Attempt #2

At an F-stop blue.

I wouldn't have ever tried writing this blog if millions of people before me hadn't already started blogging, so it is with great appreciation and respect that I thank all those who have come before me and paved the path. However, at the same time, I hope others are ok with one of the purposes of my blog being to create dialogue over the postings from other blogs I read about the local Miami area and its planning scene. And for now this is what I got:

Over on the Coconut Grove Grapevine, (CGG) whose author I don't know but completely respect for their dedicated care and concern for their neighborhood, there seems to be some disagreement with the way the planning process is going for SW 27th Avenue, and subsequently throughout Miami.

For anyone that doesn't know, SW 27th Avenue is one of the most important roads leading into Coconut Grove and is in horrible condition. CGG agrees with this, but seems to want to simply see some road modification work and greening done, and that's about it. In the same posting he refers to the waterfront planning process going on for Coconut Grove, and overall CGG seems to be displeased with the way these planning opportunities lead to further development and not just beautification. I think CGG is scared that when a planning process becomes fully exploratory, and brings up many different solutions and development scenarios, that the development powers that be will jump at the opportunity to cram the Grove with some whole lota shotty development.

And this is where we differ in opinion.

To put it bluntly, I believe we have little control over our area's population growth, and thus to avoid development, thinking that it is the reason we are growing, is wrong. The people are coming, we can't stop it, and we must plan, redevelop, and build to make sure Miami can harmoniously support its growing population.

I am pointing all this out to highlight the riff that exists in Miami between those that want to see Miami fixed up through halting development and beautifying what we already have, and those that want to see it fixed up with more development (some understand that it needs to be planned development). But we all agree that where Miami is today is a result of horrible planning over the past 20 years, and basically patch work development and problem fixing.

When something like the "fixing-up", aka its redevelopment, of SW 27th Ave. and of Coconut Grove's waterfront takes place, this is the opportunity we missed in the past to instate a planning process that can pave the way for positive growth. CGG expresses:

"Every time the City or County has some project in mind it ends up being a major issue. Can't some trees be added to 27th Avenue -- lots of trees -- and maybe clean up some sidewalks and plant some flowers? Isn't this good enough? Is it necessary to destroy businesses?"

Now, I don't know the full details of what proposals have been made for that project, but what CGG is hoping for is a sort of patchwork solution of just beautifying the road instead of engaging in a full planning process that looks at the surroundings too. No, we can't do it that way. We must engage in a full fledged process, and unfortunately, if it sometimes leads to change that some don't like, such as the increase in density or loss of some businesses, than that is what must be done for the greater good. The caveat here is that the planning process must be run well, with full public participation, and its end product should be a solution that most of the public agrees with.

CGG: "The same goes for the waterfront plan. Does the whole area need to be demolished? Can't the convention center be knocked down -- green space added and that be it?"

To simply demolish the convention center and green it over would be a waste of city funds (demolition is not cheap), and a wasted opportunity to invigorate the waterfront with some commercial activity that will help pay for its maintenance. With the removal of the convention center there is the opening up of so much opportunity to improve traffic flow, increase cultural space for the city, increase environmental preservation and education opportunities, etc. We owe it to the land we live on to look at problems in a macro-sense, spend some time planning for how to fix them.