Past BHA News
BHA News, Vol. XIII, No. 3 Fall 2003
Comprehensive Traffic Study Urged
Officials Support BHA Drive for Comprehensive Study of Brickell Community
Few will deny that the Brickell artery is plagued with traffic clogs between Downtown and Rickenbacker Causeway. Everyone acknowledges there isn’t room for more streets, that there will only be more cars in the future and that we must find ways to better use the available avenues.
To really address traffic problems — in a comprehensive way that has not been undertaken even with all the new developments rising from the ground — the BHA recognized that it would be necessary to first define the problems and to have the data to back them up. Fueled by the work of Miles Moss & Associates, a traffic engineering firm that has outlined a potential study approach for the entire Brickell corridor, the BHA is seeking the support of city and county officials to undertake a comprehensive analysis.
The BHA sees such a study — and the understanding it is hoped to provide — as integral to ensuring quality of life for the residential and commercial Brickell community in the future.
Highway or Main Street?
Traffic has topped the list of BHA concerns since its inception 14 years ago. In that time BHA has been often reminded that Brickell traffic problems are exacerbated by the dichotomy created between the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) mandate by the Federal Highway Commission to operate Brickell (a.k.a. U.S. 1) as part of the nation’s highway system. This is, of course, in absolute conflict with Brickell’s service to its high density, high-rise office and residential neighborhood.
On top of Brickell’s schizophrenia of having to serve as a U.S. Highway and as our neighborhood Main Street, Brickell traffic woes are complicated by the involvement of three different political entities: the City, FDOT and the County. (Miami-Dade County is responsible for all traffic signage and signalization even on City streets.) Support is needed from all three entities to undertake, and be informed by, the proposed study.
Geographic Area & Perspective
The area of major focus for the study includes Brickell Avenue from the Rickenbacker Causeway to the Miami River along Brickell, Brickell Bay Drive and the side streets that lie between. It includes the major intersections to the west, up to I-95 including15th Road and South Miami Avenue and 15th Road and Coral Way. It includes critical points of access to I-95 as well as access to Brickell Key.
When it comes to the use of Brickell Avenue, the study would give priority to those who live, work, dine and, in time, shop in the neighborhood, over those just passing through.
Someone Needs a Plan
The idea for the study took root among people who live and work in the Brickell neighborhood when they realized no one was considering the neighborhood from a community perspective and planning for the future. No one has taken charge of creating the ambiance and quality of life promised in living on the residential waterfront of an exciting metropolis.
While developers conduct studies on the traffic impact of their proposed projects, these studies are based on historical data combined with formula projections and fail to take into account other concurrent developments in the area. And, although both the City of Miami and Miami-Dade County have transportation task forces and planning bodies, no entity is undertaking a comprehensive traffic study that considers the specific needs of Brickell.
The City of Miami’s new transportation chief, Mary Conway, has pledged to help move the study concept forward working with both the FDOT and Miami-Dade County.
Planning is Key; Timing is Everything
Ideally, the study’s findings would dovetail with the timetable FDOT has for repaving of Brickell Avenue so that the right solution is implemented for that and related roadway improvements. The FDOT has said that it has Brickell Avenue repaving in its 2006 plan, and is considering, at the strong urging of BHA, converting the roadway to the quieter, hugely more popular asphalt, rather than simply patching the noisy, mismatched concrete presently found on Brickell Avenue. (It’s one of the rare places you’ll see this old standard of a roadway, found in only three percent of Florida highways.)
 President’s Column By T. Sinclair (Tory) Jacobs
PASSION … where has it gone?
We’re not talking about the heavy breathing kind. Reflect on emotional commitment to a cause, anger, indignation, fervor, being strongly for or against, really caring and taking action. Recall actually getting out of your comfort zone, putting yourself at risk for something you truly believe in, perhaps an injustice, perhaps even an injustice that is not relevant to yourself, but to others less fortunate.
Miami Police officials have estimated that the FTAA meeting next month may attract 20,000 to 100,000 demonstrators from all over the world. Most of us may not sympathize with their cause and believe them to be misguided, but can we not help but admire their dedication? We may not admire them so much should their demonstrations get out of hand.
