchises to occupy The Lincoln Eatery to maintain a balance. “Having a single anchor tenant defeats the Eatery’s primary purpose – to offer choices not available on Lincoln Road,” Francis adds. She then explains that this hands-on approach to tenant selection is part of “what works” for potential tenants. Those familiar with the Food Hall or Eatery dynamic are excited to see it come to fruition in South Florida. At the same time, those new to the idea are quick to see the lowered level of risk and increased economic value a destination like The Lincoln Eatery provides. Former barriers to entry such as long lease terms, varying seasonality, and expensive build out are largely eliminated for smaller operations, and larger operations are able to become profitable in a shorter period of time. The universal appeal can be seen in The Lincoln Eatery’s existing mix, which is about 50/50 between established or expansion concepts and newer start-up concepts.
Feeding the Future South Beach Market
The Lincoln Eatery is a format that is new to South Florida, but it is the latest in a growing line of flexible market solutions for food and beverage. Historically throughout Europe, the shared market space allowed multiple vendors to share the cost of operational space while also benefitting from constant foot traffic.
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This element has driven many of the world’s most popular food halls and eateries since the 1900s and continues today. Artisanal foods, seasonal produce, packaged jams and jellies, made-to-order dishes, and more coexist in an environment that supports healthy commerce. Food trucks marked one of the next proof-of-concept milestones – demonstrating that operators not only could work from smaller spaces, but would willingly do so in exchange for lower overhead costs and the ability to engage more customers. Permitting and vendor licensing for food trucks have hampered expansion in Miami, limiting food truck operators to ‘for-hire’ catering situations and organized community events. Without a reliable space or market base, the economic benefit of food trucks became difficult to sustain. In fact, Miami’s leading food truck concepts from just a few years ago are either gone or have since taken on a bricks-and-mortar location that uses the food truck only for special events of deliveries. On Miami Beach in particular food trucks were met with great enthusiasm by the public, but also substantial fines and licensing fees from the City of Miami Beach for those wishing to conduct business on public property. Once again, the gap between entrepreneurial spirit and a competitive retail market identified a missing component of the Miami retail scene. Bringing the benefit of Food Halls to Miami Beach was an idea whose time had come. “We’ve known for a long time that retail was going to have to start expanding past Lincoln Road,” says Gelfman. “It’s a finite area and it was only a matter of time before demand for diversity and space would exceed Lincoln Road’s capacity. Our decision to redefine NoLi is a direct response to
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where the market was already headed.” The Lincoln Eatery more than doubles the casual dining options available in a four-block area, with a focus on individualized experiences and greater consumer visibility. “We’ve quite literally removed the need for customers to open a door and make the decision to walk into an establishment,” he continues. “The interaction between vendor and customer happens instantaneously. The experience happens in the moment, where menu items can be smelled, seen, and tasted without customers being closed off to other opportunities. Instead, they flow from experience to experience – which builds a real sense of community and belonging.” Gelfman’s remarks underscore a secondary objective for The Lincoln Eatery – the desire to re-establish a neighborhood gathering place on Miami Beach. Tourism is certainly a lynchpin of the Miami Beach economy, but it is business provided by residents and other Miami locals that keeps it stable. As steadily increasing retail rents continue their upward trend throughout the area, simple, affordable, any-time, any-where destinations for lunch, a cup of coffee, or a quick dinner are moved further to the fringes of the neighborhood. NoLi’s central position on Miami Beach made it an ideal candidate for building such a destination, and the outlook is that The Lincoln Eatery will succeed on this level as well. “People in other markets all over the world have proven the concept,” McIlroy shares. “It isn’t just Europe either – South America, Asia, India, and beyond – they all have Food Hall concepts. We are simply following that trend and tailoring it to suit this location with the advantage of our own intel and experience in South Florida.”
looking ahead with
elizabeth higgins Elizabeth Higgins is taking one of Boca Raton’s most enduring centers and giving it a new face for a new audience.
