http://bobmiami.wordpress.com Ongoing Coverage of Miami's Urban Transformation Tue, 24 Jan 2012 01:24:50 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.com/ http://s2.wp.com/i/buttonw-com.png http://bobmiami.wordpress.com http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/development-outlook-midtown-miami-vicinity/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/development-outlook-midtown-miami-vicinity/#comments Tue, 25 Sep 2007 21:20:50 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/09/25/development-outlook-midtown-miami-vicinity/ Image: Midtown Four and Midblock The Foremost Symbol of Miami's Emerging Urbanism Midtown Miami is, in many ways, the most obvious symbol of Miami's rapid urban transformation. It exhibits Miami's architectural star power, represents the most ambitious push west for urbanism in the city thus far, sits on a formerly blighted and infrastructureless area of the city, and incorporates large-scale commercial and residential elements. For all intensive purposes, it is a city-within-a-city. Image: The shops at Midtown Miami's northwest side The Skeptics Viewpoint Yet, despite this, there are those that recall the past failure of the much hyped Omni Mall when considering Midtown's prospects for success. However natural this historic allusion may seem, the Omni, which never had the residential component Midtown has, is currently owned by a New York-based firm with billion dollar plans that span 10-15 years. Suffice to say times have changed. Then there are those that claim the project is... Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/25/development-outlook-midtown-miami-vicinity/feed/ 34 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/biscayne-blvd-planned-resurfacing-uptowns-retailization/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/biscayne-blvd-planned-resurfacing-uptowns-retailization/#comments Fri, 14 Sep 2007 14:23:26 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/09/14/biscayne-blvd-planned-resurfacing-uptowns-retailization/ Image: Section of Biscayne Boulevard in the Upper East Side undergoing an extensive reconstruction. Biscayne Boulevard is undergoing extensive work along the CBD, but the area north of the I-395 up to 36th street, represents a separate phase of Biscayne Boulevard's enhancement, and is currently unaffected by the Boulevard's improvement initiative. According to DDA records, the work in the Uptown section of Biscayne Boulevard is expected to begin sometime this year with completion slated for 2008. An area that is currently affected by resurfacing work is Biscayne Boulevard north of 55th Street where stores with US-1 frontage are facing bulldozers, barricades, and crawling auto traffic. There's little doubt as to the negative effect that the resurfacing initiative is having on those businesses. As a retailer, you don't want a construction site situated on your front door step. As a consumer, you don't want to have to traverse through construction traffic, dust clouds, and fragmented roads unless you have to... Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/14/biscayne-blvd-planned-resurfacing-uptowns-retailization/feed/ 3 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/signs-of-urban-life-retail-oulook-uptowns-pros-me/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/signs-of-urban-life-retail-oulook-uptowns-pros-me/#comments Wed, 12 Sep 2007 15:11:33 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/09/12/signs-of-urban-life-retail-oulook-uptowns-pros-me/ Image 1: An under utilized retail structure with blue awnings on NE 24th street and Biscayne Boulevard is shown in the foreground with new developments surrounding it. Continued from Signs of Urban Life: Development Outlook (Uptown's Woes) Uptown is the largest of the three primary urban core segments (CBD and Brickell Village being the other two). It contains four unique sub-segments:

1. Media and Entertainment District
2. Edgewater
3. Wynwood Arts District
4. Midtown Miami & vicinity

Map: Uptown and its four subsegments are shown above. The Media and Entertainment District is shown in blue, the Midtown Miami vicinity is shown in yellow, Edgewater in green, and Wynwood in red. Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/12/signs-of-urban-life-retail-oulook-uptowns-pros-me/feed/ 5 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/staples-store-to-open-in-uptown/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/staples-store-to-open-in-uptown/#comments Sun, 09 Sep 2007 20:02:33 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/09/09/staples-store-to-open-in-uptown/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/09/staples-store-to-open-in-uptown/feed/ 0 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/signs-of-urban-life-development-outlook-uptowns-woes/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/signs-of-urban-life-development-outlook-uptowns-woes/#comments Thu, 06 Sep 2007 21:43:13 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/09/06/signs-of-urban-life-development-outlook-uptowns-woes/ Image: FEC Corridor facing north toward Midtown There are many factors that influence retail and development activity. This installment is intended to describe those factors that are negative and may slowdown progress in the Uptown area, which is east of the I-95, north of the I-395, south of the I-195, and west of Biscayne Bay (the area includes: the Media and Entertainment District, Wynwood Arts District, Midtown Miami, and Edgewater)... Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/06/signs-of-urban-life-development-outlook-uptowns-woes/feed/ 11 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/fdot-owned-land-across-carnival-center-cleared/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/fdot-owned-land-across-carnival-center-cleared/#comments Tue, 04 Sep 2007 14:47:27 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/09/04/fdot-owned-land-across-carnival-center-cleared/ Image: FDOT-owned parcel being cleared (PAC is seen in right corner of image) Weeks ago I noticed the demolition of an abandoned building across from (south of) the Carnival Center. Then I started getting questions emailed to me regarding this same issue. The building sat on FDOT owned land (1200 Biscayne - former site of Opus 2)--directly in the path of... Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/09/04/fdot-owned-land-across-carnival-center-cleared/feed/ 4 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/scooting-around-uptown/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/scooting-around-uptown/#comments Thu, 23 Aug 2007 17:57:12 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/08/23/scooting-around-uptown/ Image: Biscayne Boulevard cruisin' At a ULI conference last May, a V.P. of Cushman Wakefield mentioned a bike and scooter shop in Uptown on 19th street and Biscayne Boulevard as being an indicator of urban progress. He said, "a few years ago I would never have imagined a bike shop in that area." Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/08/23/scooting-around-uptown/feed/ 4 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/new-to-ne-2nd-avenue-uptown/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/new-to-ne-2nd-avenue-uptown/#comments Tue, 21 Aug 2007 17:08:28 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/08/21/new-to-ne-2nd-avenue-uptown/ Map of the area: N.E. 2nd Avenue is shown in green and Midtown Miami in blue Economic Artery in the Making? N.E. 2nd Avenue, which runs parallel to Biscayne Boulevard and the FEC Corridor in Uptown, has remained largely untouched by new development. This north-south thoroughfare is important because it links to the Performing Arts Center, Midtown Miami, the Design District, and is next to Edgewater and the Wynwood Arts District. Currently, the Avenue is mostly dotted with vacant lots and decrepit buildings for sale, which indicates a ripeness for transformation, but change, although small, is already turning N.E. 2nd Ave into something of an economic artery. Let's take a quick gander: Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/08/21/new-to-ne-2nd-avenue-uptown/feed/ 4 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/2007-3rd-quarter-construction-tour-uptownme/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/2007-3rd-quarter-construction-tour-uptownme/#comments Fri, 06 Jul 2007 20:52:13 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.com/2007/07/06/2007-3rd-quarter-construction-tour-uptownme/ This week's Miami 2007 3rd Quarter Construction Tour ends with Uptown and the Media and Entertainment District:

• For the Brickell Village tour click here
• For the Central Business District tour click here
Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/07/06/2007-3rd-quarter-construction-tour-uptownme/feed/ 0 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/the-herald-spotlights-midtown-miami/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/the-herald-spotlights-midtown-miami/#comments Wed, 02 May 2007 14:19:01 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/the-herald-spotlights-midtown-miami/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/05/02/the-herald-spotlights-midtown-miami/feed/ 0 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/argent-ventures-1-billion-omni-plans-approved/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/argent-ventures-1-billion-omni-plans-approved/#comments Thu, 29 Mar 2007 17:56:23 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/argent-ventures-1-billion-omni-plans-approved/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/29/argent-ventures-1-billion-omni-plans-approved/feed/ 1 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/cardinal-development-press-release-for-3333-biscayne/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/cardinal-development-press-release-for-3333-biscayne/#comments Wed, 28 Mar 2007 13:59:20 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/cardinal-development-press-release-for-3333-biscayne/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/03/28/cardinal-development-press-release-for-3333-biscayne/feed/ 