Are we too comfortable?
Let’s face it; it is easy to become complacent, or even phlegmatic. In an effort to “accept that which we cannot change” or perhaps to not beat our heads against a wall trying “to fight City Hall,” we learn to accept many rather petty annoyances. Conse-quently, our threshold of righteous anger may have risen too high.
To clarify, we can be passionate without being strident. We can be committed without becoming raucous. But we have to care.
Bottom line: BHA can exert far more impact on those who influence the quality of life in our neighborhood when we act with passion. Nothing happens unless one or more people have passion about any given issue … it’s the passion that makes things happen, or stops things from happening that we don’t want.
I , too, have a dream. It may be a nightmare to some. I dream of the day when we are able to have thousands, yea verily thousands, of our residents pour out onto Brickell Avenue during rush hour to invite attention to something that we collectively feel passionate about.
Then again, maybe we should be thankful to NOT have any condition so egregious in its effect on our quality of life that we are impelled on to the Avenue. But, just wait...
BHA Sidewalk Survey Spurs Action
 So what about those uneven, cracked and unsightly sidewalks that BHA was informed weren’t tagged for needing repair? To the surprise of walkers and joggers, Brickell’s sidewalks weren’t on the FDOT’s maintenance list.
 BHA conducted its own photographic survey of sidewalk conditions along Brickell Avenue recording cracks, misaligned and uneven slabs, standing water, spray paint markings and other hazards and defacements. After citing nearly 50 problem spots on just one side of Brickell alone, the FDOT sent their own crew and agreed that repair work is needed.
 FDOT District Maintenance Engineer Ronald Steiner informed BHA at the time of publication that he has scheduled repair work to begin at the end of October on the east side of Brickell.
 This is welcome news to the many neighbors who enjoy strolls, runs and rides along Brickell Avenue and Mr. Steiner’s responsiveness is appreciated. It is expected that attention to the sidewalks on the west side of Brickell will follow.
Beethoven, Not Greyhound, at Brickell Metrorail Station
 The skirmish over the destiny of the Brickell Metrorail Station turned out to be a shining example of civic activism at its most victorious. The triumph took the collaborative effort of BHA residents and several of their homeowner and business group allies with the representation of Miami-Dade Commissioner Jimmy Morales. Together, these forces were successful in thwarting the county transportation department’s surprise plan to lease space at the Brickell Station to Greyhound Bus Lines.
Area residents and city officials had learned of the proposal to relocate the Downtown bus terminal in March, only a week before the lease was to be signed. The matter was brought to light in time for the County Commission to reject the location proposal entirely, but only after three months of vigilance on the part of BHA and residents, and the continued efforts of Commissioner Morales.
What happened instead was remarkably glorious and timely, and serves as another shining, inspirational example. The outcome reminds us of how the passion of an individual with a vision can make something wonderful happen. (See the President’s Column for a fuller exploration of passion and Brickell.)
On September 16, 2003, less than two months after the bus terminal idea was mercifully killed, the Beethoven Promenade was dedicated at the station. What a response to commercial buses, diesel stench and noise pollution. An answer with all the resonance of a Beethoven symphony.
 It was the result of the passion of Gustavo Alfredo “Gus” Noguera, undoubtedly South Florida’s biggest Beethoven fan, often seen driving around in his custom Beethoven mini-van. A while back he was responsible for persuading the Miami-Dade Commission to name Ninth Street “Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony Street” just a couple of blocks to the north of the station. His mission clearly is anything and everything to recognize and celebrate Beethoven.
And again, Commissioner Morales was the catalyst that helped make this dream happen. The Commissioner praised Mr. Noguera’s perseverance in bringing “the universality and spirit of Beethoven to residents and visitors of South Florida,” an accomplishment he said was fueled by Mr. Noguera’s unmitigated passion.
What does it exactly mean to have the Beethoven Promenade at the Brickell Station? The announcement from the brand-new Beethoven Society of Miami explains that it will be developed with private, corporate and international cooperation. It will include “the Beethoven Odeum, a place for small concerts and poetry reading, and the Beethoven Memorial.” A music and art festival, monthly concerts and Sunday brunches are envisioned. Plans are in the works for the Beethoven Birthday Bash in December. 
