Neighbors, BHA Cry Foul Over New Building Plan

Just days before the City of Miami Commission meeting at which the
developer's request for a Major Use Special Permit would be voted on, the developer withdrew his proposal for a 29-story rental apartment building with 421 units. Plans are going back to the architect for redesign.

Strong opposition from throughout the Brickell neighborhood had lined up. Both neighboring condominium associations hired legal representation to oppose the development which would replace the low-rise Brickell Bay Village. The chief concerns stem over the proposed density and design of the building.

Next-door neighbors to the south living in Bristol Tower with 147 units, and to the north in The Atlantis with 96 units, said the density was incompatible with the character of the neighborhood and would add more congestion and traffic to an already troubled area.

With the first six stories as a pedestal for a 632-car, above-ground parking garage, it would be the only building with a visible parking garage along Brickell Avenue.

"This project will definitely have an adverse effect on our beautiful neighborhood," concluded the petition that was circulated among residents.

Why So Big?
Many neighbors questioned how the proposed development with density far in excess of any building in the area could get so far along in the process without public disclosure or input. Adjacent property owners scrambled to get legal representation when they heard about the plans in April.

Many folks were dismayed to find out that the developer committed to make a contribution to the Low Income Housing Trust in exchange for an increase in allowable development for this property. The developer obtained as much as a 45% increase in size without the need to obtain a zoning variance.

While BHA officials acknowledge that affordable housing is a high priority for the Greater Miami community, they did not feel that need justified allowing a developer to "buy" density for a contribution that would benefit some other neighborhood.

BHA residents are awaiting the next round of plans from this developer, with the hope that the next design is more in keeping with the character of the luxury neighborhood.

Traffic Safety Update
With prosperity and growth, there is a price. For neighbors in the Brickell corridor, the combination of new residential buildings, downtown commuters and a bustling financial district has meant an increase in traffic congestion, safety concerns and accidents along Brickell. Even a fatality last New Year's.

Since the inception of the association nearly a decade ago, BHA directors regularly hear from residents on matters relating to traffic safety. Drivers coming north on Brickell from U.S. 1 seem to maintain that highway speed even though they're passing through a neighborhood...a residential zone complete with pedestrians, bicyclists, runners, skaters and residents pulling out of their front driveways.

At the urging of BHA, the Florida Department of Transportation added eight new speed signs on Brickell Avenue between S.E. 8th Street and 26th Road, Robert Register of FDOT reported to BHA directors. At the troublesome S.E. 15th Road and Brickell Avenue dog-leg intersection, pavement markings, reflectors and a fresh coat of paint to the curbing were recently added.

It came as no surprise to most to hear that Brickell Avenue ranks 125th on the list of 199 "high-crash rate sites" in Miami-Dade. Residents hear those crashes in the middle of the night on weekends.

BHA directors successfully solicited the deployment of the Miami Police Department speed trailer for Brickell Avenue two days in April. The trailer recorded data on the speed cars were traveling, but did not issue tickets. Of the some 12,000 cars passing through the 40 m.p.h. zone during a 30-hour period, only 64 were recorded as going 45 m.p.h. or faster, the "ticket-able" rate. BHA representatives believe the rate would be much higher if the trailer were deployed at a time when cars could speed, like on the weekends when the workweek traffic isn't slowing things down.

BHA directors will continue to work with City of Miami Police who are responsive to concerns raised by residents.

President's Column By T. Sinclair (Tory) Jacobs
PAC Time is Nigh

The Brickell Neighborhood Political Action Committee is about to come to bat. There appear to be a lot of "balls" in the offing. The City of Miami November elections include three out of the five commission seats including our home district, and possibly a major City Charter Amendment.

We're talking about the governance of our City.

Initially your PAC led the successful fight to reduce the Fire Rescue Fee and ensure equal treatment with single-family fees.

Last year, the PAC cut its candidate-endorsement eyeteeth in two races, primarily to gain experience and be ready for this year's critical balloting.