5 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/16/uptowns-mega-projects/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/16/uptowns-mega-projects/#comments Fri, 16 Feb 2007 20:43:13 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/16/uptowns-mega-projects/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/16/uptowns-mega-projects/feed/ 0 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/a-closer-look-midtown-miami/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/a-closer-look-midtown-miami/#comments Mon, 12 Feb 2007 03:37:10 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/a-closer-look-midtown-miami/ Getting Started Midtown Miami is the type of project that forever alters the urban landscape and character of a city. It is hard to put it up against all others. Although all new projects contribute their presence, Midtown Miami is a city within a city. Granted, it will take time for it to be fully built, and there are those that are skeptical it will ever get completely built. However, this project is much too large and already set in motion. Although it can slowdown, it will not stop. Even more important than Midtown Miami’s huge contribution to the urban mix is understanding what stood there before and how it categorically denied any real urban progress in Uptown. Prior to this emerging dazzling array of modern structures was a 56 acre railroad storage yard stacked high with columns of rusted railroad containers. The entire 56 acre area had no infrastructure. It was like a cancerous hole in the city. The storage yard deterred any interest in the entire area, helped diminish Tibor Hollo’s ambitious plans in Omni/Venetia, and hindered the Design District’s allure. To make matters worse, it was centrally located east of the I-95 in the heart of what is now Uptown. In the early nineties, it would have been nearly impossible to fathom that a massive brand new multi-phase mini-city could be built there. Today, because of Midtown Miami, the entire area stands to be catapulted into the new 21st century urban Miami. Yet Midtown Miami itself is not nearly as important as its expected deep effect on the entire area surrounding it. First, one must understand the significant scope and nature of this historic project. Subsequently, its inevitable effects on the urban periphery will become evident. Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2007/02/12/a-closer-look-midtown-miami/feed/ 12 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/blue-moon/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/blue-moon/#comments Sat, 02 Dec 2006 23:48:21 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/blue-moon/ ]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/12/02/blue-moon/feed/ 0 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/new-miami-skyline-heightdensity-distribution-charts/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/new-miami-skyline-heightdensity-distribution-charts/#comments Wed, 08 Nov 2006 21:23:17 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/new-miami-skyline-heightdensity-distribution-charts/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/11/08/new-miami-skyline-heightdensity-distribution-charts/feed/ 1 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/is-the-cbd-shifting-to-brickell-or-uptown-continued/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/is-the-cbd-shifting-to-brickell-or-uptown-continued/#comments Tue, 31 Oct 2006 16:58:13 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/is-the-cbd-shifting-to-brickell-or-uptown-continued/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/31/is-the-cbd-shifting-to-brickell-or-uptown-continued/feed/ 1 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/architect-profile-zyscovich-inc/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/architect-profile-zyscovich-inc/#comments Wed, 25 Oct 2006 02:22:13 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/architect-profile-zyscovich-inc/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/25/architect-profile-zyscovich-inc/feed/ 2 Javi http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/building-profile-soleil/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/building-profile-soleil/#comments Sun, 22 Oct 2006 17:18:25 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/building-profile-soleil/ Continue reading →]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/building-profile-soleil/feed/ 6 Javi Soleil http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/project-pinpoint-map-north-uptown/ http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/project-pinpoint-map-north-uptown/#comments Sun, 22 Oct 2006 01:44:10 +0000 Javier Zayas-Bazan http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/project-pinpoint-map-north-uptown/ ]]> http://bobmiami.wordpress.com/2006/10/22/project-pinpoint-map-north-uptown/feed/ 0 Javi North Uptown