Do not demolish the Expo Center yet
Someone left a great comment on the plan to demolish the Expo Center. They mirror my thoughts exactly: Instead of rushing in and demolishing something that is actually bringing money into the Grove, why not wait and leave it for the last thing in the plan?
Why not keep the Expo Center running as a movie/tv studio and let it run it's course, then if necessary, demolish it. If the county stops funding "Burn Notice," they may not even be back next year and that will solve the problem. But until then, why kill it?
I fear that like many things (the post office for example) the place will be knocked down and sit there for years as a mound of dirt while in the meantime it could be used as-is to bring money into the area.
Instead of knocking the structure down to make things look like they are progressing, how about using our heads this time and not put the cart before the horse. As the person commented below, things like this should not be done in the summer when half the town is away. This is not fair and should not be permitted.
Any volunteers to chain themselves to the building and stand with "Burn Notice" signs?
Why not keep the Expo Center running as a movie/tv studio and let it run it's course, then if necessary, demolish it. If the county stops funding "Burn Notice," they may not even be back next year and that will solve the problem. But until then, why kill it?
I fear that like many things (the post office for example) the place will be knocked down and sit there for years as a mound of dirt while in the meantime it could be used as-is to bring money into the area.
Instead of knocking the structure down to make things look like they are progressing, how about using our heads this time and not put the cart before the horse. As the person commented below, things like this should not be done in the summer when half the town is away. This is not fair and should not be permitted.
Any volunteers to chain themselves to the building and stand with "Burn Notice" signs?
posted by Tom Falco at 3:25 PM
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7 Comments:
I'm sorry it is an eyesore and should have never been built in the first place. It will be more valuable to the ENTIRE city of Miami to convert it to public open space so that more of us can enjoy our waterfront. I think it is asinine to keep it Sly as a sound stage. What a waste of waterfront. And by the way MOST people want the thing gone.
I have to agree with Grape here. A pile of dirt sitting for years is not going to be better than an actual working movie studio.
Leave it for the last project and don't knock it down to make a point and let it just sit as rubble. I honestly don't see work starting on the waterfront plan for years. Why kill the sound stage to be spiteful? You cannot see the waterfront from the street and won't see it if the building is knocked down.
KEEP THE MOVIE STUDIO.
People don't even use Peacock Park - they ought to put portholes in the mangroves so we can see the bay. We don't use the boardwalk because it is not safe. Grapevine posted a photo recently of a homeless man sleeping in the Park When is the last time you saw people picnicking at Kenny Meyers Park? KEEP THE EXPO CENTER UNTIL WE KNOW WHERE THE FUNDING IS COMING FROM. What's the rush? Come to the Waterfront Bd meeting tonight 6:30 p.m. and voice your opinion.
I do agree with you that we should support more film production.
I also agree that a film studio does not need to be on waterfront property.
But I hope that you will agree with me that City Hall and unworthy politicians also dont need to occupy prime waterfront property.
Lets indeed find a warehouse in Wynwood or Overtown for a film studio.
Lets also find a location in downtown for City Hall.
How ironic to read two Herald columns yesterday.
One for the plans to improve the waterfront that includes demolishing the Coconut Grove Expo center and the other celebrating the positive financial effect the renting of it to BURN NOTICE has had.
Yesterday BURN NOTICE was filming on Grand Ave in front of the Coconut Grove Elementary School.
The Grove was filled with excitement and pride.
We could sure use more of that.
The only reason the Expo Center is in shambles is because Miami did not book enough events to help pay for its maintenance.
I like parks as much as anyone, but to allow that building to decay for lack of maintenance is a crime and burden on us taxpayers.
I understand that a community generates something like a 4 to 6 multiple on every dollar of incentive provided to the film industry.
It is a great economic generator of business and makes a huge profit for our community.
I cant understand the logic in not continuing it.
We could sure use more film production and fewer condos.
Harry Emilio Gottlieb
A parking garage.... Like the Grove needs another parking garage with retail space... I am all for making the waterfront "connected", but I am worried about the the development - why do we need a parking garage? Just seems strange.
And, what about Shake-A-Leg, they just built that new facility and now move it - or what?
Lastly, funding, if this city (and county) can not even fund some real mass-trans projects - how can they ever get the funds to pay for this project?
I am with Sue on this, why raze the expo center if it's being used - do that last.
I know people like the boat ramp, but why have the coastal zone taken up by a parking lot.... what a waste?
-Bill Anderson
Folks, these film and television industry people will wipe their asses with Coconut Grove if it suits them. We should be thinking about our long-term interests as a community. The film and t.v. business is a here-today-gone-tomorrow enterprise. I wouldn't plan lunch around it, much less a park.
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