Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Grand Central Park Set to Begin Construction, Groundbreaking Ceremony to be Tuesday October 18th
Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association Inc's Grand Central Park Project hosts Groundbreaking Ceremony on October 18th at 700 N. Miami Avenue at 5pm. Construction of Florida’s first Instant Park to begin on the former site of the Miami Arena.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Mark Lesniak, Executive Director of Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association Inc. (OPRA) a 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation in Miami, Florida is pleased to announce Florida’s first Instant Park will hold official Groundbreaking Ceremonies with City of Miami District 2 Commissioner Marc Sarnoff and the Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency chaired by City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones at 700 N. Miami Avenue this Tuesday, October 17th, at 5pm.
Grand Central Park received final permits from the City of Miami, allowing construction of Florida’s first Instant Park to begin on the former site of the Miami Arena. Formal groundbreaking ceremonies for the park are to be held this Tuesday, October 18th, celebrating the start of construction.
In March 2010, the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association (OPRA), a not-for-profit corporation, began Phase I of Grand Central Park with the idea of improving the site in order to improve perception of the area, and residents' quality of life.
Private funds were used to hire local workers and indigents to improve the site. OPRA received a $200,000 grant from the Community Redevelopment Agency to complete Phase II.
OPRA has also received in-kind contributions of material and labor from a variety of sources. Walter Meyer of Local Office Landscape and Urban Design, a landscape design firm based in Brooklyn, NY, designed the Instant Park Concept for Grand Central Park.
Grand Central Park will be built in 30 days according to OPRA’s Architectural plan, leading the movement of rapid deployment multi-use recreational facilities for temporary and permanent use across the State of Florida.
"Every corner of the City of Miami deserves to have public park space that residents can utilize. Grand Central Park will not only serve that purpose but it also will begin to alleviate the blight this area has suffered under for far too long," said Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff.
OPRA is a community-based not-for-profit group, founded by Bradley Knoefler in 2009, focused on progressive, low-cost urban renewal projects. Grand Central Park will be operated by OPRA and it's community Board of Directors led by Executive Director Mark Lesniak.
“Grand Central Park will bring activity and jobs to the neighborhood,”
For questions and further information, please visit http://www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Mark Lesniak at 305.814.6219 or gcparkmiami@
# # #
Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association is a not for profit community organization with a citizen board of directors located in Downtown Miami
Monday, October 3, 2011
OPRA Executive Director Mark Lesniak Featured on WLRN
OPRA is pleased to announce that our new Executive Director Mark Lesniak has been featured on the radio by Miami's WLRN in conjunction with the Miami Herald.
Mark explains the concepts of Weed Bombing and "Tactical Urbanism"
You can listen to the story live on the Miami Herald website currently.
Downtown Miami's weed makes you see colors (ARTICLE)
On WLRN's blog post:
Weed Bombing in Overtown
The podcast and permanent link is below:
Downtown Miami's weed makes you see colors ( PODCAST)
"Building by building, block by block, we can implement low cost ideas to improve this city." - Mark Lesniak
Follow us on twitter @gcparkmiami and @weedbombing
Friday, September 30, 2011
Grand Central Park Set to Begin Construction on former Miami Arena site
Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association Inc's Grand Central Park Project receives permits from the City of Miami, allowing construction of Florida’s first Instant Park to begin on the former site of the Miami Arena.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept 30, 2011 – Miami - Grand Central Park received final permits from the City of Miami, allowing construction of Florida’s first Instant Park to begin on the former site of the Miami Arena. Formal groundbreaking ceremonies will be announced shortly.
Mark Lesniak, Director of Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association Inc. (OPRA) a 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation in Miami, Florida is pleased to announce Florida’s first Instant Park will soon break ground and begin construction.
Grand Central Park will be built in 30 days according to OPRA’s Architectural plan, leading the movement of rapid deployment multi-use recreational facilities for temporary and permanent use across the State of Florida.