Changing Demos
Long the domain of affluent retirees, the Military Trail corridor of Boca Raton is changing thanks to several new residential developments. The neighborhood is now welcoming the Lattes and Laptops set, younger, well-educated and affluent professionals with a lifestyle focused on physical fitness, healthy eating, dining out and self-care.
Retail Trends
The needs of this new target market syncs perfectly with South Florida retail trends in general. Over the past several years, we’ve seen more demand for fitness focused tenants, healthy dining options, organic foods and the full gamut of lifestyle services like blow dry bars, salons and spas. There’s also a strong appreciation for locally grown businesses, especially those with environmental or socially conscious brands.
Making Changes
We’re excited to be introducing a new array of businesses that meet the changing needs for products and services in the area. At the same time, we’re working closely with our valued longterm tenants to insure their brands remain current and relevant.
Recent Additions
Polo Club Shoppes has welcomed Bolay, a buildyour-own healthy bowl restaurant featuring nutrient dense super foods; Tipsy SalonBar offering facials, manicures/pedicures, hair and other spa services; Freshii, a Canadian fast casual with healthy, convenient, and affordable food options; and Duck Donuts serving made-to-order donuts along with premium roasted coffee. — Higgins commences her 5th year at Terranova bringing her fresh energy, insight, and skills as a commercial associate to search for unique tenants to Terranova’s South Florida retail projects.
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Seeing Beyond the Boundaries the Rise of NoLi By Andrea Speedy
When Miami Beach was first envisioned as a relatively simple beach escape in the 1920s, no one expected its meteoric rise to become one of the world’s most sought-after destinations for entertainment, travel, retail, restaurants and more. However, after bouncing back from hurricanes in the 1930s, to serving as military barracks during World War II, to the glamourous hotel era on Collins Avenue in the 1950s, Miami Beach developers have continuously succeeded in reinventing Miami Beach to garner a larger and larger share of the spotlight.
The revitalization of Lincoln Road along with the preservation effort of Deco-style hotels in South Beach started in the mid-1990s, which in turn brought a new wave of residential development to South Beach. And for the past two decades, development has been principally residential in nature. However, almost six years ago Terranova Corporation began investing in Miami Beach real estate, recognizing the need for strategic commercial development in Miami Beach.
Breaking New Ground In the Same Space
Because of the great building stock in Miami Beach, most property development is adaptive re-use, interspersed with occasional contemporary developments. On Lincoln Road, for example, there has been a robust mix of newly designed buildings going up right alongside historic landmarks. The Lincoln Theatre is among the most noteworthy of these, with its legendary marquee timelessly preserved in its original 1930s glory, with restoration done to its exterior frieze work and period-correct lighting and signage. Inside, however, is a large, multi-level flagship store for European fashion retailer, H&M. A bit further west along Lincoln Road, The Gap, which once was two distinctly separate retail spaces with an opening between them, now stretches two stories with sleek, stone-clad exterior walls and new, expansive, flowing interiors. Even the Apple Store near Lenox Avenue acquired two smaller spaces and converted them to their signature large open footprint. “Because of Lincoln Road’s high-profile visibility, we’re finding a great demand for larger, more technologically advanced, more contemporary space,” says Josh Gelfman, Director of Development for Terranova. “There’s only so much you can do with an older building that was designed for different purposes, before the days of interactive dressing rooms, large video displays, digital payment processing, and more. At the same time, Lincoln Road only has a limited number of buildings that can side-step preservation efforts. More often, it has to be a clever compromise.”