Hopes are high for many wonderful activities at this neighborhood station. But even if the memorial stands quietly and simply educates about one of the greatest composers of all time, it serves to elevate the importance of culture to all of Miami. And residents will gladly pass by, glance at the bronze Beethoven and imagine their most favorite composition over actually hearing bus engines any day. BRAVO!
The mobilization of residents in the matter of the Greyhound bus terminal was such a great example that BHA’s actions garnered national attention in the magazine, Common Ground, which covered the issue. “…Brickell residents have quickly mobilized against the bus depot. They have waged letter-writing and email campaigns, generated media coverage, and enlisted the help of several prominent local government officials.”
Immanuel Lutheran Church Seeks Special Zoning for School
The Immanuel Lutheran Church is seeking a Special Zoning Exception from the City of Miami to open a school on its property that would serve about 60 elementary children.
Neighbors of the church at 1770 Brickell Avenue are concerned about added traffic congestion at drop-off and pick-up times. The church property stretches from Brickell Avenue to South Miami Avenue, which is where most of the cars would enter and exit the property for the school, BHA members were told.
But beyond the pragmatic concerns for safety for the children and cars, BHA members said they could not support the commercial use of the property, and passed a resolution to that effect at their October Board of Directors meeting. Protecting against the commercialization of residential Brickell has long been a major area of attention for BHA, which has opposed commercial encroachment of any kind along the residential corridor of Brickell Avenue.
The school proposed would be a Montessori School, a private, non-religious-affiliated school. In exchange for the space, the school proprietors would make a monthly donation to the Church. The matter is expected to come before the City’s Zoning Board in November, and then before the entire Commission.
Fighting commercial encroachment has required constant vigilance on the part of BHA members as new, would-be vendors are always popping up, eyeing the concentrated, upscale Brickell residential market as easy pickings, especially if they could just plop their storefronts right in residents’ front yards. BHA has fought against the introduction of a hotel, stores and, in the longest-running battle, against a plastic surgeon operating a spa in a converted single family home. The operation at 1900 Brickell Avenue was promised by the City to be a limited, sole-practitioner consulting office, and special covenants were enacted by the City of Miami Commission to ensure such limits. Compliance, and the City’s enforcement of compliance, has been another matter, however....
(For the complete history see News by Topic: Commercial Encroachment.)
Brickell Streetscape Plan Gets City Attention, Funding
 BHA’s concept to improve the pedestrian lighting, look and overall residential ambiance of the Brickell Avenue neighborhood has received funding from the City of Miami and plans have been designed by the architectural and landscape design firm Wallace Roberts & Todd. The plan calls for decorative lighting along the sidewalks, monuments that mark the Brickell neighborhood and pedestrian crosswalks marked with special pavers.
BHA originally formed its Streetscape Committee almost three years ago and in November 2001 approved design ideas and recommendations created by Wallace Roberts & Todd, the firm commissioned by BHA to formulate a potential plan for beautification of the area. The preliminary ideas were well received by neighbors and the City, and BHA has pursued making the vision a reality ever since.
Currently the Streetscape Committee, chaired by Paul Lewin, is reviewing the design plan and possible approaches for the monuments and decorative street lighting fixtures. The concept rendering here shows an entry monument that would be about four to five feet high and smaller markers for the medians at about three feet tall, most likely made of cast concrete. It is one of several possible designs proposed for the monument markers to grace residential Brickell Avenue’s entries and intersections. This particular design incorporates a fountain, which would not be included in the smaller median markers.
Installation of the pedestrian lighting and monuments should commence early next year. It is anticipated that the crosswalks will be constructed later to coincide with the FDOT’s planned repaving of Brickell in 2006.
City Coaxed, Developers Came
New Ordinance Would Reduce Bonuses for Saturated Brickell
With nearly every parcel developed or under construction along Brickell Avenue between Miami River and the Rickenbacker Causeway, it’s hard to fathom that developers need any encouragement or incentive to break ground in this prized area.