OPRA is a community-based not-for-profit group, founded by Bradley Knoefler in 2009, focused on progressive, low-cost urban renewal projects. Walter Meyer, the Owner of Local Office Landscape, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Brooklyn, New York designed the Instant Park concept, which OPRA will erect on 5 acres of Downtown Miami urban blight.
“OPRA’s instant park concept will be self financing, paying its site rental through events such as concerts and outdoor retail,” said Knoefler,” while allowing Downtown residents to enjoy green space sorely lacking in Miami’s downtown core”
Grand Central Park will provide needed recreational space and activate the area for thousands of new Downtown Miami residents. The park will exist for a minimum period of 3 years, while the final status of the former Miami Arena site is determined.
“We designed Grand Central Park to serve as a platform for sustainable design concepts” says OPRA Executive Director, Mark Lesniak, and “a catalyst for job creation and community activation of the Overtown and Parkwest neighborhoods.”
For questions and further information, please visit www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Mark Lesniak at 305.814.6219 or gcparkmiami@gmail.com or follow the Grand Central Park twitter account @gcparkmiami
# # #
Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association is a not for profit community organization with a citizen board of directors located in Downtown Miami
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Sept 30, 2011 – Miami - Grand Central Park received final permits from the City of Miami, allowing construction of Florida’s first Instant Park to begin on the former site of the Miami Arena. Formal groundbreaking ceremonies will be announced shortly.
Mark Lesniak, Director of Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association Inc. (OPRA) a 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation in Miami, Florida is pleased to announce Florida’s first Instant Park will soon break ground and begin construction.
 |
| Rendering of Grand Central Park |
Grand Central Park will be built in 30 days according to OPRA’s Architectural plan, leading the movement of rapid deployment multi-use recreational facilities for temporary and permanent use across the State of Florida.
OPRA is a community-based not-for-profit group, founded by Bradley Knoefler in 2009, focused on progressive, low-cost urban renewal projects. Walter Meyer, the Owner of Local Office Landscape, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Brooklyn, New York designed the Instant Park concept, which OPRA will erect on 5 acres of Downtown Miami urban blight.
“OPRA’s instant park concept will be self financing, paying its site rental through events such as concerts and outdoor retail,” said Knoefler,” while allowing Downtown residents to enjoy green space sorely lacking in Miami’s downtown core”
Grand Central Park will provide needed recreational space and activate the area for thousands of new Downtown Miami residents. The park will exist for a minimum period of 3 years, while the final status of the former Miami Arena site is determined.
“We designed Grand Central Park to serve as a platform for sustainable design concepts” says OPRA Executive Director, Mark Lesniak, and “a catalyst for job creation and community activation of the Overtown and Parkwest neighborhoods.”
For questions and further information, please visit www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Mark Lesniak at 305.814.6219 or gcparkmiami@gmail.com or follow the Grand Central Park twitter account @gcparkmiami
# # #
Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association is a not for profit community organization with a citizen board of directors located in Downtown Miami
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
PARK(ing) Day #Miami, Friday September 16th, 2011: Grand Central Park
The Omni Park West Redevelopment Association (OPWRA) is pleased to announce a new PARK (ing) day location in a dilapidated area of Downtown Miami. The former site of the Miami Arena, a five acre parcel slated to become Grand Central Park www.grandcentralpark.org.
Several hundred trees slated for planting in the Park will be staged in 15 metered spaces directly in front of the site, where the tree canopy was cut down to build the former Arena. OPWRA also intends to install for a temporary period a dumpster "parklet" as recently seen in San Francisco. Come out and support us and enjoy some down home ribs by Brother Frazier..
Tuesday, September 13, 2011
Miami street artists participate in “weed bombing”
Miami street artists are beautifying a dilapidated neighborhood, one weed at a time.
Miami, FL September 12, 2011 — In an area mostly devoid on any color except for black asphalt, Miami street artists are brightening one of the most dilapidated areas of Downtown Miami, one weed at a time.