Coloring Outside the Lines
When Terranova began examining their Lincoln Road portfolio with an eye towards expansion and attracting higher-caliber clients, they looked beyond Lincoln Road and took a broader look at what was available nearby. “The prime streets north of Lincoln were an obvious choice,” explains Stephen Bittel, Chairman at Terranova. “This was an area ripe for redevelopment, especially with a clear vision of what kind of retail would be ideal for newly constructed buildings.” Six properties were acquired by Morgan Stanley Real Estate Investing along with affiliates of Terranova in mid-2014 in one of the largest deals in South Florida history at the time. Development plans for two properties – 801 Lincoln Road and 723 N. Lincoln Lane proceeded almost immediately. The vision: bring the Lincoln Road experience outward along cross streets while at the same time adding more diversity to the retail offering. “While we love the classic idea of Lincoln Road, it’s short sighted to believe it will remain a single pedestrian thoroughfare forever,” adds Bittel. “We’ve been looking ahead to what the area will need for
some time now, and the North Lincoln – NoLi – expansion is what makes the most sense for the market.” Considering that rents along Lincoln Road are among the highest in the Miami Metro area (around $305 per square foot on average), the popular high street has become an “it” destination for flagship stores and high-volume and high-end restaurants. This has led to a somewhat one-dimensional aspect for Lincoln Road, which used to be treasured for its eclectic and offbeat mix of local shops, boutique retail, and a few national or international brand. Allowing the area to grow northward towards 17th street allows for new retailers and dining concepts to move into the district and bring back casual dining, value-based retail, specialty retailers, and independent storefronts.
“An essential component of successful retail is balance,” Bittel says. “An all-luxury, all-the-time atmosphere is difficult to sustain long-term. When you look around at the neighborhoods immediately near Lincoln Road, this is largely a community of one- and two-bedroom condos, small- to medium-sized apartments, small- to medium-sized businesses and offices. It’s not all five star beachfront hotels and multi-million-dollar penthouses. People need places to grab a quick bite to eat, pick up a fashionable outfit for work or social affairs, get home goods, find gifts. That’s what keeps a retail market alive.” The Lincoln Road Business Improvement District agrees that expansion is good for the strength and vitality of the entire commercial community – retail and professional alike.
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the building using a variety of cladding systems, including fritted glass, vertical louvers and colorful aluminum tubes, in order to balance high visibility with protection from the sun.
“The world is attracted to Miami Beach for its rich history and iconic architecture,” shares Ozzie Dominguez, Treasurer for the Lincoln Road BID and General Manager with Terranova Corporation. “As Lincoln Road is truly the social and civic spine of the destination itself, we embrace those attributes drawing visitors and locals alike. At the same time, we continue to offer larger, high-quality spaces with modern enhancements attracting worldclass tenants. The NoLi project is delivering new construction tastefully blended into the iconic Lincoln Road landscape in a way that will be attractive for generations to come.”
723 N. Lincoln Lane & 801 Lincoln Road
Terranova’s position regarding sustainable retail expansion makes even more sense now that Marshall’s and The Lincoln Eatery have taken up residence at 723 N. Lincoln Lane. The 44,700 square foot, three-story property offers frontage on Meridian Avenue – one of South Beach’s vital North-South lines, as well as on North Lincoln Lane, just one block off Lincoln Road. While the Meridian frontage is definitely a win, it’s the activation of North Lincoln Lane that holds the most promise. Once a forgotten alleyway that previously was used solely for deliveries and a shortcut to parking garages, the new development invites pedestrian interest and creates a natural and logical flow of Lincoln Road foot traffic as people walk towards the New World Symphony Soundscape Park or towards 17th Street. The new building, designed by long-time Miami Beach experts, Shulman + Associates, offers stateof-the-art communications capabilities, a hurricanerated glass exterior façade, custom build-out opportunities, flexible space planning, and shaded sidewalk and storefront space at street level. S+A Principal Allan Shulman explains that he designed
