This is a reproduction of what could be, there is not a billboard on this hotel, YET!!
As the readers of this blog know we recently had the pleasure and honor of being asked to photograph the Art Deco Weekend in Miami, Florida. We had a great time photographing the people, events and mostly the great examples of Art Deco. I have to admit that before that weekend, I had a passing knowledge, at best, of Art Deco. I knew it was a style that was American and was something out of the 50s, maybe earlier. That was the extent of my knowledge.
Then we arrived on Ocean Drive. We parked and as I climbed out of my car, I looked up and saw the buildings, Wow, such a design! I had not seen anything like this before: the colors and angles, the completely American look from right out of our past.
The best part of this was it wasn't a reenactment but the real thing, still in use, still vibrant against the beautiful blue Floridian skies. The people enjoying this part? You might think would be people in their 60s and 70s, but you would be partially wrong, although there were plenty of them enjoying the weekend. For the most part, these were families with young children, teens and younger plus young adults. I watched young couples pointing to the buildings talking and smiling, enjoying the day and this unique American architectural design.
Ok, I know I have posted a lot of pictures from this weekend, so what now more pictures? No, this is about a problem, a problem that is trying to manifest itself in this beautiful American neighborhood. The justification for weakening the law is that it will allow the city to raise additional revenue by charging a fee for the signage. However, raising minimal additional revenue is not a reason to sacrifice the special appeal that brings residents and tourists to Miami Beach.
Taken from the Miami Restoration Design League's email.
THE ISSUE:
Once again, a proposal to allow full-window signage in store windows has been proposed and will be considered by the Miami Beach City Commission.
The proposal would weakening and liberalize the city's proven signage laws and seriously harm Miami Beach's unique character by allowing billboard-sized ads in store windows AND OPEN THE DOOR FOR BILLBOARDS TO BE ERECTED ON THE TOP OF BUILDINGS ALL OVER MIAMI BEACH.
The proposal will be discussed at the Miami Beach Commission's Land Use and Development Committee meeting on Monday, January 31, 2011. The meeting will begin at 4 PM in the 4th Floor Conference Room.
Our unique design and architecture allows Miami Beach to stand out from all the other cities in Florida - and indeed the entire nation. Allowing offensive signs to proliferate would drive away the very people who pay real estate taxes, spend money in stores, hotels and restaurants and pump our economic engine.
As originally proposed two months ago, the new law was intended to help landlords defray costs of vacant stores and cover empty store fronts. But that would mean landlords would have reduced incentive to fill the empty stores since they would be earning high additional revenue from the giants signs.
Now, the City Attorney and outside counsel have reviewed the proposal. Their opinion: allowing billboard-sized ads in windows would open the door to challenges to the city's ban on ANY billboards or giants signs. Hungry landlords could legally justify erecting giant, illuminated signs all over town. Such signs would loom over the streets, destroy the skyline and ruin the character of Miami Beach.
The justification for weakening the law is that it will allow the city to raise additional revenue by charging a fee for the signage. However, raising minimal additional revenue is not a reason to sacrifice the special appeal that brings residents and tourists to Miami Beach
WHAT YOU CAN DO:
Attend the Commission's Land Use and Development Committee meeting.
When: Monday, January 31, 2010 at 4 PM.
Where: Miami Beach City Hall, City Manager's Large Conference Room, 4th Floor.
and...or
Write the Mayor and Commissioners:
The names and emails of the Mayor and Commissioners are as follows:
Matti Herrera Bower, Mayor, City of Miami Beach matti@miamibeachfl.gov
Michael Gongora, Vice Mayor, City of Miami Beach michael@miamibeachfl.gov
Jorge Exposito, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach jorge@miamibeachfl.gov
Jerry Libbin, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach jerry@miamibeachfl.gov
Edward Tobin, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach, ed@miamibeachfl.gov
Deede Weithorn, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach, deede@miamibeachfl.gov
Jonah Wolfson, Commissioner, City of Miami Beach jonah@miamibeachfl.gov
Please send your emails as soon as possible. And please pass this on to as many friends as you like!
Don't allow our the special character of Miami Beach to be cheapened by large-scale billboard advertising.
