This Parcel B (a portion of the Arena Site) is the same site that some want to put on a Bay of Pigs Museum and Library. It looks like the UEL needs to be at the table as they want open space. (Hit on the page below to enlarge).
Thursday, August 30, 2007
Parcel B History: Urban Environment League was there first. By Geniusofdespair
The UEL (Urban Environment League) reminded me they had a history at this Parcel B site that they saved from a 20 story development in 2003. The UEL has been involved with the American Airlines Arena site (Both A & B) since the early 90's when the UEL group formed -- over this issue as a matter of fact.
This Parcel B (a portion of the Arena Site) is the same site that some want to put on a Bay of Pigs Museum and Library. It looks like the UEL needs to be at the table as they want open space. (Hit on the page below to enlarge).
This Parcel B (a portion of the Arena Site) is the same site that some want to put on a Bay of Pigs Museum and Library. It looks like the UEL needs to be at the table as they want open space. (Hit on the page below to enlarge).
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9 comments:
does anyone think that parcel B is the best place for a museum of this sort? do we really need one? why not put it in the lobby of the freedom tower? I tought that was going to be a museum ? who's doing the planning in this town?
it's amazing how much things are screwed up here. very sad.
UEL had a chance to save Bicentennial Park from being paved over by two broke charities. They blew it.
Parcel B should remain green.
well i'm not sure it should remain green, its a poor square of land to stake my 'gotta be green' flag on it...
Why dont they put the Bay of Pigs Museum on the Mercy Hospital grounds, there is already a church nearby that is of significance to the Cuban-American community. Or what about in Hialeah, where many Cuban-Americans started off and many still live.
August 30, 2007
Mayor Carlos Alvarez
Honorable County Commissioners
Manager George M. Burgess
111 NW 1st Street
Miami, FL 33128
Dear Esteemed Leaders,
It has come to the attention of the Urban Environment League (UEL) that the Board of County Commissioners has an Agenda Item scheduled for Tuesday September 4th, to consider transferring “Parcel B” (on the waterfront, behind the American Airlines Arena) to the Brigade 2506 for the establishment of a Bay of Pigs Museum. Because the UEL has some history with this parcel, we would like you to consider our views in your deliberation, and we ask to be a part of any feasibility study that might go forward as a result of this item. We also ask that the county continue to seek alternative sites for this very worthy project.
First, let me be clear that the UEL would like to see the Brigade 2506 be successful in establishing a much deserved and long awaited Cuban Museum and Library. Our current UEL President has even served as one of the Volunteer Trustees of the Museum who are tasked with raising the money to make this happen. Unfortunately, we think the proposed site is ill-advised for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the fact that the site does not well serve the interests of the proposed Cuban Museum.
For one thing, Parcel B is poorly accessed. As one of our members expressed it, “The friends, family, and survivors of Brigade 2506 deserve much more than to be tucked away behind the American Airlines Arena in a low-visibility spot with poor traffic access and little chance of enticing walk-in visitors, where its exhibits will remain isolated and unknown to much of our community.” We believe the Museum would enjoy a significantly enhanced draw of people were it to be located in Little Havana or the Tower of Freedom, and that the message it conveys should not be over shadowed by the parking lot of the Miami Heat.
As a matter of public policy, the Urban Environment League has a history of opposing the taking of public waterfront lands for non-water dependent uses. In 2003, we successfully challenged the Miami Heat’s plan for this same Parcel B (known then as Maritime Park) when they proposed a 20 story residential building for the site. Our opposition rested on the basis that Parcel B was promised to the voters in 1996 as a public park (see attached Urban Forum newsletter). This parcel is still promised to the voters; the absence of a plan to protect that promise does not mean that Parcel B is “available” for some other use. In 2003, the UEL passed a resolution urging the Heat organization to join with us in structuring a public process for developing a coordinated master plan for Parcel B; today we would urge the same. Because the public’s access to waterfront is so very limited in Miami, it makes no sense to put buildings where waterfront park space exists, even if the building is for a very good cause. We wish the founders of the Cuban Museum well, but the UEL must remain opposed to the development of Parcel B for this purpose.
Sincerely,
Ernest Martin
Senior Vice President
Should it surprise us that they are holding this meeting the day after Labor Day? Maybe they're thinking we will be less attentive . . .
Will there come a day when the people in power listen to the people who elected them? STOP - We are telling you that we do not want to lose Bicentennial Park!
Milly Herrera
Hialeah, Florida
Miami-Dade Commissioners just voted to study paving Parcel B so the millionaire basketball players and their friends could park closer to their locker room. They already have parking under the Arena.
Nobody should pave waterfront park land. Let the basketball players walk like everyone else.
Parking spaces in high rise garages costs $25,000 per. Watch Heat lobbyists try to pave and build on Parcel B after promising the voters it would be a soccer field.
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