:::insert expletive here::: what the next president will inherit
[where: everywhere]
save the vagabond
i know i haven't written in forever, and for that... i'm sorry. today i was in the mood to write. i contemplated giving my take on the election, or my experience voting, or just a general update on what's going on in my life. but instead, i'm writing to save the vagabond. no, not the lounge in downtown miami. the vagabond motel on biscayne.
i went to the upper eastside market yesterday to buy some locally grown, organic goodness. and saw that there was another "market" located inside the old vagabond motel. confused and perplexed i persuaded my girlfriend to swing over so we could check it out.
wow, was i disappointed.
my mind raced... why so close to the upper eastside farmer's market? why the weird odds-n-ends? why the change on the historic sign? why the big metal A/C duct going through the window? it all struck me as... well, strange. however, i really didn't spend too much time on it.
then today, i received an email...
Oct 31, 2008
Dear MiMo Advocates and Biscayne Neighbors:
Mr. Silverman the owner of the Vagabond Motel, is not respecting the rules of historic preservation. He purchased the property in 2005, after the property was listed on the National Register of Historic Places. He was well aware of the limitations on the property and promised the preservation community and the neighbors he would restore this MiMo Diva.
Since then, he had numerous plans, none of which have come to fruition. He has used preservation and the economy as a reason for his failure to renovate the building. Now he has convinced the City of Miami to rezone the property for A Vintage, Craft, Green Market. Yet, we have not seen any plans to how he is going to accomplish this and still keep the integrity of the special character of the building.
Many of us do not feel this is a good use, especially since we have a wonderful green OPEN market just a few blocks away in Legion Park. Which many feel is a wonderful location for it. We feel that this additional market will take the customer from the Legion Market. Can this neighborhood sustain two markets just blocks from one another? Is this upgrading the neighborhood like all us have been waiting for?
In 3 years he has not improved the property, has he demolish all the interiors, and painted signs on the historic façade, which is not allowed in preservation. Then he altered the historic sign, which is probably the most significant and recognizable feature in all the district. Now he is destroying the integrity of the façade and lobby by installing AC ductwork in historic windows. He is doing all of this without the historic board approval.
He has been citied for these violations, yet the city defends his actions and keeps rewarding him with rezoning favors. Do you think this is positive use for the Vagabond or the neighborhood? Don't you think he should be restoring the building back to it's glory days with a flashing sign?
If you agree please write a letter to the Commissioner Sarnoff, mdsarnoff@attglobal.net stating your opinions. For more information please contact me at teri@dadausa.com
Sincerely,
Teri D'Amico,
MiMo Advocate
my neighborhood is full of history. my neighborhood is full of great people preserving what it what once was... and ultimately, what it could be. what has happened to the vagabond is profoundly disappointing. there are many locations mr. silverman can use for these purposes. does it need to be in one of the most iconic buildings in the upper eastside, if not all of miami?!
i am all for unique forms of preservation. however, the key word is preservation. and what mr. silverman is doing is not that.
yes, the election is insanely important and yes, i am still alive and yes, i am still really busy. these are things i hope to write about in the future. but today, one little property on biscanye blvd. deserves your attention. so i ask you, please contact commissioner sarnoff. or blog about it. or tell a friend or two. but, our friends and neighbors needs to know about these abuses. and we need to take action!
[ 7301 Biscayne Blvd., Miami, FL 33138]
where in the world is liz?!
liz is working on a side-project right now. liz can't find the time to keep her full-time job, keep her girlfriend, keep the house clean, keep the side project going and keep tons of posts going on her blog. liz is also talking in the third person for some strange reason and now needs to be shot.ok, my apologies for that. it's just frustrating sometimes how little free time we have in today's society. there is only an emphasis on making money and work and then if you have some free time you have to get all your errands done. by the time you finish, you have just enough time to try and whip up something for dinner, sit down and eat. and if i somehow you have a sliver of time after that, you work on something for yourself.
that's what i've been doing. in that sliver of time right after dinner and right before bed, when i used to get all my blog posts in a row (so to speak)... i've put down the keyboard and started a side project.
i've only started blogging recently. it's been thrilling. exciting. exhausting. a way to be heard. a way to feel connected to someone without even knowing them.
i've had all this free-time for the past few months and used blogging as a way to fill it. now i have something else filling that hole and writing posts seems less thrilling, less enjoyable and more like a chore. i've watched critical miami and owenized (two of my favorite blogs and two of the most respected local blogs) shut down for similar reasons. and it boggles the mind how rick at south florida daily blog manages to handle the entire south florida blogging scene so effortlessly, when i can barely handle what's going on in my neighborhood.
i think i need to focus on what's really important, and if i have the free time... then i'll blog. so for the next few weeks, i'm sure i'll post, just not as much as i've been. and when things slow down again, i'm sure i'll start blogging like crazy. i want my blog to be my voice, a way to vent, a way to let people know how good a new place is, or what band is playing this weekend, but most of all... i want to enjoy doing it.
battle of the bands part 2 @ moca - july 24
line up for battle numero 2 of battle of the bands miami...
old wives tale
treasures
minimal
psycho daisies
the hongs
good local tunes, free grolsch & dogma dogs... what more can you ask for on a hot summer night in miami?!
battle 3 is august 28- the pots and pans, minimal, airship rocketship, electric bunnies, tv clubs.
[where:770 NE 125 Street, North Miami, Florida]