Here is a list of 21 reasons why we should all support Miami21.
1. The current model in Miami for urban development has proven time and time again that it is not suitable for a walkable, pedestrian, and sustainable landscape. In plain English — the current code does not work!
2. At the request of the City Commission and in response to public input, staff was directed to hire 5 licensed architects to recreate a building that had already been approved under Ordinance 11000 Zoning Code (current code) and modify any necessary changes to make the building conform to Miami 21 zoning Code. The exercise was to show how buildings in various high density transect zones and low density single family and duplex transect zones would appear using the proposed code. Each firm was given a different zone under which to make this analysis. The results show that Miami21 does not limit creativity as uninformed detractors state.
3. DPZ, the firm in charge of the Miami21 is a proven and established community builder with hundreds of projects in hundreds of cities around the world. There are few firms in the world with such varied experience in this field.
4. Most of the great cities of the world did not happen by accident — they occurred through careful planning and corroboration of various entities.
5. The City of Miami and South Florida as a whole is unsustainable — Miami21 provides the first step to correct our urban framework.
6.Let Hialeah, Kendall, Fort Lauderdale, and Sunrise do what they want. Let Orlando, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville do as they will. Here in the City of Miami we have a chance to become leaders of the 21st century. Within tight boundaries, we can fit all the expected growth in Dade County for the next 30 years and truly transform our urban landscape. With Miami21, Miami can become a sustainable and model city in a very short time.
7. Would it not be nice to be ahead of the curve for once — to be a city that leads rather than follows?
8.Public transportation is dependent on walkable urban land form and vice versa– Miami21 with a needed sound transportation policy (anyone listening?) provides the basis in which public transportation will one day be able to operate. Neither can function well without the other.
9. The American Architectural Foundation (AAF) presented its 2009 Keystone Award to U.S. Conference of Mayors President Miami Mayor Manuel A. Diaz for Miami 21, a comprehensive master plan for Miami based on new-urbanism and smart growth principles, which includes economic development, park and public places, transportation, historic preservation, and arts and culture.
10. We have already seen what years of development using the current code have produced in Brickell Bay Drive. Only one block from the bay and already pretty much fully developed, this street offers very little in the sense of walkability, community, diversity, atmosphere, or anything pedestrian for that matter. Perhaps we should call it Parking Bay Drive instead?
11. We have already seen that even brand new development is unwalkable and insensitive. The “Biscayne Wall” highlights much of what is wrong with development and the current code.
12. Have you seen the type of Transit Oriented Development we are producing today? It’s just horrible and something that Miami21 aims to fix.
13. Have you seen a proposal designed under the new Miami21 code? Just take a look at the proposed Miami WorldCenter.
14. Whether you like the walkable streets of Philadelphia, Boston, New York or San Francisco — Miami21 will go a long way towards creating more walkable and pedestrian oriented streets.
15. The code is merely changing one set of rules for another — this is not a whole bunch of new rules that are going to inhibit creativity and business. That is just not true. The new code will change the rules — take some out and put some in. Will designs change? Yes, but for the better and only in terms of connectivity to the urban landscape. Buildings will have to be greater contributors to a walkable, transit oriented, and sustainable urban landscape. We are merely changing an antiquated code for a new 21st century code. This is not the first time this has happened — this is called progress.
16.Some of the changes? Prohibiting large and unsightly driveways and service entrances that overwhelm a street and make it unwalkable. We have plenty of block sized driveways in Downtown and Brickell that severely hamper pedestrian activity on the street. Another change, easing parking requirements on or near transit stations — something that should make buildings cheaper to build and more responsive to the pedestrian landscape. As the code stands today, developers must build large amounts of expensive and unsustainable parking even near transit stations. This just makes no sense!
17. Change can be good! Considering our urban landscape — any change is welcomed! There is no where to go but up.
18. Many of the best pedestrian environments in America were created prior to the advent of the automobile. With Miami being only a little over 100 years old, the city never had a chance to establish a strong and historic urban structure before the dominance of the automobile came into effect. Unlimited sprawling and cheap land closer to the everglades did not help either. In contrast, Miami Beach on the other side of the bay was able to densify because of tight limited boundaries, similar to Manhattan. Because of this, Miami needs a unique solution to a unique problem — Miami21 goes a long way in providing a local solution for a more walkable, pedestrian oriented, and sustainable urban landscape.
19. Petty political squabbling never helps much. I have yet to hear a valid reason against Miami21 that is not driven by political rivalries or special interests. This should not be about him, you, or I — this should be about community, about us coming together. That is how great cities are formed.
20.While we might have a great skyline, the urban environment of Miami is severely hampered by poor ground level autocentric design. Sadly for Miami (and developers who do not care about the city below), activities and cultural life do not happen at the 50th floor of a high end and exclusive residential building — they happen at street level where all types of people can come together in a collision of diversity and spontaneity.
21. The city has already spent millions ($$$) of dollars to create a new code. The code is ready and just waiting for commission approval.
