LTC 493-2019 RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC 28 STREET OBELISK City of Miami Beach, 1700 Convention Center Drive,Miami Beach FL 33139
LTC# 493-2019 LETTER TO COMMISSION
TO: Mayor Dan Gelber and Members o the City ommission
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: September 11, 2019
SUBJECT: RENOVATION OF THE HISTORIC 28 TREET OBELISK
The purpose of this LTC is to inform the Mayor and City Commission of the completion of the
renovation of the historic 28th Street obelisk located at 300 West 28th Street. The project is the
latest in a series of renovations the Property Management Department has undertaken to
restore the City's historical monuments, fountains and sculptures per the recommendations of
Douglas Wood & Associates, Inc. (DWA)- commissioned to assess the City's monuments in
2008 and again in 2016. To date, the Polo Player monument, the Normandy Fountain, the
Lummus Park Temperature and Date Monument, the Great Spirit Statue and the 28th Street
Obelisk have been restored per DWA's recommendations.
Formerly a wastewater pump station for the city, this piece of public works infrastructure was
decommissioned in 1976 and replaced with a new pump station just northeast of the original
facility on the same site. In November 2016, the city was awarded a matching grant from the
Florida Department of State's Division of Historical Resources to restore the historic obelisk
under the tutelage of Historic Preservation Architect William B. Medellin.
While some equipment was beyond salvage, the historic pump room was restored to resemble
its original state, including the original switchgear cabinets by General Electric, refinished in
ashy gray. The project consisted of excavation of the buried exterior steps, interior structural
repairs, wood window and door restorations, exhaustive concrete and stucco repairs and
restoration of the original 60' diameter plaza around the obelisk's octagonal base building,
following the original design form. Notable ornamental features include three artfully restored
trefoil fountains on the east, west and south sides of the base building as well as new
ornamental railings with a faithfully replicated wood cap.
A ribbon cutting ceremony unveiling the restored monument has been scheduled for Wednesday,
September 25 at 3:30 p.m.
JLM/' AM/FG