The fine art of restoration: Miami’s languishing landmarks

The fine art of restoration: Miami’s languishing landmarks

2023-02-22T10:08:21-05:00February 22nd, 2023|Economy, Entertainment, Arts & Media, Miami|

Writer: Jerrica DuBois

2 min read February 2023 — A thriving arts and culture scene has long been a staple of South Florida. From theaters and museums, the ballet to the opera, Miami is a hub for all things creative. However, some of the historic treasures are in need of a face lift, or project completion, and there is concern the ball may be dropped.

The latest example is Historic Virginia Key Beach Park, where efforts to build a civil rights museum have been lobbied for over 20 years. Once Miami’s only public beach for African Americans, the parks managing trust was disbanded in October 2022, with no plan on how to complete the project. Without the project being built, concerns arose that the park would be neglected and eventually shut down.

In January, the seven-person board that manages the park has now been overhauled and includes the appointment of two Black lawyers. However, the park may still be a target for real estate developers, leaving supporters of the museum in a ‘wait and see’ position. Christine King, commission chairwoman and the chair of the new board, is insistent that history will be preserved.

“I am not building a hotel out there, a Marriott, a Hilton,” King said in a statement, as cited by Miami Herald. “Whatever is done, will be historically and environmentally respectful, and I do not believe this is about me or this body. It is about the community, and it is about revitalizing that space. Period.”

There is also the challenge of keeping the buildings and landmarks already in existence in good condition. Few would argue that Coconut Grove Playhouse was protected and treasured as it should have been, even though it’s listed in the National Register of Historic Places. It opened as a silent movie theater in 1927, and now it is up for partial demolition. The proposal to save the playhouse calls for the restoration of all three floors of the original 1920s structure. The remaining parts of the building, including the auditorium, will be demolished.

Downtown Miami’s Olympia Theater also has a long road ahead in renovations. The nearly 100-year-old theater has already been saved once from demolition in 1976. Needed upgrades to the building include restoring at least 25 windows, interior finishes from floor to ceiling, repainting of common areas and the replacement of Carrera marble in the box office. There will also be improvements to marquees and signage, as well as electrical and lighting upgrades. Over half of the $25 million price tag for the renovations to Olympia Theater remains unfunded.

There is support for the arts from the public side, as voters have approved several funding measures to keep the cultural landmarks intact. In November 2022, Miami Beach voters approved $159 million in bonds to fund several local cultural institutions’ repairs, renovations and projects. The measure is slated to support entities including the Holocaust Memorial, Miami Beach Botanical Garden and The Fillmore. The bonds will also be allocated for the reconstruction of the Byron Carlyle Theater, which has an estimated project cost of $30,570,000.

“I’ve always felt like we sell ourselves short by just being a party destination. I don’t think that’s really who we need to be,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said in a statement. “We are always going to have beautiful beaches and great weather, but when we add to that these cultural amenities, we’re creating a special destination that can really choose who it wants to be.”

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