The PAC's Steering Committee is charged with the evaluation process. The Steering Committee is composed of volunteers from the Brickell Neighborhood PAC membership, which is open to all greater Brickell area contributors. It is not necessary to be a registered voter. In fact, the PAC affords a political voice to those ineligible to vote, but who still pay local real estate taxes.

Are you interested in better government for Miami?

You can play a significant part by joining the PAC and, if you wish, volunteering for one or more activities including the Steering Committee. The PAC needs support and resources ­ both financial and human ­ to carry out its mission. Opposite is the PAC Mission Statement and a Membership Information Form. Please return the form and $100...or any amount you decide to contribute up to our $1,000 per entity, per year cap.

Protect and enhance your neighborhood by empowering your PAC!

Simpson Park Undergoing Renovation and Renaissance

Lunch in the park. A simple idea. An open invitation. From Simpson Park Manager Patricia Quintana, that is.

"Midday is when people feel fatigued," she said. "To all those people who work on Brickell, live on Brickell, I say, 'bring your lunch and sit in the park and enjoy it here. Listen to the birds and the winds and look at the hammock.'"

Ms. Quintana guarantees you'll go back to work unstressed.

Capital Improvements
Even if you're not the type to escape to the park for a mid-afternoon break, you may nevertheless want to get over to Simpson Park to witness the renovations there since Ms. Quintana took over as manager nearly four years ago. During her tenure, she has garnered $468,000 for capital improvements from grants, corporate and private contributions.

The BHA has been a chief supporter of Simpson Park programs and improvements whenever endorsement from the neighborhood group was helpful for leveraging funds.

Two blocks west of Brickell off South Miami Avenue at 55 SW 17th Road, the current transformation underway at the eight-and-a-half-acre historic park includes creation of a covered screen enclosure that wraps around the building. Roofing, decking and screening are expected to be completed by the beginning of July, Ms. Quintana reports.

Other plans include restoration of the pond and creation of an ecosystem for it by the students of Southside Elementary School. The pond was originally built in 1920 and sprang a leak in the 1960s, which the City of Miami never repaired. The restored pond and ecosystem hold the promise of providing a field lab for the Southside students.

On the Wish List
Ms. Quintana also has a vision of visitors listening to the "trickling, soothing sounds" of a waterfall, thus far an unfunded item in the roster of improvements. The waterfall would extend from the banyans, coming down to a basin so it looks like it comes from under the building. Plans include three streams with islands of trees, native bromeliads and ferns.

In planning for the addition of a waterfall, Ms. Quintana must take into consideration the root systems of the existing vegetation and native plants. The heavy foliage and hammock of the park make bringing in heavy equipment to do the construction prohibitive, which would add to the labor costs of construction. Ms. Quintana is looking for a $20,000 donation to make the waterfall a reality.

The 1940s building at the park is also on Ms. Quintana's hit list of needed upgrades. She's had the windows replaced with sliding glass doors so that people can better see the hammock all around them. She wants to remove the acoustic ceiling and take the structure back to its original tongue and groove vaulted ceiling.

"It needs to be inviting and express the history of the building," she said. "People need to know it like it was, not like it is now."

Ms. Quintana can be reached at (305) 856-6801 and welcomes calls of suggestion or support.

Brickell Median Landscaping Problems Persist

The landscaping and appearance of the medians along Brickell Avenue have been an ongoing concern of residents and business owners in the area.

Ideally, the medians along Brickell should both announce and reflect the beauty of the subtropical, luxury area. Their canopy of shade should provoke a serene, elegant ambiance, providing a calm transition between the highway and the Brickell financial district. Their beauty should be so arresting that traffic can't help but slow down to prolong enjoyment of the grace and elegance in the center of the road.

These were the fond hopes back in 1995 after the medians were finally replanted post-Hurricane Andrew. The August 1992 category 4 hurricane gave the lush medians a beating, downing many of the older trees that formed the dense canopy.