Related posts:
- Uninformed Naysayers – Why We Need Miami 21
- Horrible Transit Oriented Development : Why We Need Miami 21
- Just Look at WorldCenter – Why We Need Miami21
- Email Your Commissioners in Support of Miami21
- Response to AIA Miami on Miami21
6 Responses
[...] Mizrahi of Urban City Architecture has outlined twenty one reasons to support Miami 21. The well-written post concisely elucidates almost all of the reasons our city leaders, and their [...]
Posted on July 15th, 2009 at 4:18 PM
To Adam Mizrahi re. his support for Miami21:
What is your opinion of the section in Miami21 that calls for the elimination of the Planning Advisory Board and Zoning Board, and their replacement with a reduced and castrated combination board called the PZAB?
How do you feel about the Plan’s reduction of the Residents’ ability to provide input, while increasing the Developers’ input?
Who has the greater right to determine how this City will grow in the future – the Residents, or the Developers who do not live here, but believe their will carries greater merit than the Majority of Residents?
Does this not strike you as an attempt to limit public input, making it easier for carpetbagger developers to ramrod their pet projects down the Residents throats?
Your unqualified support of MIami21 indicates a lack of understanding of the real purpose behind this Mayor-driven zoning scheme, which is to have Miami grow to be the New York of the South… a dream only his developer friends share.
The Plan’s current thrust is not to improve the Quality of Life of the majority of Residents in the City, but to make it easier for developers to cash in at the expense of the single-family home sector of the City, a sector which forms by far the majority of the City’s inhabitants.
The struggle for Miami21’s life is not about whether DPZ’s work has merit, it is about who’s rights are to dominate Miami’s growth philosophy – the Residents or the Developers.
You seem to be unaware of the fact that DPZ’s original vision was hijacked by the worst elements in the City.
Paul Mann
City of Miami Resident
Posted on July 16th, 2009 at 12:49 PM
[...] 21 Reasons to support Miami 21 [...]
Posted on July 16th, 2009 at 1:09 PM
Great points!
Posted on July 16th, 2009 at 8:30 PM
Paul,
I find it hard to believe that anyone who is a resident of the city of Miami can honestly say that the current code has a “growth philosophy that is dominated by residents”. The current code is manipulated by developers (and anyone else for that matter) all the time due to the current system. The current code is at the mercy of developers all the time — it has been for years! Developers have and continue to build structures that ignore the street and pedestrian — buildings that contribute little to the urban fabric — that is what this is about.
I guess I see it the other way, I believe the current code is manipulated easily and open to political meddling. The new code will provide a more rigid set of rules that are less easily changed by developers on a whim — as they often do with the current code. Nimby’s will also be required to respect the new code — developers will be protected from unnecessary protectionism. Both are hurtful to the city — and both are dealt with when you have a code that is not open to manipulation. The new code will set the rules, and developers and residents will have to abide by them. As it stands now, the current code is a circus. This is not about a resident or a developer, this is about making the city more walkable and sustianable — about creating real city streets people can inhabit.
Furthermore, I would be glad to see the City of Miami grow up to be a New York type environment — in the south. New York afer all is the most sustainable and green city in the United States. Because of good zoning and a tight urban framework, New Yorkers average 75% less emissions than the average american. (probably even less than someone from Miami)
I do not think throwing out the New York scare tactic is valid with the educated reader. While many people conjure images of giant skyscrapers when they think of New York, the truth is most of New York is an ocean of quaint, walkable, and properly scaled row houses (single family homes and rentals) and apartment builldings. Anyone who has lived in other New York type urban environments such as Philadelphia, Anappolis, Baltimore, Boston, Barcelona, London, or San Francisco can attest that urban planning and community is not an attack on the single family home way of life — this is just not true.
I for one am ready to see Miami mature and grow into a real city that can support transit. If you want this to be a city for residents, then lets give residents the freedom to inhabit the streets without a mandatory automoble. I am ready to see Miami institute rules that make sure developers and residents respect walkable streets and the pedestrian landscape — that is what this is about! I do not believe this to be an attack on the single home sector of the city — it is rather an atack on an unustainable urban landscape that is disconnected and truly apaling.
While you attack me for being unqualified, you have commited the same mistakes of detractors prior to you. You throw out accusations without any basis — many based on fear of the unkown. I find the statement “The Plan’s current thrust is not to improve the Quality of Life of the majority of Residents in the City, but to make it easier for developers to cash in at the expense of the single-family home sector of the City, a sector which forms by far the majority of the City’s inhabitants” truly ridiculous and fear based. The purpose of this code is to move the city away from a disastrous and unsustinable urban framework and into a connected, sustainable, walkable, urban landscape. To correct the obvious mistakes of the last century and move Miami into the future.
Posted on July 16th, 2009 at 8:42 PM
Miami is leading the way towards Smart Growth and has single handedly begun a LEED revolution in South Florida just from the discussion of Miami 21. There are a few things that can be strenghthened but the code is a solid step in the right direction.
Posted on July 28th, 2009 at 4:37 PM
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