On the other side of Meridian Avenue, wrapping the corner with Lincoln Road is the property located at 801 Lincoln Road. Also designed by Shulman + Associates, the historic art-deco style building was renovated and now connects to a three-story brand new building that engages more of Meridian Avenue and makes better use of the overall space. Fashion retailer Anthropologie has opened 2,000 square feet on the ground floor, as well as an additional 10,000 square feet on the property’s second floor. The third floor of 801 Lincoln Road will include 8,767 square feet with an outdoor seating option – a one-of-akind opportunity for a restaurant group looking to capitalize on the outdoor bistro spirit of Lincoln Road. 801 Lincoln Road will also have frontage along North Lincoln Lane with unique micro suites ranging from 274 to 400 square feet with nano wall systems, which will be available for savvy retailers wishing to take advantage of this emerging corridor. Both of these new projects demonstrate an evolution of local building culture by creating increasingly transparent, mixed-use buildings. The scale negotiates between the lower and higher-scale buildings found in the immediate context. “We were excited to explore the architecture that will define this new district,” says Shulman. Over the past 20 years, his firm has been behind many of Miami’s most prominent redevelopments and new designs – including the Betsy-Carlton Hotel and Lincoln Theatre/H&M flagship mentioned earlier in this article and numerous other Lincoln Road storefronts, South Beach hotels, and retail concepts in the Design District and Wynwood. “Anticipating the very public character of a redeveloped North Lincoln Lane, we decided to make a powerful visual statement with the building frontage” Shulman elaborates. “Sheathed in three dimensional glass curtain wall and perforated aluminum panels, the building turns the corner from Meridian Avenue to Lincoln Lane North, opening the possible redevelopment of that alley as a retail ‘mews’.” The broader appeal is something Terranova agreed was important in bringing the NoLi concept forward, too. “Lincoln Road is, and always will be,
an incredible destination,” says McIlroy. As property owners and managers, we cannot afford to turn a blind eye to that. NoLi has been developed with the idea that Miami Beach still has much to offer, that this community is not as set in stone as some might have previously thought. Already on the same block, home furnishings brand CB2 occupies North Lincoln Lane frontage – and is reflective of the chic-value character that is rapidly defining NoLi as a destination. Long-time NoLi resident, Macy’s, dovetails nicely into the equation as well thanks to a product mix that has been specifically tailored to the behaviors and attitudes of the Miami Beach consumer. Together, these existing and upcoming developments create a rising tide that lifts all boats. What used to be Macy’s biggest challenge – the fact that there wasn’t anything else similar to it nearby – has now become an asset to all of NoLi. It’s a distinctive retail and entertainment district that draws inspiration from Lincoln Road without having to be in direct competition. “There has been a lot happening around Lincoln Road lately,” McIlroy finishes. “But NoLi is just getting started. I think you’ll see our properties along Meridian Avenue as the pioneers to what very well may become Miami Beach’s next big development cycle.
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Spotlight
A Lincoln Legend
10 Years of Maya Tapas & Grill
By Andrea Speedy
In Miami’s ever-changing restaurant scene, the competition is fierce for the hottest locations in town. Even spots that open to huge crowds and critical acclaim are often gone not long after the spotlight moves on to the “next new thing.” That makes it all the more impressive that locally owned, familyoperated Maya Tapas & Grill has continued to succeed year after year on Lincoln Road, one of the city’s most sought-after real estate destinations. Their owners, Rolando and Marsha of the Maya family, explain their secret. Q. What does it take to draw a steady flow of guests year after year on Lincoln Road? A. In many ways, Lincoln Road is an “experience.” You don’t just come to shop, or for the food. You come to be part of the scene, which is always changing. So you have to be willing to adapt and evolve within your own restaurant framework so that you’re true to your concept, but also responding to what guests want. You also cannot compromise on quality or service. There are simply too many other restaurants in the same area that will snatch those customers up if you can’t or won’t give them your absolute best each and every time. Our philosophy is to only serve food we can truly be proud of with hospitality that is nothing less than completely warm and welcoming.
Q. What are some of the challenges you think other restaurants have faced that you’ve been able to overcome at Maya? A. Because Miami Beach and Lincoln Road are such tourist meccas, it can be tempting to think that out-of-towners are your core market. In fact, you must have a strong, loyal following among locals if you want to stay on Lincoln Road long term. We’re very happy to have regulars that have been with us from a start and vacationers that come back to us every time they come to Miami. It means we’re giving them quality and taste they’re eager to return to.