Problems with maintenance and irrigation have persisted ever since the 1995 make-over. One Brickell resident summed it up writing in response to the Residents Speak-Out section in the last BHA News:

"The medians look horrible. Many of the plantings have died, the dirt has washed away, the underground watering is above ground...it's a disgrace. When will something be done about our embarrassing medians? Also, the median at 15th Road is dangerous. If you are going south on Brickell and making a left turn (east) onto 15th Road, you can't tell if there are oncoming cars because the plantings are so overgrown."

When the plantings grow so high that driver visibility is impeded, concerns shift beyond aesthetics to safety.

They Gotta Have Water
The landscaping looks patchy and dying because the irrigation system hasn't ever worked correctly. It's been the crux of the troubles, as reflected in a City of Miami June 9, 1999 interoffice memo.

"The Brickell medians have gone for a long time without proper maintenance; therefore, there are many areas without plants. We will identify the plants to place in these areas. However, it would not be prudent to plant them without the irrigation working properly," Assistant Director of Public Works John H. Jackson wrote.

The leaky pipe irrigation system activated by solar cells was to provide the correct level of water needed by the plants without the waste common in above-ground watering systems. The system never seemed to work quite right in many areas, leaving grass, shrubs and trees to die in times of dry weather.

The City's subcontractors in the past were supposed to maintain the irrigation and inspect it weekly to keep it functioning, as reported in the Summer 1996 BHA News. Whether the subcontractors did their part and the City was just negligent in making the repairs, or whether the system wasn't ever inspected properly and reported to the City, is unknown.

However, the latest news from the City of Miami Public Works Department is that the irrigation system is beyond repair and should be replaced in its entirety.

The Director of Public Works, Jim Kay, expressed concern over the lack of visible progress in the medians and pledged to BHA Directors that he would stay on top of monitoring the situation.

The latest contract for $71,395 annually to maintain the medians was awarded in February 1999 to Florida Lawn Service. They are supposed to replace dead plants and trees, trim and weed out the beds and add mulch.

Aircraft Noise Abatement Task Force Meetings Moved to County Commission Chambers

Thanks to Commissioner Barbara Carey's initiative, the monthly Aircraft Noise Abatement Task Force Meetings have been moved from MIA to County Commission Chambers in order to afford improved public access and participation as well as television coverage on Channel 34.
The first meeting at the County Commission Chambers took place on May 26th. Awareness of the impediments to noise abatement progress were heightened by the presence of Nancy B. Shelton, FAA Manager, Airspace Branch out of the Atlanta office that oversees MIA's operations.

Commissioners Jimmy Morales and JL Plummer, Jr. both were eloquent in their remarks on the critical need for immediate remedial action.

However, the exchanges between FAA representatives and Miami-Dade Aviation Department representatives at the meeting and in subsequent correspondence strongly suggest continuation of delays.

The failure to implement, even on a test basis, the Chief Pilot's subcommittee noise abatement procedures is a major disappointment. Many interested parties believe the recommended procedures can be activated without FAA approval, at least on an 180-day test basis. The validity of this position was recently confirmed by the noise abatement official at another Florida airport, a facility that put in place an aircraft noise abatement program over 10 years ago. Miami is reported to be the only major U.S. airport yet to have activated a noise abatement program.

The Aircraft Noise Abatement Task Force Meetings at County Commission Chambers are scheduled for 6:00 p.m., the last Wednesday of each month. Check with the Aviation Department at (305) 876-0569, for schedule changes.

Survey Results: Traffic, Aircraft Noise & Development Control Top Residents' Concerns List

Residents responding to an informal survey about quality of life issues in the Brickell neighborhood consistently cited traffic and aircraft noise as issues that need addressing, along with control of development. The general appearance of the area and landscaping of the Brickell medians followed close behind in concerns noted by residents responding to the poll published in the last BHA News.

In response to the question about how the quality of life overall has changed in the time they've been living in the Brickell neighborhood, 43% of respondents said it has "gotten worse" in the time they've lived here; 36% said it's "remained about the same" and 21% said it has "gotten better."