Weed bombing is the act of converting overgrown weeds into works of street art by painting them various colors, thus adding a vibrancy to the neighborhood that did not exist before. Bradley Knoefler, founder of the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association (OPRA), which organized the event stated “we used to cut the weeds ourselves, but it’s much more beneficial to beautify them and convert them into street art. Unlike traditional graffitti, weed bombing doesn’t damage private or public property and has immediate benefits to our quality of life.”
“The idea is gaining traction among local street artists,” said Gregg Rivera, one of the participating artists “Wynwood has its graffitti walls, and Downtown we have our weeds. They both are a blank canvas that street artists can use to practice their art.” Knoefler hope the idea will catch on and traditional taggers will paint weeds instead of buildings. “This way we can beautify the neighborhood through street art as opposed to degrading it.”
Follow: @WeedBombing and www.WeedBombing.com for more information
Miami, FL September 12, 2011 — In an area mostly devoid on any color except for black asphalt, Miami street artists are brightening one of the most dilapidated areas of Downtown Miami, one weed at a time.
Weed bombing is the act of converting overgrown weeds into works of street art by painting them various colors, thus adding a vibrancy to the neighborhood that did not exist before. Bradley Knoefler, founder of the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association (OPRA), which organized the event stated “we used to cut the weeds ourselves, but it’s much more beneficial to beautify them and convert them into street art. Unlike traditional graffitti, weed bombing doesn’t damage private or public property and has immediate benefits to our quality of life.”“The idea is gaining traction among local street artists,” said Gregg Rivera, one of the participating artists “Wynwood has its graffitti walls, and Downtown we have our weeds. They both are a blank canvas that street artists can use to practice their art.” Knoefler hope the idea will catch on and traditional taggers will paint weeds instead of buildings. “This way we can beautify the neighborhood through street art as opposed to degrading it.”
Follow: @WeedBombing and www.WeedBombing.com for more information
Monday, September 12, 2011
OPRA and Transit Miami To Participate in PARK(ing) Day 2011
OPRA will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks, as part of an annual event called "PARK(ing) Day."
Miami, Florida - Sep 12, 2011 - In cities around the globe today, artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called "PARK(ing) Day."
Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The planning strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”
Locally, a group of young leaders, and progressivly thinking organizations such as OPRA, Transit Miami, the Street Plans Collaborative, and the Urban Environmental League have partnered with the City of Miami Parking Authority to transform ten metered parking spaces in one of Downtown Miami’s least green neighborhoods into a park. The event will take place at 700 N. Miami Avenue, directly in front of the old Miami Arena, demolished in 2008. The Old Arena site is also the future site of Grand Central Park (www.grandcentralpark.org), an OPRA project to convert five acres of rocks on the former arena site into a three year temporary park.
Since 2005, the project has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement: PARK(ing) Day 2010 included more than 800 “PARK” installations in more than 180 cities in 30 countries on six continents. This year, the project continues to expand to urban centers across the globe.
PARK(ing) Day is an “open-source”
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Miami, Florida - Sep 12, 2011 - In cities around the globe today, artists, activists and citizens will temporarily transform metered parking spaces into public parks and other social spaces, as part of an annual event called "PARK(ing) Day."
Originally invented in 2005 by Rebar, a San Francisco-based art and design studio, PARK(ing) Day challenges people to rethink the way streets are used and reinforces the need for broad-based changes to urban infrastructure. “In urban centers around the world, inexpensive curbside parking results in increased traffic, wasted fuel and more pollution,” says Rebar’s Matthew Passmore. “The planning strategies that generated these conditions are not sustainable, nor do they promote a healthy, vibrant human habitat. PARK(ing) Day is about re-imagining the possibilities of the urban landscape.”