Q. You’ve been on Lincoln Road since 2007 – That’s a lot longer than many concepts last. What do you do differently? A. From day one we have always been a family business. We work right here in the restaurant alongside our chef daily. Our sons and daughter have worked here. We eat together here as a family. This is our life. That authenticity shows in what we serve – exceptional continental Argentinian cuisine with a focus on real Argentinian meats and other dishes with broad appeal. Chain restaurants really can’t deliver that personal touch like we can… neither can restaurant investors that are hands-
off when it comes to the kitchen and day-to-day operation. Some see that as the major ‘hurdle’ to being on Lincoln Road – but we prefer to think of it as you need to live up to the Lincoln Road reputation. You’ve got to bring your A-Game each and every day.
Q. As a local favorite, how do you feel about the addition of the Lincoln Eatery around the corner from Maya? A. It’s an exciting addition based on a concept proven to work in other places. It is also undoubtedly going to be a new attraction for the area and aligns well with the kind of audience we typically serve. Maya has long been one of the few places to offer breakfast daily on Lincoln Road, and our casual lunch options have been a big plus for professionals who work around here. The Eatery is going to bring a lot more variety and value – so people will have more reasons to come to Lincoln Road more often. More foot traffic is good for everyone, especially when you’re a sidewalk bistro like Maya. We’ve been working recently with Amazon Prime Restaurants and other reliable delivery options to expand our customer base even further – and many other establishments are doing the same. Off-premise sales are an excellent opportunity to expand revenue without committing to a larger restaurant and more operational expense. All it takes is a well-disciplined kitchen staff and a delivery partner committed to quick, reliable service.
Q. Any big plans for Maya’s next 10 years? A. We know our formula works, so we just have to keep executing it at the same consistently high level. Superior quality food. Excellent drinks. Friendly service. Attention to detail. And paying attention to trends in the area, and in the dining industry as a whole. We have an amazing team here, led by an incredibly talented chef. So, we’re very well prepared to keep making our mark on Lincoln Road for years to come.
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Inside Out
Terranova Proves Building Communities Truly Begins at Home By Andrea Speedy
As the South Florida real estate landscape continues to grow and change at a breakneck pace, Terranova has remained committed to their roots. During this current development cycle, and all others before it, Terranova has stayed connected to South Florida neighborhoods and beyond by remembering it is those who actually live and work here that make up any community. “At Terranova, we’re driven by what our communities really need and how we can make a positive impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. Whenever we can, we work that into our leasing efforts and development projects, but more importantly, we encourage every member of our team to be active and involved in their communities,” says Terranova Chairman, Stephen Bittel. With so many out-of-state
and foreign teams competing for their places on the skyline, the South-Florida-based company’s mindset is unique. It also explains how the now 35-year-old firm has maintained a solid presence throughout the area’s numerous market transitions. “We’re a part of the fabric of this community,” says Bittel. “We’re in it for the long haul. Quite simply, this place means something to all of us on a personal level, which means we’re in this business to see things through.”
Serving the Community Begins with its People… The energetic chairman and University of Miami graduate is a native local who has been serving his community for years. He has held Director of the Board positions for the Community Partnership for the Homeless, the Miami-Dade Expressway Authority, and the
Jackson Memorial Hospital Foundation, just to name a few. However, it is his most recent way to give back to the community that may prove to have the most profound effect. Bittel is an active supporter of the Teach for America movement – which trains new teachers with the skills and strategies necessary to succeed in inner-city and urban environments, and to inspire change in the students they encounter. School systems receive highly-qualified teachers (who must each commit to at least two years within their assigned school system), and the teachers in return are guaranteed higher starting salaries than those without the specialized training that Teach for America provides. “Education is one of our most powerful tools for a better future – for all of us,” Bittel explains about his decision to get involved with Teach for America. “Today’s students are tomorrow’s parents, business leaders, elected officials… the more we can do to strengthen our youth’s chances of success right here in South Florida, the more we’ll see them
