Risk to Everglades is Florida's shame

Risk to Everglades is Florida's shame: "Efforts to keep the unique wetlands from dying have been credit crunched, says Jeff Hecht

"

Master Plan 2008 - Marina Bay

Master Plan 2008 - Marina Bay

New 396 Alhambra Office Development

A Mexican-led investment group has chosen Coral Gables for its first foray into the U.S..

An affiliate of the multinational Jose Cuervo Group of Mexico City has joined forces with veteran Miami developer Eduardo Avila to build a $130 million, 15-story tower at 396 Alhambra Circle.

1926 - a view of downtown Miami looking northeast photo - Don Boyd photos at pbase.com

1926 - a view of downtown Miami looking northeast photo - Don Boyd photos at pbase.com: "1926 - a view of downtown Miami looking northeast
Downtown Miami, Florida


The old Miami News Building is in the upper left hand corner. The FEC railroad tracks run left to right in the middle with the original Dade County Courthouse visible on Flagler Street and NW/SW 1st Avenue."

Biscayne Boulevard Improvements | Miami

Biscayne Boulevard Improvements | Miami: "Address: Flagler, North First and South First Streets connecting Downtown Miami’s
Bayfront to the Miami River.
Developer: Downtown Development Authority
Architect: Corradino Group & Wallace Roberts & Todd
Description: Conversion of Flagler Street from a one-way west bound to a two-way traffic
operation; An expanded and improved Downtown Metrobus Terminal; Relocation of large
public buses from Flagler Street; A two-way shuttle bus on Flagler Street from Bayside to
the Miami River; Installation of sidewalk pavers, tall palm trees, and decorative street
lights.
Project Cost: $16 million
Construction Date: Winter, 2001
Completion Date: Spring, 2005


FLAGLER Street Corridor Improvement"

Downtown Miami Transportation Improvements | Miami

Downtown Miami Transportation Improvements | Miami: "Description: The project encompasses the total reconstruction of Biscayne Boulevard from NE 5th Street to NE 13th Street.
The main features of the project are a wider median, installation of decorative street lighting, sidewalks, a new drainagesystem,
signalization and landscaping throughout the corridor.

Funding By: Department of Transportation

Estimated Project Cost: $ 6 Million

Construction Date: Summer, 2005"

Downtown Miami Transportation Improvements | Miami

Downtown Miami Transportation Improvements | Miami: "Baylink

Metrorail between South Beach and Downtown

Description: Description: A light-rail transportation system at ground level connecting Miami Beach and Downtown Miami.


Financed By: The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT)
Managed By: The Metropolitan Planning
Organization (MPO)

Project Cost: $ 400 Million"

new developments downtown miami | pre-construction downtown miami

new developments downtown miami | pre-construction downtown miami

Miami-Dade's Comp Plan

Image via Wikipedia

According to the Daily Business Review, several projects have applied for changes to the Miami-Dade County comprehensive plan. They include:

• 165 acres located near the Broward County line between NW 199 Street and Snake Creek Canal from 47th to 57th Avenue. The current plan allows for institution, utilitiy and communication uses. The proposed change would allow for a mixed-use business park. (applicant Miami-Dade county)

• 41 acres north of Flagler Street between Northwest 94th Avenue and proposed 90th Avenue. Currently part of a 272 acre Fountainbleau Lakes residential development The proposed change would be from a residential to business use to allow for a new shopping center. (applicant Shoma Homes)

• 41 acres at the northeast corner of West Flagler Street and Northwest 102nd Avenue near Fontainebleau Lakes. The proposed change to the former mobile-home park is from residential use to office and retail. (applicant Gold River Corp.)

• 31-acre parcel west of Northwest 72nd Avenue between 14th and 19th streets and 17-acre parcel at the northwest corner of Northwest 72nd Avenue and 12th Street. the proposed change would be from transportation terminal and industrial use to office and retail. The Aviation Department is soliciting development proposals from developers interested in building a commercial project on both parcels. (applicant Dade County Aviation Dept)

• 36 acres at the southwest corner of Southwest 248th Street and 112th Avenue in south Miami-Dade. the proposed change is from office and residential use to office and retail use to allow for a new retail center. (applicant Manuel Diaz)

Mayor's Blog

Image via Wikipedia Wednesday, August 13, 2008
Mayor Manny Diaz SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH CONCERNING POLITICAL DISQUALIFICATIONS IN VENEZUELA

I have watched the events in Venezuela unfold during the past weeks and have become increasingly worried about the future of democracy in that country. The latest cause for alarm has been the arbitrary disqualifications of 272 candidates who would otherwise be eligible to run for office in the upcoming elections, simply because they are opposed to the current government. This is a blatant disregard of the Venezuelan constitution, and an attempt against democracy as a whole in our hemisphere.

Mayor's Blog: MAYOR DIAZ SENDS LETTER TO PRESIDENT BUSH CONCERNING POLITICAL DISQUALIFICATIONS IN VENEZUELA:

Coral Castle in Miami - Coral Castle in Homestead

Image via Wikipedia Coral Castle is located in Homestead, a city located in south Miami-Dade County.

Per the Coral Castle's website:

"If you had visited Coral Castle 60 years ago, you would have been greeted enthusiastically by a man weighing a mere 100 pounds and standing just over 5 feet tall. He would have asked you for ten cents admission and introduced you to his fantasy world carved out of stone.

