Monthly Archives: June 2007
Voice from the Streets
Jackie has a couple of things to say to you. These are his opinions, not mine: Continue reading
Filed under Homelessness
Miami 21 Light on Preservation in the CBD
During my evaluation of restoration potential in the CBD, I was surprised to see that the Miami 21 draft code (Article 3.9) doesn’t elaborate on the City’s historic preservation guidelines. Instead it simply cross references Chapter 23 of the City Code, which… Continue reading
Filed under BoB Articles, Miami 21
MacroMarkets Home Price Indexes
MacroMarkets offers some of the most sophisticated housing market indexes in the world. The numbers are based on rather complex formulations.
From their site:
“In May 2006, in partnership with MacroMarkets, the Chicago Mercantile Exchange (CME) successfully launched Housing Futures and Options for U.S. residential real estate. This landmark development created the first exchange-traded financial products for directly investing in and hedging U.S. housing.”
Filed under Urban Tech
News Brief
Lennar posts loss, warns housing market may worsen [Washington Post] Miami: Vultures Circling [Fortune] Nikki Beach Club on list of ultimate beach bars [Forbes] Carnival Center gets a bail out–this time [Miami Herald] Data add gloom to U.S. housing market … Continue reading
Filed under News
Miami’s Leader in Urban Planning
I have praised the Zyscovich firm for their imaginative and functional designs here before, but I failed to mention that they are involved in a number of the most important urban master planning projects and studies in the region. If even half of what they are planning becomes a reality, Zyscovich’s role as Miami’s most important urban planning firm will be cemented for a long time to come.
Miami Master Plans: Continue reading
Filed under Architects, BoB Articles
Under-Utilization in the CBD (PART I)
Continued from the introduction.
The Central Business District of a metropolis is expected to have an abundance of modern high rises. In Miami, only the basic requisites of that are satisfied. The impressive high rises are mostly concentrated along Biscayne Boulevard, near the bay, and intermittently within the Central Business District’s interior. For the most part, the CBD of Miami is a compilation of early twentieth century-built, mostly under-utilized, structures–few of them with restoration potential. However, the CBD Interior is gradually being surrounded by new construction on all sides except west. Restorations are already taking place in the heart of the interior, and new developments have penetrated deeper than ever into it. The status quo is going to change, but how will it with so many under utilized structures in the way? Continue reading
Info Bits
Understanding the Global Real Estate Game [Seeking Alpha] Realtors get creative after the boom [Miami Herald] Residential boom led to fewer affordable housing units [So. Fla. Business Journal] Sustainability – The future is here and full of holes [Fast Pitch] … Continue reading
Filed under News
It’s What’s on the Inside that Counts
Urbanites tend to have less space to work with than their suburban counterparts. Therefore maximizing the use of space with high quality and detailed furnishings is a high priority. For some good interior space ideas check out Developer’s Line … Continue reading
Filed under BoB Articles
Under Utilization in the CBD (INTRO)
Image: Under utilized buildings near the BOA tower are highlighted.
The Purpose
Boom or Bust focuses much of its efforts on tracking the new construction that has consumed Miami. But, what about the older, neglected, and under-utilized properties in the Central Business District? No one seems to care about them unless they’re being demolished to accommodate a new tower or revamped in grand style, yet knowing the level and forms of under-utilization is vital in helping to understand the development challenges facing Downtown. This week’s aim is to demystify under-utilization in the urban core by answering these fundamental questions:
- What constitutes an under utilized building?
- What current uses are derelict buildings lending themselves to?
- What are the use alternatives?
- What is the effect of under-utilization in the CBD?
- What role do these buildings play in shaping the social and economic environment of the CBD?
- What is the current proportion between vacant land, new construction, and under utilized properties?
- What are the under-utilized structure age patterns?
- How many of them have restoration potential?
These are just some of the questions that are to be addressed this week as we delve into the nitty gritty of the matter. I have developed a color coded chronological development map to assist in the study.
Image: Portion of the Chronological Development Map. The color codes will be explained in the 2nd installment.
The chronological map, which will be explained later, will be used to illustrate when certain areas of the CBD were built out. In the end, the Central Business District’s historic nature, restoration potential, and level and effects of under utilization will be addressed and tied into surrounding new construction trends and Miami 21 zoning.
(To be Continued) Continue reading
