It gives me great pleasure to pen this, my final column, as your Brickell Homeowners Association President. I am pleased because I am turning over my responsibilities, and the leadership of our important advocacy organization, to Claudia Bruce, who many of you know as one of our calm yet deliberate--and effective--warriors.
Claudia has led the charge on a number of neighborhood initiatives, working with our NET offices, our Miami Police, officials from Public Works, FDOT...you name it, she has reached out to all of them (whether or not they were readily receptive). Claudia has been a right hand to me for several years now, and knows what it takes to navigate the roadblocks that we so often encounter in our neighborhood efforts.
I will happily remain involved in a consultancy role whenever called upon, officially elected in February to the chairman of the board position. This undemanding office, as those of you familiar with BHA bylaws know, carries with it no official duties or authority beyond that of any board member. I vow of course, to answer any questions I can and be a resource as the new Executive Committee leads you forward.
Along with Claudia, our very capable Ernesto Cuesta, resident and president of The Metropolitan, continues as BHA Treasurer. Gloria Konsler, vice president of One Tequesta Point and a great Brickell resource as Brickell Area Association executive administrator, continues as BHA Secretary. We welcome Larry Imber, president of The Palace, as BHA's new Vice President. Larry has been dogging the issue of the landscaping shortcomings in the Brickell Streetscape project, reminding the City and its contractors that plants, especially newly planted ones, need watering.
BHA executive committee and members of the board will be assisted by Natalie Brown, who has expertly handled all our communications for years and assisted me and the board with whatever we have asked, and without whom BHA would not be what it is today.
It has been a gratifying experience to serve you for all these years, and to witness the transformation and growth of the Brickell residential area. We have watched as Brickell Key developed, welcoming new members from the new luxury condos on one of Miami's most desirable island locations. We saw the last few vacant and underused parcels along Brickell Avenue converted into striking high-rises of magnificent condos. Now, we welcome members from new skyscraping neighbors along Miami River and further north along Brickell, with folks living the urban experience in what was once considered strictly Brickell's "Financial District."
Underscoring the residential growth of our area, when BHA was formed in 1990, we had some 16 condo associations representing 3,000 residential units. Today, the number of residential units in our area, from Miami River to Rickenbacker Causeway, has surpassed 17,500 units. If you project 2.3 residents per unit, the Brickell residential corridor from just Brickell east to Biscayne Bay represents 10% of the official U.S. Census figure (2006) for the total population of the City of Miami. Our newest neighbor associations who want to be part of the collective effort take us from Brickell west to I-95, further increasing the impact of this residential enclave.
For the City of Miami, our area with its upscale and vertical density, should be the most cost effective to serve. The Brickell community, with its concentration and significant tax contributions, should be more than Miami's Golden Goose. Those of us who live here imagine more of a Golden Gate role--a grand thoroughfare in the heart of the City of Miami running along its sparkling, one-of-a-kind Biscayne Bay.
Many before me--and many more after me, I am certain--will envision Brickell as exemplifying the "magic" we so often hear about associated with our Miami. If BHA continues steadfast on the path we've set forth, marked with involvement and vigilance, it is very possible that we'll all see that destination vision realized.
Please note BHA's new mailing address:
P.O. Box 45-2403
Miami, FL 33245-2403
The City of Miami bestowed one of its highest honors on T. Sinclair (Tory) Jacobs with the renaming of SE 25th Road to "Tory Jacobs Boulevard." 
Jacobs formed the Brickell Homeowners Association in 1990 as an advocacy group to help residents shape, maintain and improve their neighborhood. During his 19-year tenure as president he has been successful in leading the charge on quality of life issues including beautification, noise abatement and traffic, as well as launching the Brickell Avenue Streetscape Plan and backing projects like Mary Brickell Village.
Tory was overwhelmed with the designation saying, "This was quite unexpected. I thought one had to be dead to receive this honor. I feel very much alive."
He said he began working with the City of Miami on the concerns and rights of neighbors who live vertically rather than horizontally, which City ordinances and policies weren't originally set up to address. The City has come a long way since then, he said, in working with high-rise neighborhoods.
On April 22, 2009, Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the City of Miami to Tory Jacobs for his leadership to Brickell and the Greater Miami community. The proclamation read:
It is, therefore, fitting and appropriate that we pause in our deliberations, on behalf o our citizens, to express our gratitude and to encourage your continued commitment to the greatness of our beloved City."