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taking a personal stake in their cities as they become adults.” Though Teach for America has provided a much-needed lift directly to classrooms – the organization’s impact is much more far reaching. A project at the Jose de Diego Middle School is proof. Without funding or an already-established plan, Teach for America alumna, Catalina Hidalgo spearheaded a grass-roots effort to bring a worldclass public art project to the school’s walls. Now considered a model for future collaboration between the arts and Miami-Dade County Public Schools, the drive to make a difference is a cornerstone of the Teach for America program. And yet, Bittel’s efforts are only one facet of Terranova’s tremendous community engagement. Mindy McIlroy, the company’s Executive Vice President also enthusiastically serves both the greater Miami area as well as causes near and dear to her heart. Most recently, Mindy led the campaign for Moving Day Miami – the annual fundraising walk for the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF). Besides serving on the Board of Directors for the organization, Mindy is also one of its constituents – having been diagnosed with the disease in early 2014. Her determination to battle the condition head on and actively pursue a cure helped inspire the Miami Chapter of NPF to raise a record-setting $400,000 for the annual walk. This achievement was not only significant for being the first single team to raise over $100,000 for the event, but also because it earned Mindy the Rookie of the Year Award in 2014 and Top Corporate Team Award in 2014, 2015, 2016, and 2017 achievements she intends to build upon in the future. Mindy was also the president of the Board of Directors of the Business Improvement District
of Coral Gables (BID) from 2014 to 2016 and continues to serve on the board today. The mission of the BID is to promote commercial vitality to Miracle Mile and Downtown Coral Gables and to act as a strategic catalyst for the overall improvement of
the area. Through the implementation of marketing and advertising programs and engagement in the form of advocacy, this collective organization of property owners and merchants is giving shape to the community as a desirable place to shop, dine, play, live and do business. Karen Maerovitz, a Commercial Associate with Terranova, has joined Mindy in her mission to improve life for those living with Parkinson’s Disease, and also makes time to pursue her own efforts to enhance the city of Miami. With the National Parkinson Foundation, Karen serves as the Moving Day South Florida Chair for the third consecutive year and has taken up the reins for fundraising efforts on behalf of Terranova Corporation to raise money for NPF’s ongoing services for patients and families, including her own with her grandmother being diagnosed with the disease. Karen is also a University of Miami mentor and founding member of the Miami-Dade chapter of 100+ Women Who Care whose mission is to have a significant impact on the local community by raising funds in an easy, efficient manner with no overhead or administrative costs. Karen has spearheaded over $65,000 in donations for local charities in the short time of two years since the Miami-Dade chapters’ establishment in January 2015.
... But True Philanthropy Has No Borders Often times, those without voices in our community are those who most need our help. Such is the thinking behind the efforts of Caitlin Pomerance, the co-founder of Debris Free Oceans and former Terranova In-house Counsel, and Bonnie Lopata, Terranova HR manager, who works with Abandoned
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Pet Rescue and Cat Network. When faced with “somebody should do something” situations, both of these tremendous former and current Terranova team members took it upon themselves to be that somebody and lead others to do the same. An avid surfer and free diver, Caitlin Pomerance has always been concerned with the South Florida marine ecosystem. Growing up in Miami, Caiti started her high school’s first environmental club at the Palmer Trinity School. She remained devoted to environmental causes and graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Ecosystem Science and Policy from the University of Miami before also studying Environmental Law at the University of Florida. But it was a trip to the Bahamas that spurred Caiti into action to do more. “During a visit to Long Island in the Bahamas, I was assisting local islanders and government officials in setting up a marine protected area. And as we
were doing this, I’m looking around and seeing discarded wrappers, bottles, cans, and microplastics all over the beaches… the vast majority of which washed ashore there and wasn’t from the island’s population,” Caitlin recalls. “If this island of only 4,000 inhabitants who were deeply invested in a clean marine ecosystem were facing this kind of waste, then we’re all in serious trouble.” Even though she had been part of many environmental organizations in the past, Caiti felt no group was bringing the issue of marine debris to the forefront of the discussion. “It had to become mainstream if solutions were ever going to be found,” she says. So, together with two partners, Caiti founded Debris Free Oceans in 2014. In a few year’s time, the organization has educated nearly 1800 students about marine debris and removed over 11,500 pounds of marine debris from Miami’s beaches and reefs.
