Keep the Expo Center as a movie/tv studio
A lot of people are enjoying the fact that the movie and tv people are using the Grove Expo Center as their studios. Aside from the Hollywood excitement, it is adding jobs to the area, adding increased business to hotels, stores and restaurants and allowing the Grove to be seen in many background shots.Aside from that, it's a nice, clean industry. It has a long history in the Miami area. That's Theda Bara filming a silent movie in the 1920s in Miami and below is Flipper. The tv series was filmed at the Seaquarium in the 1960s.
The Expo Center is supposed to eventually be knocked down and be made into a park according to the Waterfront Master Plan, but with "Burn Notice" using the Expo Center for their weekly tv show and so many movies using it lately, it would be a shame in these hard economic times to knock down a cash cow to the area.Yes, I know the City leases out the Center for next to nothing, but all the residual money flowing down is adding to the economy of Coconut Grove and Miami.
The Waterfront Advisory Board meets again, today at 6:30 pm. If you cannot attend, you can see it on City Hall TV-Ch 77 - or stream at http://videos.miamigov.com
posted by Tom Falco at 7:36 AM
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19 Comments:
i like the movies, but i like open space more. maybe they should knock down all the open space in the back of mayfair and build a studio there, or rent out one of the hangers for the movies. i still support open space. expo center is an eye sore
Back of mayfair? The movie studio is large at the Expo center, it would envelope Mayfair, Cocowalk and so much more. No room there. Leave it where it is. economy is poor, we need this, not another park.
The movie studio is nice, but that is public land and should used for the public interest ..... Although there should be a memorial sign with the designation: "Jim Morrison Was`Arrested Here".
I think the film makers are at the convention center because it is so cheap. I thought I heard that it isn't a very safe building and is ready to be torn down. I'm afraid if they make all the repairs necessary to keep it longer term, it will no longer be dirt cheap.
I spoke with someone in the know, and it is not in the bad shape they want you to think it is. The movie people are insured, the place is in good condition and even if the rent was raised, there is no other place this size in the area.
It is already set up and retrofitted like a movie studio. It would make no sense for them to leave now unless they were forced out.
If you enter the place now, you would think you are actually on a sound stage in California, it is huge. Whole houses, interiors and exteriors, are set up in there with plenty of room to move.
It has the huge three or four story barn doors that are needed for access and high ceilings and I don't know of any other facility in the city or county that is more suitable for movie making at this point in time.
Burn Notice and City of Miami need to leave that area and give it back to the citizens. The waterfront plan will bring in plenty of economy throughout the year not just at fixed times. If located at a different site maybe, but not on prime waterfront property, no way! We talk about business but how about the residents who should be able to enjoy this public space!
A state-of-the art, well-programmed open space in that location will due far more for increasing the quality of life in the Grove. I agree that the "movie studio" is cool thing to have... but let's stick with the plan of keeping a public waterfront.
Aw, get over the "green space" already. The entire Grove is green. I bet half of you complainers dont even use the space that currently exists. Its cool to have a movie studio in the area and it adds jobs and builds upon the "arts and entertainment" vibe in the Grove.
I say keep it! It's cool seeing the Grove in movies and shows. I do like the waterfront plan but agree that all these filming people and cast/crew bring a lot more money to the area.
I've always envisioned an ice arena inside, with a skate park outside. That would solve the skater boyz problem, bring in revenue, etc. etc. Just think, hockey leagues, skating parties, summer camps, field trips, good exercise, a place for our kids, a place to cool off in the summer. A place owned by our community and used by our community.
How much green space does the Grove need? If the place was an empty lot, I would say put in a park, but the building has been there for 40 years, utilize it. The movies are a clean, quiet industry and a perfect fit for the Grove. What next knock down The Fresh Market and the marinas? They are on good land for a park, too.
I would like to have a production office at the new studio site. As a Florida filmmaker, see: www.brucemerwin.com I would appreciate a local place where we could have small production offices and be able to use the studio or be hired to day play at the studio. The Grove is rich in Karma that reflects well in movie making lenses. Let's get behind the City of Miami and make this facility a thriving vibrant movie studio.
