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October 2, 2007 Ocean Drive Selected as One of 10 Great Streets in America Lasting Power of Community Dedication and Planning Sustain Street's Unique Characteristics Miami, FL — The American Planning Association (APA) announced today that Ocean Drive in Miami Beach has been designated as one of 10 Great Streets for 2007 through APA's Great Places in America program. APA Great Places exemplify exceptional character and highlight the role planners and planning play in creating communities of lasting value.
"We're honored to be one of the first cities in the country to be singled out for a Great Places award," said Miami Beach Mayor David Dermer. "Ocean Drive is a remarkable street for many reasons, and APA's honor underscores the importance that planning, public and business participation, and community leadership played in bringing back Ocean Drive." APA selected Ocean Drive as one of 10 Great Streets in America for its unique architectural legacy; citizen-led historic protection efforts; city-initiated mixed-use, pedestrian-oriented restoration and redevelopment; and on-going public support. APA Great Places offer better choices for where and how people work and live. They are enjoyable, safe, and desirable. They are places where people want to be — not only to visit, but to live and work there everyday. America's truly great neighborhoods are defined by many unique criteria, including architectural features, accessibility, functionality, and community involvement. Through Great Places in America APA recognizes the unique and authentic attributes of essential building blocks of great communities — streets, neighborhoods, and public spaces. "We're excited to single out Ocean Drive as one of America's Great Streets," said APA Executive Director Paul Farmer, FAICP. "The remarkable community effort that led to Ocean Drive's recovery is inspiring and provides the country with a model of what is possible when citizens, business interests and city leaders work together to achieve a shared vision and plan," he added. Miami Beach's unmatched legacy of Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, and Streamline Moderne hotels, apartments, and other buildings — well over a thousand — was built during the 1920s and 1930s. After World War II the hotels along Ocean Drive — none were taller than 10 stories — went into a 30-year period of decline, abandonment and, for some, demolition. Some at the time believed the only solution was to level all of the period buildings and construct a modern-day Venice with canals, restaurants, high-rise hotels, condominiums, and shops. Recognizing the incalculable worth of the city's stock of Art Deco buildings, including those along Ocean Drive, was citizen advocate Barbara Capitman. A writer and former newspaper reporter who moved to Miami Beach from New York City, she founded the Miami Design Preservation League in 1976 in order to protect and restore the city's Art Deco heritage. Her efforts led to the federally designated Miami Beach Architectural District being approved in 1979 — the only federal designation in the country for an area from the 20th Century. The federal designation was just the first step, however. Gaining public, business and political support so meaningful historic area protection ordinances could be enacted would take another decade. Also, in the mid-1980s the Miami Beach planning department developed a plan to redesign Ocean Drive, including rezoning the area to mixed use; expanding sidewalks for outside tables and seating; creating a 20-foot wide promenade and outdoor concert stage; and establishing a business improvement district. That plan, which received an APA National Planning Award honorable mention in 1986, was funded by supportive business leaders who launched an "Our Drive, Ocean Drive" campaign to gain voter approval of a $3 million bond proposal. Ocean Drive's recovery doesn't end here, but it does show the economic value and staying power that results when citizens, business interests, and city officials join together to protect and enhance the things that make their community unique and outstanding. The nine other APA Great Streets for 2007 include: Bull Street, Savannah, Georgia; Canyon Road, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Delmar Loop, University City, Missouri; Main Street, Northampton, Massachusetts; Monument Avenue, Richmond, Virginia; North Michigan Avenue, Chicago, Illinois; 125th Street Harlem, New York City; South Temple Street, Salt Lake City, Utah; and St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, Louisiana. For more information about these streets, and the list of APA's 10 Great Neighborhoods for 2007, visit www.planning.org/greatplaces. This year's 10 Great Streets and 10 Great Neighborhoods will be celebrated as part of APA's National Community Planning Month in October 2007, designed to recognize and celebrate the many residents, leaders, officials, and professionals who contribute to making great communities. For more about National Community Planning Month, visit www.planning.org/ncpm. Contacts |
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