Debris Free Oceans, in partnership with CARTHE (Consortium for Advanced Research on Transport of Hydrocarbon in the Environment) and RSMAS (University of Miami’s Rosentiel School of Marine and Atmospheric Science), commenced a study on marine debris dispersal rates in Biscayne Bay. Debris Free Oceans is also seeking funding to expand its legal and policy programs, including the establishment of a Total Maximum Daily Load for trash into Biscayne Bay pursuant to the Clean Water Act. “The hope here is that we increase awareness of the vital role our oceans play in our world,” Caitlin explains. “It’s not just about saving wildlife – though that is a key sign of a healthy ocean – it’s about preserving one of our planet’s most important elements of life.” Fueled by a similar recognition that human involvement was needed in order to change a
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situation, Bonnie Lopata has spent more than a decade working to reduce South Florida’s feral cat population. “Cats are wonderful animals who serve a valuable purpose in controlling rodents and other pests,” Bonnie says. “But that quickly gets out of hand and actually causes a new set of problems.” The many colonies of stray cats that dot Miami and Fort Lauderdale neighborhoods often start out as just a few abandoned pets or as house cats that were never spayed or neutered. When left to breed out of control, the cats can become aggressive, spread disease, and become a nuisance to home owners and residents. “I worked at Port Everglades for nearly 18 years before I came to Terranova,” Bonnie continues. “There were cats everywhere. I just couldn’t stand seeing them dead in the streets, injured in fights, and run over by cars… and the situation was just going to get worse if they weren’t spayed and neutered. So I started trapping them and getting them ‘fixed’ myself, but I simply didn’t have the resources to take on the whole Port population of cats. Thankfully, I found Abandoned Pet Rescue (APR), a great no-kill shelter that had a spay/neuter program that was free. I got busy quick.” Bonnie
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soon found she wasn’t the only trapper/populationcontrol specialist at the Port and a small network was formed. Over time, she and her fellow trappers successfully spayed/neutered all the Port colonies and moved on to other population control efforts. For Bonnie, that meant working to re-home cats with responsible owners through Adoption Fairs. Through Abandoned Pet Rescue, Bonnie would bring 9-20 cats to a Pet Supermarket location on a designated adoption day and help raise money for shelters throughout the Broward County area. When she came to Terranova, however, Bonnie saw a need to return to her skills as a trapper. “I began noticing feral cats in the parking lot and did not see the tell-tale ‘ear notch’ that they had been fixed, but decided I would not get involved unless I saw a pregnant cat or kittens, because I knew APR does not have funds for this anymore and I would have to pay for it myself. Plus, because I live in Broward County it seemed too far to take the cats for spay/neuter. But, last March I saw kittens, so that was that. I started my new trapping adventure.” Fortunately, a few neighbors saw Bonnie’s efforts and she collected $300 in donations to help with spay/neuter expenses. And just as those donations ran out, Broward County received a grant that allowed people in certain zip codes to get feral cats fixed for free, and one of those zip codes was Bonnie’s. She has also gotten involved with the Miami Beach Cat Network and now currently traps with both Cat Network and APR. Since March of this year, 60 cats have been spayed/ neutered in Terranova’s neighborhood with many more to go. “The big thing to understand is that pet overpopulation is everyone’s responsibility. Simply not feeding animals isn’t the solution – spaying and neutering is. More importantly you don’t have to wait for someone else to take care of the problem, you can make a difference all on your own.” Bonnie’s message is a poignant one… it only takes one person to start making a difference. And as Terranova is demonstrating through its culture of community involvement the efforts of the few can do a great deal to shape entire cities for generations to come.
DAVID ROHR 305.779.8922 drohr@terranovacorp.com
to get involved with the organizations featured in this article, Please Visit: www.TeachForAmerica.org www.Parkinson.org www.100WomenWhoCareSouthFlorida.org www.DebrisFreeOceans.org www.apr.rescuegroups.org www.TheCatNetwork.org
801 arthur godfrey road suite 600 miami beach, fl 33140 www.terranovacorp.com