Locally, a group of young leaders, and progressivly thinking organizations such as OPRA, Transit Miami, the Street Plans Collaborative, and the Urban Environmental League have partnered with the City of Miami Parking Authority to transform ten metered parking spaces in one of Downtown Miami’s least green neighborhoods into a park. The event will take place at 700 N. Miami Avenue, directly in front of the old Miami Arena, demolished in 2008. The Old Arena site is also the future site of Grand Central Park (www.grandcentralpark.org), an OPRA project to convert five acres of rocks on the former arena site into a three year temporary park. Since 2005, the project has blossomed into a worldwide grassroots movement: PARK(ing) Day 2010 included more than 800 “PARK” installations in more than 180 cities in 30 countries on six continents. This year, the project continues to expand to urban centers across the globe.
PARK(ing) Day is an “open-source”
Friday, February 4, 2011
Grand Central Park Funding Authorized Florida’s First Instant Park on former Miami Arena site
Grand Central Park Funding Authorized Florida’s First Instant Park on former Miami Arena site
| Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc's Grand Central Park Project is approved for funding by the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to become Florida’s first Instant Park located on the former site of the Miami Arena. |
Rendering of Grand Central Park Miami Site Plan
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRLog (Press Release) – Feb 04, 2011 – Grand Central Park Set for Approval of Florida’s First Instant Park Brad Knoefler, Director of Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc. (OPWRA) a 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation in Miami, Florida is pleased to announce Florida’s first Instant Park has been authorized for funding. Ground breaking ceremonies will take place in the coming weeks.
Miami - Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc, a Florida Not-For-Profit Corporation, in Miami, Florida is on the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) agenda for final vote to fund Grand Central Park to be Florida’s first Instant Park located in Downtown Miami, on the former site of the Miami Arena.
Grand Central Park will be built in 30 days according to OPWRA’s Architectural plan, leading the movement of rapid deployment multi-use recreational facilities for temporary and permanent use across the State of Florida.
OPWRA is community based not-for-profit group Directed by Bradley Knoefler, consisting of grass-roots volunteers and a citizen board of directors. Walter Meyer, the Owner of Local Office Landscape, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Brooklyn, New York designed the Instant Park concept, which OPWRA will erect on 5 acres of Downtown Miami urban blight.
OPWRA is seeking out “members of the community looking to hold events catering to the downtown Miami residents”. City of Miami District 5 Commissioner Richard P. Dunn II told the Miami Herald, "It's a win-win situation for the CRA, for the City (of Miami)".
Grand Central Park will provide needed green space and recreational area for thousands of new Downtown Miami residents. The park will exist for a minimum period of 3 years, while the final status of the former Miami Arena site is determined.
“Grand Central Park is submitting City of Miami permit applications this week and hopes to be functioning 30 calendar days from the green light to build” says OPWRA Director, Bradley Knofler, “We hope that Grand Central Park will serve as a model for converting blighted lots into active green spaces which communities need.”
For questions and further information, please visit www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Bradley Knoefler directly at 305.814.6219 or gcparkmiami@
Miami - Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc, a Florida Not-For-Profit Corporation, in Miami, Florida is on the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) agenda for final vote to fund Grand Central Park to be Florida’s first Instant Park located in Downtown Miami, on the former site of the Miami Arena.
Grand Central Park will be built in 30 days according to OPWRA’s Architectural plan, leading the movement of rapid deployment multi-use recreational facilities for temporary and permanent use across the State of Florida.
OPWRA is community based not-for-profit group Directed by Bradley Knoefler, consisting of grass-roots volunteers and a citizen board of directors. Walter Meyer, the Owner of Local Office Landscape, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Brooklyn, New York designed the Instant Park concept, which OPWRA will erect on 5 acres of Downtown Miami urban blight.
OPWRA is seeking out “members of the community looking to hold events catering to the downtown Miami residents”. City of Miami District 5 Commissioner Richard P. Dunn II told the Miami Herald, "It's a win-win situation for the CRA, for the City (of Miami)".
Grand Central Park will provide needed green space and recreational area for thousands of new Downtown Miami residents. The park will exist for a minimum period of 3 years, while the final status of the former Miami Arena site is determined.