Those that said they've seen improvements were generally residents living here longer (15 years and more) and cited the increased services such as grocery stores, restaurants and dry cleaners within walking distance. A number said they'd like to see more amenities within walking or a short driving distance such as bookstores and movie theaters.

Speeding was a reoccurring concern with suggestions to lower the speed limit to 30 or 40 m.p.h. instead of the current 45 m.p.h., which many felt is not observed or adequately enforced.

The words "moratorium" and "development" came up a lot, with many residents saying the area is congested enough and that any new development should be carefully considered. As one respondent wrote:

"Developers are allowed to do what they want whether more construction is needed or not. How about a waterfront park instead of another condo?"

Other selected comments:
"Less new construction; no zoning variances whatsoever."

"Moratorium on further development without a plan for quality of life."

"Street is dirty, badly maintained and needs paving.... The landscaping is terrible and the commercial signs and bus stops with advertising is unsightly."

"More traffic lights, speed deterrents, police presence and action to control traffic."

Some common courtesy issues:
"Fewer bicyclists on the sidewalks."

"Dog owners need 'pooper scooper' laws."

"Residents exiting condos [in cars] should stop for pedestrian traffic, look to left and right before pulling out."

Questions & suggestions:
"Could we incorporate away from the City of Miami?"

"Employers should provide incentives for employees to use Metrorail and Metromover."

"Downtown development...boost cultural activities close to Brickell."

Our favorite comment:
"We appreciate the work of BHA!"

1900 Brickell Avenue: Maintaining Residential Ambiance?

Despite the protests of BHA neighbors, the buyer of this property at 1900

Brickell Ave., one of the few remaining single-family residences on Brickell Avenue, was granted zoning variances over two years ago to allow the retrofitting of the house for a plastic surgeon's office, which is ongoing. BHA officials are awaiting the replacement of a tree that was removed from the front of the property without proper permits.

BHA Supports Transportation Penny Sales Tax Plan

The Brickell Homeowners Association's Board of Directors endorsed the Penelas Penny Sales Tax Plan for Transportation at its June meeting after hearing details of the initiative from Miami-Dade Commissioner Jimmy Morales. (See Resolution.) With Miami now ranked the third most congested city in the nation, many feel this increase in sales tax is the only way to address Miami-Dade's transportation woes.

If passed, the tax would provide a local matching source of funds which needs to be identified before fall to receive some $7 to $8 billion in federal transportation funds. Without federal dollars, the plan of improvements would be virtually impossible to finance.

The plan will go before all Miami-Dade County registered voters on July 29, 1999. If passed, tolls on local highways would be eliminated.

BHA Resolution, Passed 6/16/99
"The Brickell Homeowners Association endorses and supports the Miami-Dade County Penelas Penny Sales Tax Plan for Transportation and Transit Improvements which provides for eliminating tolls on certain roads and generating new revenue for transportation from a one cent sales tax increase, and urges all voters to support the initiative."

No Shortage of Plans from Developer Harvey Taylor

The man who brought Brickell Avenue the popular Publix Village Market, has another Publix on the drawing board for the area, along with more mixed-use developments, retail space and even a baseball stadium on the Miami River for the Florida Marlins.
Harvey Taylor also has plans for improvement to the S.W. 13th Street Publix, which is usually packed with cars. The current parking lot is to go underground. In the area around the Publix, Mr. Taylor is planning retail and residential development with a village-like ambiance, complete with cobblestone streets.

Traffic Safety Note: The 14th Street rear Publix entrance converges at the intersection of 15th Road and 2nd Avenue with traffic going in five directions. Taylor Development picked up the tab for a traffic engineer to study the intersection; the engineer concluded that the current rear Publix entrance should be dead-ended. Instead, new access on the Metrorail right-of-way is planned that will bypass 14th Street and connect directly into 15th Road. Watch for improvement there.