A petition against the other petition

This is an interesting turn of events regarding The Office in the Grove.

I sort of find it petty that one architect would step on another architect. I respect them both, so don't know what to make of it. But you know the saying, if you don't have anything nice to say . . . 

But here is a letter by local architect Richard Heisenbottle regarding the Office in the Grove and he does make a lot of sense, but to have another petition asking for the City NOT to make the Office in the Grove historic is a bit over the top

Anyway, here's the letter:

Good afternoon friends,

If you are like me you are not into signing petitions these days.  There always seems to a plethora of petitions drifting around Facebook and I try and avoid every one.  However, because you have long been a resident of Coconut Grove and greater Miami there is one I hope you will consider.

A group of well meaning, but uninformed preservationists led by architect Kenneth Treister are proposing to historically designate a building called Office In The Grove located at 2699 South Bayshore Drive.  It is clear why Mr. Treister wishes to historically designate a building that he designed and developed.  Historic designation would enhance his reputation and his legacy.  But Historic Preservation Law has very specific criteria for designating buildings that are less than 50 years old. Office In The Grove is 44 years old.  The law requires that buildings less than 50 years old be “exceptionally important”.  Office in The Grove is not “exceptionally important”.  Vizcaya is exceptionally important, the Freedom Tower is exceptionally important, the Biltmore Hotel is exceptionally important, the Miami Marine Stadium is exceptionally important, the Bacardi building is exceptionally important, Office In The Grove is not. 

Join me in supporting historic preservation by protecting it from the overzealous who would disregard the requirements of Preservation Law.  Sign the online petition that you will find at the link below and please feel free to share this with friends and neighbors.

https://www.officeinthegrove.com 

Thank you.

Richard J. Heisenbottle, FAIA
President
 R. J. Heisenbottle Architects, P.A.
Coral Gables, FL

What's funny is the first line of the petition: "I the undersigned hereby express my support for protecting the integrity of Miami’s preservation standards.

What preservation standards? Miami has NO preservation standards.

The ironic part is that Mr. Heisenbottle states the Office in the Grove is only 44 years old and to be considered to be historic, it should be 50 years old. But if we don't save it now, how will it get to be 50 years old, or 60 or 100 years old? Maybe the wording should not be "keeping it historic," but maybe it should say "keeping our history," since all of our history seems likes it's being torn down all the time.