“Grand Central Park is submitting City of Miami permit applications this week and hopes to be functioning 30 calendar days from the green light to build” says OPWRA Director, Bradley Knofler, “We hope that Grand Central Park will serve as a model for converting blighted lots into active green spaces which communities need.”
For questions and further information, please visit www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Bradley Knoefler directly at 305.814.6219 or gcparkmiami@
# # #
Omni Park West Redevelopment Association is a not for profit community organization with a citizen board of directors located in Downtown Miami
Monday, January 31, 2011
Grand Central Park Set for Approval of Florida’s First Instant Park
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc's Grand Central Park Project is on the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) agenda for final vote to fund Florida’s first Instant Park located on the former site of the Miami Arena.
Brad Knoefler, Director of Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc. (OPWRA) a 501 (c)3 non-profit corporation in Miami, Florida is pleased to announce Florida’s first Instant Park.
Miami - Omni Park West Redevelopment Association Inc, a Florida Not-For-Profit Corporation, in Miami, Florida is on the City of Miami Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) agenda for final vote to fund Grand Central Park to be Florida’s first Instant Park located in Downtown Miami, on the former site of the Miami Arena.
Grand Central Park will be built in 30 days according to OPWRA’s Architectural plan, leading the movement of rapid deployment multi-use recreational facilities for temporary and permanent use across the State of Florida.
OPWRA is community based not-for-profit group Directed by Bradley Knoefler, consisting of grass-roots volunteers and a citizen board of directors. Walter Meyer, the Owner of Local Office Landscape, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Brooklyn, New York designed the Instant Park concept, which OPWRA will erect on 5 acres of Downtown Miami urban blight.
OPWRA invested “privately donated funds well over $100,000” according to Knoefler, “clearing 1/8th of a linear mile’s blighted train tracks, and Completing Phase 1 of the Grand Central Park Project”. City of Miami District 2 Commissioner Marc Sarnoff said through his Twitter account @MarcSarnoff, “We hope the park will be a great success” on Saturday evening.
Grand Central Park will provide needed green space and recreational area for thousands of new Downtown Miami residents. The park will exist for a minimum period of 3 years, while the final status of the former Miami Arena site is determined.
“Grand Central Park will serve as a catalyst for redevelopment of Downtown Miami, and improve quality of life for City residents” says OPWRA Director, Bradley Knofler, “We hope that Grand Central Park will serve as a model for converting blighted lots into active green spaces which communities need.”
For questions and further information, please visit www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Bradley Knoefler directly at 305.814.6219 or gcparkmiami@gmail.com or follow the Grand Central Park twitter account @gcparkmiami
Sunday, January 30, 2011
OPINION: Grand Park Project at old arena should be approved - as published in MiamiHerald.com 1/30/2011
The Grand Central Park project will beautify nearly five-acres of blight for a multi-year period in less than 30 days. Using private cash or in-kind donations exceeding $100,000 the Omni Park West Redevelopment Association, a not-for-profit 501(c)3 corporation, has already cleared the 5-acre site and planned. The project will create climate where civic pride and entrepreneurship becomes possible. Our efforts will restore a site that for many represents broken dreams.
Grand Central Park's impact on the thousands of surrounding residents will be enormous. Downtown residents are in dire need of public green space for the thousands of existing residents, which includes 3,000 new residents in nearby condominiums. Surrounding local city parks are frequently closed to the public due to events or construction of new venues. We hope to use our project as an example for other temporary parks on the vacant lots littering our fair city. Though the park's existence is finite in term, its impact on the neighborhood, its residents and perception of the area will certainly be lasting.
The stated purpose and legal mandate of the Community Redevelopment Agency is to reduce slum and blight. Visible improvement to the area is needed to reverse the negative perception caused by empty lots in disrepair. Redevelopment money is being spent on large projects or on a piecemeal basis. Few of these projects improve the appearance of the neighborhood to residents or visitors by reducing slum and blight.
However, with the recent replacement of the Executive Director of the CRA and support from our elected officials like Commissioners Sarnoff and Dunn, we are positive that there is finally change on the horizon.
