Miami Beach Mid-Century Modern officially historic - Beyond Tiki

IDOT I dream of tiki Tiki Socialite Pittsburgh, PA Joined: Jan 12, 2004 Posts: 501	IDOT I dream of tiki Posted posted on Fri, Oct 19, 2007 5:21 PM From Preservation Online, the online magazine of the National Trust for Historic Preservation http://www.preservationonline.org New Historic District Showcases Miami's Modern Architecture Story by Mishri Someshwar / July 10, 2006 On June 6, Miami's preservation board unanimously approved the creation of a historic district between NE 50th and 77th Streets, a commercial corridor on Biscayne Boulevard that showcases the architectural style known as Miami Modern, or MiMo. Now preservationists and planners have begun mapping out the restoration of the new district's decaying structures. "The district is an architectural treasure trove of 20th-century architecture predominated by motels from the 1950s," says Randall Robinson, a city planner and executive director of the North Beach Development Corp. "It is the first historic district of 1950s motels that we know of, but it also has lots of offices and pre-war Art Deco buildings." Robinson and interior designer Teri D'Amico coined the term MiMo to describe the city's mid-century modern architecture—an amalgam of various influences from Mediterranean revival to Art Deco. "We did it to capitalize on the success of [Miami's] Art Deco district," Robinson says. "We made sure it rhymed with the word 'Deco.'" The Art Deco district was added to the National Register in 1979 and is a prominent preservation success story. MiMo is an umbrella term for a set of styles, Robinson says. "Some of the features are unique to Miami, but many of them have universal symbols of established styles," he says. Unique features include the sun grilles and stonework depicting nautical themes. Nina Korman, a journalist and member of the Miami Modern Coalition, a local preservation group, says that restoration plans are in the preliminary stages. "Nearly every motel is going to need work, not to mention the office buildings and shops," she says. Most of the motels are still in use. Robinson says that the structures primarily require cosmetic rather than structural rehabilitation, focusing on details such as glass walls and neon signs. Although the city's government and preservation board have been supportive, Robinson says, property owners are wary. "There's the universal fear of historic preservation," he explains. "People have seen how successful the Art Deco district has been, but they still don't get it." Robinson says that the city should create tax incentives tailored to the district, as well as provide technical assistance on restoration, to encourage motel owners to stay put and participate in restoration work. Regardless of incentives, preservation doesn't happen overnight, he says; the Art Deco district took more than 10 years to become a cultural and economic powerhouse. Korman says that, as a resident, preserving the MiMo historic district is important to her. "It has been somewhat draining but ultimately extremely gratifying," she says, "knowing I'm helping to revitalize a piece of the city where I grew up." All Rights Reserved © Preservation Magazine \| Contact us at: [email protected]

From Preservation Online, the online magazine of
the National Trust for Historic Preservation
http://www.preservationonline.org

New Historic District Showcases Miami's Modern Architecture
Story by Mishri Someshwar / July 10, 2006

On June 6, Miami's preservation board unanimously approved the creation of a historic district between NE 50th and 77th Streets, a commercial corridor on Biscayne Boulevard that showcases the architectural style known as Miami Modern, or MiMo. Now preservationists and planners have begun mapping out the restoration of the new district's decaying structures.

"The district is an architectural treasure trove of 20th-century architecture predominated by motels from the 1950s," says Randall Robinson, a city planner and executive director of the North Beach Development Corp. "It is the first historic district of 1950s motels that we know of, but it also has lots of offices and pre-war Art Deco buildings."

Robinson and interior designer Teri D'Amico coined the term MiMo to describe the city's mid-century modern architecture—an amalgam of various influences from Mediterranean revival to Art Deco. "We did it to capitalize on the success of [Miami's] Art Deco district," Robinson says. "We made sure it rhymed with the word 'Deco.'" The Art Deco district was added to the National Register in 1979 and is a prominent preservation success story.

MiMo is an umbrella term for a set of styles, Robinson says. "Some of the features are unique to Miami, but many of them have universal symbols of established styles," he says. Unique features include the sun grilles and stonework depicting nautical themes.

Nina Korman, a journalist and member of the Miami Modern Coalition, a local preservation group, says that restoration plans are in the preliminary stages. "Nearly every motel is going to need work, not to mention the office buildings and shops," she says. Most of the motels are still in use. Robinson says that the structures primarily require cosmetic rather than structural rehabilitation, focusing on details such as glass walls and neon signs.

Although the city's government and preservation board have been supportive, Robinson says, property owners are wary. "There's the universal fear of historic preservation," he explains. "People have seen how successful the Art Deco district has been, but they still don't get it."

Robinson says that the city should create tax incentives tailored to the district, as well as provide technical assistance on restoration, to encourage motel owners to stay put and participate in restoration work. Regardless of incentives, preservation doesn't happen overnight, he says; the Art Deco district took more than 10 years to become a cultural and economic powerhouse.

Korman says that, as a resident, preserving the MiMo historic district is important to her. "It has been somewhat draining but ultimately extremely gratifying," she says, "knowing I'm helping to revitalize a piece of the city where I grew up."

Post #339429 by I dream of tiki on Fri, Oct 19, 2007 5:21 PM