Comments on: Vintage Urbanism in the CBD

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 14:27:27 +0000

You have to walk the entire building with your GC and your MEP consultants before you put your “hard money” deposits in place. Then you have to decide on a full scope of the work so that the GC can be involved early and start getting you some realistic construction budgets.

If you get into the project before having your GC and engineers work with you on the scope, you’re screwed.

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Tue, 19 Jun 2007 01:35:11 +0000

It could be more expensive in that one really doesn’t know the full cost of restoration until you start chipping away at the concrete. You’d have to pay an engineer top dollar to do the report, and due to the nature of the project, expect constant change orders from the GC.

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 21:50:47 +0000

Yeah, I agree. It’s all in the GC and the Architect.

Also, if one were to do a residential conversion, you probably need to differentiate the project from the luxury projects going up everywhere else in the city. Perhaps some NY style lofts at a reasonable sales price would be more attractive.

Then again, sometimes, conversions are WAY more costly to do than new construction.

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 19:31:48 +0000

J,
Connectivity in the CBD via the metro mover is a definite plus. Here’s what I see as the restoration stigma: a restoration project from the 1920′s as is the case with Rok’s First National Building project, involves major concrete restoration, electrical rewiring, and mechanical work. We’re talking a complete overhaul of all three building elements due to years of deterioration and neglect. A common consumer fear is that given shoddy construction in new condos, a restoration may have even more construction-related issues. Unless you have a GC that specializes in such work with an architect to match, consumer concerns are not likely to be allayed.

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:54:52 +0000

I agree. I’m thinking some buildings within the Jewelry District neighborhoods and Flagler St.

Heck, even the Macy’s building should be redone. One of the keys to the area is the strong presence of the Metromover, so if redevelopment could be done right, and if you do some modern components (a la Circle Centre) then perhaps you can compete with brand new construction….

Just a thought…

By: Xavier Zayas-Bazan

Xavier Zayas-Bazan — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 18:08:56 +0000

J,
I’m going to keep an eye on that firm. They have a great portfolio. I definitely feel that the CBD, in the future, will represent a rich blend of new construction and restored structures. The only issue with these restorations is that they are generally not as marketable as more modern structures. It’s unfortunate but true. If retail picks up, my gut tells me that many of the old small structures will be revamped to accommodate extra space and a unique shopping environment. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a proponent of restoring architecturally valuable buildings, but many of them in the CBD don’t meet the criteria.
B,
The potential that the CBD has through a restoration standpoint is incredible–a major distinction Brickell lacks. Craig Robbins is pushing a restoration movement in the Design District. The City is pushing one in the MiMo Distirct along Biscayne Blvd.. It has worked excellently in South Beach and is expanding to Mid and North Beach with an emphasis on Mimo as well, but the CBD is lacking in this respect. I don’t get it.

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 17:32:59 +0000

On a related note, Business Monday of The Herald focuses on the delapidated state of downtown and calls developers, property owners, and government to make an effort to clean up that blighted section of the city. So much potential in that area, but instead its overrun with homeless, cracked sidewalks, garbage, poor planning and an array of shady/unsavory characters. Maybe once the residential component is introduced to that area some positive changes will be instigated.

By: Juan Ortega

Juan Ortega — Mon, 18 Jun 2007 15:11:27 +0000

In terms of urban redevelopment, I’m always inspired by cities that know how to restore/redevelop some of their older neighborhoods. The Financial District represents an entire area in the city that has multiple buildings that can be retouched to reposition the area as it competes with new development to the north and south.

I’ve been thinking about redevelopment lately and how adaptive reuse of buildings may be an exciting approach to pushing forth responsible urbanism.

Check out the architecture firm Ehrenkrantz Eckstut & Kuhn, which specializes in adaptive reuse. I don’t know if they’re licensed in Florida, but it would be awesome to see them do a project in Miami.

http://www.eekarchitects.com/