Len Scinto
I am not against "burn notice" or any other filming in the Grove. I actually like it. But the shoreline should be completely public and not just for the Grove but for all Miami. Someone mentioned what's next get rid of the Freshmarket. I think it's stupid to have a large grocery store without windows on waterfront property. Look at Grant Park in Chicago. No private businesses east of lake shore drive and not much east of michigan Avenue. Our shoreline is a gift of geology and should be enjoyed by all people not just Grovites or those wealthy enough to buy it up.
The Fresh Market is in an airplane hanger, as is the marina next door and Verrick Gym (Shake-A-Leg). About 15 years ago the city tried to tear down these buildings, but received strong opposition from the community as these buildings have historical significance in the aircraft and airline industry. It came before the city commission, and, for once, the citizens won. These are historical buildings,people. They cannot be taken down.
Right after that time, the building that houses Shake-A-Leg was supposed to become a community center run by the YMCA. That fell through, and Shake-A-Leg has it now. It does serve the community, and has many programs for everyone, not just the disabled. I just don't know what became of the bicycle path that ran down the south side of the building.
The Fresh Market was a welcome addition to our community. Farmer markets such as Pike's Place in Seattle or Granville Island in Vancouver were explored, but never came about. At least at Fresh Market everyone can shop. We can't afford everything, put the spring lettuce in bulk is cheap.
The marina used to be all sorts of people. There were many live-aboards right at the dock, but those people have been replaced. This is one place owned by the city that doesn't serve the people of the city. Have you seen the yachts at this place. I don't know one person that has a boat here.
Anyway, just a little history lesson on these "useless" buildings.
This public land is not serving the public, as a film studio. It's a profit making venture for a few people and that's it. Wow, it's very hip! Sorry, but that's not a reason why it should stay.
The park is a waste of space, there are plenty of parks surrounding the area. The movie studio brings jobs and money into the Grove which does serve the community. It makes money for everyone, not just a few people, it spreads the money to Grove businesses, those Grove businesses spread that money into other businesses, etc.
For instance if the movie studio spends money in Shell lumber for sets and supplies, Shell pays their employees, those employees pay their rents and mortgages and they buy things in the Grove and spend money at restaurants, stores, the dentist, etc. Those restaurants and stores and the dentist use the money and spend that in the area and so on and so on.
A park just is there. Waste of space when there are so many other parks in the area. We are surrounded by parks. In this tight economy it is very foolish to chose a park over the movie studio.
Take a look at the most recent version of the waterfront plan, which was created with extensive resident participation. It places a Regatta Center, which would have facilities for the Coconut Grove Sailing Club and the United States Sailing Center along the bulkhead behind where the convention center is now. There is a large grassy area that could be used by residents as park space and during regattas would provide needed open space for storing boats and laying out sails.
Coconut Grove is a world class competitive sailing destination, and the waterfront plan would enhance that status, bringing in revenue as hundreds of sailors and their families travel here for events. This is a water dependent use that provides access to the public for water-related activities, unlike a movie studio which is not open to the public and could be located anywhere in the City.
I strongly support efforts to make Miami a film mecca, but do not agree that the permanent conversion of the convention center to movie studio is a good idea. The City does have another large albatross of a building that would be perfect for movie studio use and is not on prime waterfront property -- what about the old Arena downtown? Now that the American Airlines Arena is there, it's not really needed as an arena. It has really tall ceilings, a roof, and is centrally located and accessible to public transportation, if the movie studio were inclined to hire locals who use the metrorail.
If the studio is at the Arena movies using it as their indoor base would still be filmed on location all over town, and if the Grove promotes itself, it will still benefit.
I like the movie studio idea, and say let's keep it here until we know for sure that the waterfront plan will actually happen, after which it can go to the Arena, which is a great suggestion. What I don't want to happen is to have the thing torn down prematurely, while the City irons out differences with the Sailing Club and Shake a Leg, who are holding out against the new plan. During that interim, it could be really easy for the city to move into some plan-b revenue making formation on the site of the convention center. Let's not tempt the situation.
Margot Channing
I like the movie studio idea, and say let's keep it here until we know for sure that the waterfront plan will actually happen, after which it can go to the Arena, which is a great suggestion. What I don't want to happen is to have the thing torn down prematurely, while the City irons out differences with the Sailing Club and Shake a Leg, who are holding out against the new plan. During that interim, it could be really easy for the city to move into some plan-b revenue making formation on the site of the convention center. Let's not tempt the situation.
Margot Channing
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