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]
6 Comments
2.11.08
I'm mixed on this. It seems like the place would be close to falling apart like many other historic buildings had he not started making renovations.
There needs to be some revenue generated at the location or it'll just be another dead zone on upper biscayne. If every motel needs to be kept exactly as they are, why will anyone buy them? The goal is moving the cracked out motels out. Motel Blu is doing fine with Red Light, but I don't think they are getting ANY ('legitimate') business as a motel. Have any other motels successfully made the transition to a legit business yet?
I thought the market was fine. earrings, bracelets, flowers, soaps, produce, grass-fed 12 ounce ribeyes for $10, indian food, clothing, outdoor furniture and a number of other things for sale.
I had a beer with Mr. Silverman last year at Transit Shop while friends were sh, and he seems like a nice guy with good intentions.
FYI, I live on 76th, just west of Biscayne.
2.11.08
So, was it better when it was full of pimps and hookers? Would it be better if it were vacant and crumbling? Or, should Silverman operate a motel business there and watch his money go down the tubes like his neighbors?
The man has put almost 3 million into the place and plans to put more. What you witnessed at the Vagabond on the 1st of November was the very first day the market was open. It will take time for the market to improve, especially in this economy. Silverman has plans to restore and use the entire building once restoration is complete. Read the full article:
Big Man on the Boulevard.
With enough time and support the Vagabond will succeed. And a few very minor changes to the building in order to make it usable will not destroy its historic integrity.
3.11.08
The simple fact is that the City of Miami feels they can just modify the rules whenever someone promises it will benefit them. You should talk to the people in Coconut Grove (Check out Coconut Grove Grapevine blog and Your Grove activists). They constantly rebel against the City who tries to re-zone areas that have the potential of ruining a neighborhood or public space.
3.11.08
thanks for all the great comments and especially the link to the article.
i admit i have mixed feelings as well. it is better than it falling apart and being a crack den. however, i feel like we're heading down a slippery slope.
historic preservation requires prior approval if modifications are to be made to the exterior. it's annoying (i speak from experience), but it's a necessary evil. and with preservation comes more preservation, and more money pouring into the area from like-minded people and then there won't be crack dens & prostitutes on the blvd.
i guess what really killed me was that... it's the vagabond motel. it's historic. it's iconic. it's beautiful. it's one of the first major historic preservations in the area and so far (from what i've seen), it's not being historically preserved.
yes, it's better than a crack den. but do we really want to start bending the rules of preservation before we ever really got started?
3.11.08
if his grand plans work out... then amazing!!!
but lets get off on the right foot first.
4.11.08
I live right next door to this practically. The building needs help. It has a lot of potential but needs to have a lot of money poured on top and that doesn't seem like its happening any time soon.
It's very creepy at night when I'm walking my dog and you can't see or hear anything.
Godspeed Vagabond.
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