The ``broken window theory'' has been proven time and time again in cities around the world. Improving the streetscapes and providing park space can lure new life, as well as business into the area. Activity and people create demand, which translates peripherally into investment and job creation.
Although the primary purpose of the park is quality of life and ``urban activation,'' we envision economic activities such as food concessions, new restaurants opening in adjacent buildings, and jobs created though events and other activities.
Under former Mayor Manny Diaz, the city of Miami attracted a world-class development boom to the Downtown and Brickell districts of Miami. Three existing highrise residential towers and four new mega-condominiums along Biscayne Boulevard have added nearly 3,000 housing units to the Park West neighborhood since 2007. With the ongoing construction of Museum Park -- expected to last for years -- there's no green space within walking distance of these many thousands of residents.
To our critics we must quote the Miami Heat's LeBron James when he said, ``You're always going to have people who love you and who hate you, I have enough motivation but I can always use a little more.''
The neighborhood's largest tenant, the Miami Heat, is attracting crowds of up to 20,000 people into Park West. Many of these visitors haven't been to the Downtown Miami area in years. Unfortunately, their first impression of the ``new'' Miami is blighted empty space and parking lots.
Though there have been scant incidents of trouble, it isn't unusual to hear Miami Heat patrons complain of fear for their safety walking through Park West. The roughly 30 remaining dates represent the neighborhood's best shot at reversing negative perception today.
Our city of Miami, especially the poorest neighborhoods, needs drastic change, quickly. We ask you to give us -- who have resided in Park West for years now -- a chance to change our neighborhood simply one step at a time. If we try new ideas, we can change this city.
BRADLEY KNOEFLER
President, OMNI Park West Redevelopment Association, Miami
Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/01/30/2042292/opinion-grand-park-project-at.html#storylink=twtuser#ixzz1Cau1ecsn
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Letter to the Editor of the Miami Herald
The Grand Central Park project will beautify nearly five-acres of blight for a multi-year period in less than 30 days. Using private cash or in-kind donations exceeding $100,000 the Omni Park West Redevelopment Association, a not-for-profit 501 (c)3 corporation, has already cleared the 5-acre site and planned. The project will create a climate where civic pride and entrepreneurship becomes possible. Our efforts will restore a site that for many represents broken dreams. Grand Central Park’s impact on the thousands of surrounding residents will be enormous.
Downtown residents are in dire need of public green space for the thousands of existing residents, which includes 3,000 new residents in nearby condominiums. Surrounding local city parks are frequently closed to the public due to events or construction of new venues. We hope to use our project as an example for other temporary parks on the vacant lots littering our fair City. Though the park’s existence is finite in term, its impact on the neighborhood, its residents and perception of the area will certainly be lasting.
The stated purpose and legal mandate of the Community Redevelopment Agency is to reduce slum and blight. Visible improvement to the area is needed to reverse the negative perception caused by empty lots in disrepair. Redevelopment money is being spent on large projects or on a piecemeal basis. Few of these projects improve the appearance of the neighborhood to residents or visitors by reducing slum and blight. However, with the recent replacement of the Executive Director of the CRA and support from our elected officials like Commissioners Sarnoff and Dunn, we are positive that there is finally change on the horizon.
The “broken window theory” has been proven time and time again in cities around the world. Improving the streetscapes and providing park space can lure new life, as well as business into the area. Activity and people create demand, which translates peripherally into investment and job creation. Although the primary purpose of the park is quality of life and “urban activation”, we envision economic activities such as food concessions, new restaurants opening in adjacent buildings, and jobs created though events and other activities.
Under former Mayor Manny Diaz, the City of Miami attracted a world-class development boom to the Downtown and Brickell districts of Miami. Three existing high rise residential towers and four new mega-condominiums along Biscayne Blvd. have added nearly 3,000 housing units to the Park West neighborhood since 2007. With the ongoing construction of Museum Park – expected to last for years – there’s no green space within walking distance of these many thousands of residents.
