Miami Beach Commissioners Vote to Approve Redesign of Convention Center Park

Miami Beach Commissioners voted to approve a redesign of Convention Center Park by reallocating the tree-count and landscaping to boost the usable lawn space in the 5.8-acre park to 87,000 SF, up from 28,000 SF. The changes were to accommodate Design Miami, a 5 day furniture show founded by Dacra founder Craig Robins. The Miami Beach Design Review Board will review the changes in November.    

Skyrise Releases New Renderings, Nears Completion of Wind-Tunnel Tests

Skyrise has completed their wind-tunnel testing and have released new renderings of the project as they near the potential groundbreaking. The new renderings show greater detail of the proposed attractions including bungee jumping and a stunning observation deck. The entertainment and observation tower is being designed by Arquitectonica and under development by Berkowitz Development Group. 

Frost Museum of Science to Take Over Operations at Museum Park's Science Barge

The Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science will take over operations of Museum Park's floating Science Barge when they open on May 8. The barge will undergo extensive renovation throughout the summer as it will be transformed into an environmental lab where it will supplement the museum's Aquarium and science exhibits with the surrounding marine life. The 120 foot Miami Science Barge opened in 2016 after it won the 2015 Knight Cities Challenge. It was designed by Nathalie Manzano and Dr. Ted Caplow and cost $1.2 million. 

Patricia & Phillip Frost Museum of Science to Finally Open May 8

The years of waiting and watching are beginning to come to end at Miami's Museum Park as the Patricia and Phillip Frost Museum of Science has finally announced an opening date of May 8. The museum will be the second museum delivered following the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM) which has been received by the public as a major hit and help complete the cultural and art initiatives in Miami's Arts and Entertainment district which also includes the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts and YoungArts.

The Frost Museum of Science has been a 5 year project, began construction in 2012 and has overcome many obstacles and roadblocks along the way including a $350 million price tag. Phillip and Patricia Frost had to help cover the rest of the cost of the construction after fundraising efforts failed to raise the necessary funds, missing the expected 2016 completion date. The Frost Museum of Science was designed by Grimshaw Architects, sits on 4 acres and features 4 different buildings in one, divided based on their field of study. There will be a planetarium, aquarium and feature 2 exhibit wings spread over 250,000 SF. The planetarium is 1-of-8 in the world featuring 8K resolution in 3D along with seating for 250 people. The museum claims on its website that it will take guests on a "journey from the ocean to the Everglades, from the human cell to outer space, investigating life as we know it." The building is working toward LEED Gold certification as part of their initiative to create a better planet. Tickets for the May 8 opening day are available on the museum's website.

Mixed-Use Wynwood Park to Bring Open Park Space & Retail to Wywnood

Developer Metro 1 is bringing Wynwood Park, a much needed new mixed-use development with a focus on green space to Wynwood. Wynwood Park will feature an acre of open green public park space adjacent to Wynwood Walls. The development will also include an adaptive retail concept. It was designed by MKDA Architecture and was introduced at CIASF's 2017 Wynwood Market Report Presentation event. Leasing has already begun. Wynwood Park will be located at NE 2nd Avenue and 26th to 27th Streets. Wynwood has boomed in recent years, first getting its boost from the unique street art that developed into a full art scene. The neighborhood has seen rising prices as it has attracted a number of restaurants, galleries, shops and nightlife to create a vibrant scene in a once industrial setting. 

Construction Has Begun at Omni Park in Downtown Miami

Construction has begun at the 7 acre site in Omni that will soon be the Omni Park. Although temporary, the park will remain for 2 years to provide food and beverage vendors, amphitheater, skate park and art walk amongst the green urban escape. The site is owned by FDOT and will be part of the Signature Bridge Project which is under bidding. What remains of the Omni Park at that point will be reconstructed under and around the Signature Bridge to keep the green space in the area which has been the subject to massive urbanization with Miami WorldCenter construction now in full swing. The OMNI CRA has provided $300,000 in funding for th park and the Perez Art Museum has provided $150,000 while Brad Knoefler is overseeing construction which is scheduled for late February 2017.

Read our original news break on Omni Park from its December Announcement. 

Future "Signature Bridge" at Downtown Miami's Omni Neighborhood

Biscayne Green Initiative Coming to Biscayne Boulevard in Downtown

The Miami Downtown Development Authority has taken the first steps to getting cars off the roads and make life in Downtown Miami more pedestrian friendly. They have launched a month-long installation as part of the Biscayne Green initiative to redesign the medians and parking lots on Biscayne Boulevard between SE 1st Street and NE 6th St. The installation will remain through January 26 and is funded by the Knight Foundation and The Miami Foundation. A long-term proposal includes eliminating 2 lanes in each direction in order to build more landscaped pedestrian and biking paths. The city would aim to relocate the street parking and the city is currently performing a "Lane Elimination Analysis." 
“Downtown Miami has experienced a nearly 150 percent increase in population over the past 15 years, with the majority of these new residents falling between the ages of 20 and 44. This young demographic overwhelmingly favors public transit over traffic, connectivity and public space over sprawl, and community experiences over material accumulation.” - Alyce Robertson, Miami DDA Executive Director

Events for the Biscayne Green Temporary Installation Through January 26:

• Biscayne Green Grand Opening Get-Down (January 6 from 7 – 10 p.m) - Celebrate the grand opening of Biscayne Green with handcrafted cocktails, live music and art.
• Biscayne Screen with O Cinema (January 8, 15, and 22 from 6 – 10 p.m) - Watch movies cuddled up on the Green with free blankets, popcorn and empanadas.
• Out of Office – Coffee + Wifi (January 11, 18, 25 from 9 – 11 a.m) - Enjoy the fresh air and fuel up for the day with coffee and snacks.
• Baila on Biscayne (January 12, 19 from 7 – 10 p.m) - Enjoy al fresco music, dancing and people watching.
• Taste of Downtown (January 14 from 6 – 10 p.m.) - Enjoy a taste of downtown with specialties from some of the area’s hottest culinary masters.
• Brunch on the Green (January 15, 22 from 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.) - Sip on mimosas and nibble on brunch offerings from local foodie hotspots.

Temporary Pop-Up Omni Park Proposed

The 7 vacant acres in-between I-395 and the Adrienne Arsht Center have been sitting vacant, desolate and have been used as just event parking for the past several years. In come the Brad Knoefler and team that built Grand Central Park, who has proposed a Omni Park, a "zen parcel" with an art zone, sound stage, food trucks, shipping container retail and a skate park. An entryway garden would be located on Biscayne Boulevard which should help bring pedestrian traffic to the area. Similar projects have been completed with success in Stockholm, Boston and San Juan. The proposal is cost efficient, asking just $300,000 in funding. Activists including the Pérez Art Museum Miami have contributed to the planning of the short-term, temporary project.