That’s what BHA has been telling the City of Miami for the past two years since it began advocating for the removal of the density bonuses provided in an ordinance enacted two decades ago. With growing concerns about traffic, infrastructure and services to support the thousands of new residential units coming online, it seems logical to limit the density of new projects and not risk the quality of life for all of residential and commercial Brickell. The current ordinance provides means for developers to increase the size of their projects rather than limit them.
Currently developers are allowed to make “a nonrefundable developer contribution of $6.67 to the Affordable Housing Trust Fund administered by the City of Miami” for an additional one square foot of allowable building space. Thus, bigger, more dense development.
The new ordinance raises the “contribution” to $12.40 per square foot and imposes minimum size restrictions on the sizes of units built: “…one bedroom units shall be a minimum of 900 square feet in size; two bedroom units shall be a minimum of 1200 square feet in size, and 3 bedroom units shall be a minimum of 1500 square feet in size.”
In qualify for additional square footage, the new ordinance requires “an enhanced level of public benefit and amenities…in the form of publicly accessible open space and/or an enhanced design that ensures all required parking is screened from street view....”
BHA had passed its resolution in November 2001 asking the City to examine the current practice, and to perhaps offer the bonuses in areas where they are looking to spur development, as was once, a long time ago, the case with Brickell Avenue. The ordinance is scheduled to come before the City’s Planning Advisory Board in November and then before the full City Commission on November 25. •
City and County Officials Prepare for FTAA Meetings
The Free Trade Area of the Americas (FTAA) meetings scheduled for Miami the week of November 17 to 22 are expected to draw thousands of demonstrators and tie up traffic in the Downtown Miami area. Preparation has been key to ensuring demonstrations don’t get out of control or violent, Homeland Security Director Joseph Piñon told BHA Directors.
“We are giving people a right to demonstrate, he said, “but we still have to maintain peace and do what we have to do to protect our community.”
“These things that have happened in the past have helped us prepare,” Mr. Piñon said, referring to World Trade Organization protests that turned violent in Seattle in 1999 and the recent meetings in Mexico that were heavily protested.
BHA representatives will keep apprised of developments and be in touch with City of Miami Police who are heading up security for the event. Miami Police will work closely with County Police as well as with the Florida Highway Patrol charged with policing and protecting the Brickell area from the Miami River south. Miami Police Commander Rudy Llanes said groups who have pulled permits say they represent about 10,000-20,000 protesters, but it’s hard to really know what to expect.
“The troublemakers usually don’t get their permits in order or play by the rules,” the Commander noted.
Most of the activity, road closures and traffic detours, will be around the Hyatt Regency and InterContinental Hotels in Downtown Miami. Miami-Dade Commissioner Jimmy Morales said the upcoming FTAA meetings, and the potential impact of having the FTAA headquartered in Miami, reflects the challenges facing Miami in becoming a metropolitan city that’s also a secure American city.
“Our future is linked to being that great international city of the world, but we must protect our citizens,” Commissioner Morales said.
The County will be staffing the Miami-Dade Answer Center at (305) 468-5900 from 8 a.m. to midnight during the events, and maintaining website information as well.
Driveway Signage for Safety Urged
 When you talk to regular walkers, joggers, skaters and cyclists who travel Brickell Avenue they all tell of near-misses with vehicles coming in and out of building driveways. It seems the drivers intently watch Brickell Avenue’s vehicular traffic, but are less likely to see the non-vehicular travelers.
Residents suggested BHA create a means to educate and remind drivers about this important safety precaution. BHA created prototypes of signs which could be positioned at driveway exits to remind drivers as they approach the sidewalk to look for pedestrians and cyclists in both directions. Robert Wyman, traffic engineer with Miles Moss & Associates, recommends incorporating all signage for information and safety purposes into a uniform program to address both safety effectiveness and community aesthetic considerations.
 Mr. Wyman makes a strong case for improvement and consistency in signage and pavement markings throughout the entire Brickell corridor. He cited numerous examples of where this is currently not the case.
“Motorist adherence to signs and markings is directly proportional to how good those roadway guides look,” he said.
 “Sign pollution…holes in crosswalks…obstructed traffic signals and signs…roots breaking up the roads…line markings faded…you don’t find this in Boca Raton,” he said. “Why should Brickell be any different?”