To our critics we must quote the Miami Heat’s LeBron James when he said, “"You’re always going to have people who love you and who hate you, I have enough motivation but I can always use a little more.". The neighborhood’s largest tenant, the Miami Heat, is attracting crowds of up to 20,000 people into Park West. Many of these visitors haven’t been to the Downtown Miami area in years. Unfortunately, their first impression of the “new” Miami is blighted empty space and parking lots.
Though there have been scant incidents of trouble, it isn’t unusual to hear Miami Heat patrons complain of fear for their safety walking through Park West. The roughly thirty remaining dates represent the neighborhood’s best shot at reversing negative perception today, now.
Our city of Miami, especially the poorest neighborhoods, needs drastic change, quickly. We ask you to give us – who have resided in Park West for years now - a chance to change our neighborhood simply one step at a time. If we try new ideas, we can change this City.
Friday, January 28, 2011
Response to Ms. Sousa's Article in the Miami Herald
Thanks Ms. Sousa for your opinion piece, and for reaching out to Mr. McKnight for his thoughts. I agree that job creation has to be what we focus on every day in the redevelopment area. Something that your article could leave readers thinking is that Grand Central Park is another "mega project" or "white elephant" - which by definition it is not. Grand Central Park is a non-profit venture by a 501(c)(3), the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association. It's temporary, economically self sufficient, and a grass roots effort rather than a top down mandate. It's also important to point out that Miami has one of the lowest rates of park space in the U.S. and one the highest rates of vacant lots (most of them concentrated in the redevelopment area). Grand Central Park is a light weight (i.e., inexpensive) way to generate activity in the neighborhood and improve Miami's image around the country which today is as a city full of vacant lots and devoid of parks. Let's show people that we are innovative and will get behind new ideas!
The park eliminates a large swath of blighted land replacing it with a greenspace that will improve the quality of life for residents. There are dozens of vacant lots in the redevelopment area that collect trash and debris and this could also be a model for low-cost "gap fillers" to beautify the neighborhood (an effort that will generate jobs) between economic cycles. It will also bring activity to the neighborhood -- it's up to the community to take advantage of that. It's a tough nut to crack - there are no jobs, and almost zero economic activity in Overtown. If a relatively modest investment can bring people WEST from Biscayne Blvd and into the redevelopment area, that activity will support new local businesses. Mr. McKnight is right to point out that this project is not going to create hundreds of jobs, but it will create some and will generate activity that could support new businesses. Finally, the non-profit behind the project, Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Ass'n is also working with local community leaders to incorporate apprenticeship programs and encourage hands-on job training for local residents at the park.
At the end of the day decades have passed and Overtown has only gotten worse. This is an innovative idea that incorporates a lot of modern contemporary thought on sustainability, community building, and economic revitalization. I think its one of the smartest investments that the city could make and encourage people to learn more about it and ask questions or make suggestions.
The park eliminates a large swath of blighted land replacing it with a greenspace that will improve the quality of life for residents. There are dozens of vacant lots in the redevelopment area that collect trash and debris and this could also be a model for low-cost "gap fillers" to beautify the neighborhood (an effort that will generate jobs) between economic cycles. It will also bring activity to the neighborhood -- it's up to the community to take advantage of that. It's a tough nut to crack - there are no jobs, and almost zero economic activity in Overtown. If a relatively modest investment can bring people WEST from Biscayne Blvd and into the redevelopment area, that activity will support new local businesses. Mr. McKnight is right to point out that this project is not going to create hundreds of jobs, but it will create some and will generate activity that could support new businesses. Finally, the non-profit behind the project, Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Ass'n is also working with local community leaders to incorporate apprenticeship programs and encourage hands-on job training for local residents at the park.
At the end of the day decades have passed and Overtown has only gotten worse. This is an innovative idea that incorporates a lot of modern contemporary thought on sustainability, community building, and economic revitalization. I think its one of the smartest investments that the city could make and encourage people to learn more about it and ask questions or make suggestions.
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