As you moved around his rock garden and the significance of each piece was explained, you could not help but notice the great pride Ed Leedskalnin took in his work.

Since it is documented that no one ever witnessed Ed's labor in building his rock gate park, some say he had supernatural powers. Ed would only say that he knew the secrets used to build the ancient pyramids and if he could learn them, you could too!

Today, you can leisurely tour Coral Castle via our new 30 minute state of the art audio tour. Hear this fascinating story in English, Spanish, French or German, and see for yourself what millions saw on national TV's "That's Incredible", "In Search Of...", and "You Asked For It!" Even rock star Billy Idol wrote his hit song, "Sweet Sixteen" about Ed's lost love.

Now we wonder what exactly was the source of inspiration that drove this man for 28 years to carve a Coral Castle from the ground up using nothing but home made tools from junk parts. Unrequited love? Ancient sciences that defy gravity, or just sheer, raw human determination? The Coral Castle is an everlasting mystery to those who explore it."

28655 South Dixie Highway
Homestead, FL 33033
(305) 248-6345
Just 31 miles south of the Miami International Airport

Miami Things to Do

Image via Wikipedia Miami has beauty, bars, and beaches - but there are also things to do for the kids. Visitors to the South Florida area have several options for activities for kids and families.

In Miami-Dade County, the primary family options are Jungle Island, Miami Seaquarium, Metrozoo, Gold Coast Railroad Museum, Grapeland Water Park, Miami Childrens' Museum

Broward County has several options jsut within the 627 acre Tradewinds Park just west of the Florida Turnpike on Sample Road. The park has athletic fields, shelters, and walking trails, plus Butterfly World, horseback riding, and Tradewinds and Atlantic Railroad.

Grant Killingsworth - Champion

Grant Killingsworth - Broker Boxing 2008 Heavyweight Champion

UM Stem Cell Institute

Image via Wikipedia

South Florida continues to grow in importance as a medical research hub. If you did not see it, the Miami Herald did a very good story on one of Miami's recent arrivals: Dr. Joshua Hare.


Stem cell czar: UM researcher leads alternative effort

By FRED TASKER of the Miami Herald

Dr. Joshua Hare believes medicine is close to a goal long thought to be impossible: healing the human heart.

The way to get there? Stem cells.

''These could be as big as antibiotics were in the last century,'' says Hare, the researcher heading up the University of Miami's new Stem Cell Institute. ``Stem cells have the potential to have that kind of impact. Diseases like heart attacks, strokes, kidney failure, liver failure -- we will be able to transition them into things you live with.''

Read More...

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• Stem Cell Therapy Controls Diabetes in Mice

Brickell Key Views

As I stood on the balcony of some friends' Brickell Key condo, the scene was lively, diverse, and rising. Of course, this new life is relative.

Related's ICON Brickell Condos I II and III sat to my left. These building all have substantial work completed. And it looks beautiful. But can anyone actually close?

Most striking of all was how active Biscayne Boulevard looked. The cars turned right after the Brickell Bridge, drove down past the new Manny's Steakhouse, and then drove up a very large but active Biscayne boulevard toward the American Airlines Center.

The port, the lights all around, and the cooler air from the bay made for a graet exerience. I do see an appeal to live downtown. Just not as compared to Miami Beach.

Downtown Miami - New Office Construction Update

Almost 2 M square feet of office space are under construction in the downtown Miami CBD. The bulk of this new construction is from three new office Class A office towers. All are scheduled for delivery in early 2010.

On Brickell Avenue, 1450 Brickell and Brickell Financial Center are rising rapidly. These two Class A towers will add to the growing skyline and bring much needed new office space to the market. Over the past 12 months, the office market has been very strong. Vacancy rates are at historic lows and rental rates at historic highs.

In Downtown Miami, Met 2 is being developed as the office component of the multi-use project called Metropolitan Miami. In addition to the office office tower, the Met 2 building will also include an upscale Marriott brand, the Miami Met Marquis. The overall project will also contain residential towers, a Whole Foods Market, and additional retail.

To date, just two office deals have been signed. Brickell Financial Center was the first building to sign a lead tenant - Bilzen Sumberg. Met 2 just announced last week that they had signed a deal to relocate Greenburg Traurig from Brickell Avenue.

Looking ahead, there are few remaining large tenants with near term expirations that could be considered a lead tenant. International law firm Hunton & Williams, led locally by Managing Partner Marty Steinberg, is among that select few. Currently located in Mellon Financial Center at 1111 Brickell, Hunton & Williams is clearly the best situated tenant remaining in the market.

World City Rising

The wave of new buildings has begun and the skyline of Miami will be forever changed.

June 4, 2007

We are entering an interesting era in the Miami city and skyline development. Record numbers of residential condominiums a rising with completions occurring in signifant numbers for early 2008 delivery.

All range of answers have been given to the question of whether the market will be able to absorb the full delivery and what will be the impact upon those who contemplate walking away from deposits of $50,000 and up to $250,000.

After closing, mortgage payments, real estate taxes, and insurance all begin to accru from day 1. However, substantial modifications may be needed to make a space livable. Therefore, the rent begins well before the buyer will ever be able to occupy the space for their own use.