A comprehensive look at signage, it is envisioned, will be a significant component of the traffic study being proposed, as covered in this issue's lead story.
Coast Guard Considering Bridge Opening Limits
The Coast Guard has been soliciting feedback on a new plan to limit the opening of drawbridges, which cause major traffic congestion in the Downtown area. The new proposal would open the Brickell Avenue Bridge on the hour and half-hour and impose a one-hour lunch-time curfew on all bridge openings from 12:05 to 12:59 p.m. Monday through Friday for all vessels other than tugs and tugs with tows.
BHA endorsed this plan in an effort to find a compromise that will facilitate landside movement during a critical time of the business day, but not jeopardize Miami River commerce. Like the vehicular traffic above, river traffic is considerable with the Miami River ranked the fourth busiest port in Florida. BHA believes the timed openings should help alleviate gridlock as vehicular traffic can better anticipate bridge and time their travel accordingly.
BHA Acquires Radar Speed Reader
BHA President Tory Jacobs and Danny Ponce, representing the Brickell Key Master Association, pose beside the brand-new speed reader BHA purchased for deployment in the Brickell area. Over the past few years residents have responded favorably whenever the City of Miami’s speed reader was positioned on Brickell Avenue or Brickell Key Causeway as the “calming” effect on traffic is quite noticeable. However, with only one reader for the entire City of Miami, its tour of duty in any one neighborhood is limited. The BHA reader, endorsed by the City of Miami Police, will make the rounds in the Brickell corridor to remind all those passing through to adhere to neighborhood speed limits.
Thanks & Good-bye to Clark Turner
Brickell Homeowners bids Clark Turner, the City of Miami’s transportation chief, a fond farewell in his retirement from the City of Miami. He has given years of service to the City of Miami as well as his time and expertise to BHA in the never-ending effort to improve traffic and transportation systems.
“I applaud the BHA for taking the initiative to assess the Brickell traffic problems from the local users’ point of view,” Mr. Turner said. “I hope the City will support BHA in a way that will ultimately make Brickell the street it ought to be.”
Mr. Turner has been replaced by Mary Conway, welcomed by the BHA in October. Ms. Conway’s resume includes previous professional experience working at the FDOT. She has been receptive to BHA’s concerns and desire for a comprehensive traffic study for Brickell.
Your Government Needs You
The Brickell Homeowners Association is forming a new standing committee, the Government Advisory Committee, which will be comprised of BHA representatives as well as members at large from member associations. The committee will be charged with communication with elected officials, advocacy and resident mobilization. Residents interested in volunteering to serve on the committee are urged to contact their BHA representative, or write to BHA President Tory Jacobs at tsjacobs@bellsouth.net. •
Holiday Cheer for Southside Families
Brickell Homeowners Association will continue its annual tradition of supplying turkeys for Thanksgiving and toys for the winter holidays for Southside Elementary School children and their families. Miami Police Officer and BHA liaison Jeffrey Giordano coordinates these drives every year and is always looking for contributions from companies or individuals who can help families in need from our surrounding neighborhoods. Officer Giordano can be reached at (305) 579-6007 or via beeper: (305) 483-8873. •
On the Ballot Nov. 4th
Miami voters will be asked to decide Charter Amendment No. 2, which would raise the City of Miami Commissioners’ salaries from a token $5,000 annually to “60% of the Mayor’s salary,” or $58,200 annually. Commissioner Johnny Winton is advocating the measure, which has been on the ballot in the past, and failed.
His argument — which has also been the sentiment of the Brickell Neighborhood Political Action Committee which has endorsed similar ballot proposals in previous elections — is that a larger pool of qualified candidates could afford to hold elected office. Currently, the job of commissioner is nearly a full-time commitment, and discourages those who cannot afford to take time off from their jobs from seeking office.
Welcome to NET Administrator
 The Downtown NET office has a new head, Eddie Padilla. The BHA welcomes him to his new post and looks forward to successfully working together for neighborhood improvements.
Questions/comments for the Editor, email: nbrown@brickellhomeowners.com
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