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WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 7, 2002 $1.00 --,_kms>:` ON LINE AT WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM
-rg- s.. -a. OFFICE SPACE SMALL BUSINESS
0 s`` ` ' Timing is right to sell off Federal loans provide bonanzan
sunoffice buildings,pg.ll in wake of 9/11 impact,pg.15 -'� f
I BEACH REPORT:A Miami Beach blue
°,, ribbon task force on tourism Monday ap- THE ACHIEVER Hotels far
'' proved unanimously a report to the city
FYIcommission,a document that changed only
slightly from a draft submitted last week. above US,
Recommendations include marketing strut-
, egies,cleanup plans and suggestions to make �'_
parking easier.The draft is to be presented at ,�
a public workshop in April.In a summary, # state levels
Miami task force Chair Stuart Blumberg said the ,
group identified public and private entities
that should be tapped to follow through on BY JAIME Levy
the recommendations."We strongly believe in having the ability to find
additional funding for many of our proposals,"he wrote."In regard to 1.020 `;.f
e Post-Sept.11 marketingshat-
implementation,which is just as critical as funding,we don't want this ��'?' ",�„ .,.
' t eves bytourism officials seem
report tosit onashelf asin the case ofother reports,not justbyMiami Beach, - - — � '.... g
but historically throughout our county and state." F,-.-"1:-.--,„- t' to be paying off as Miami-Dade's
;,-"''4,.-' "":',S, hotel room rates and occupancy
FIRING OMNI:Miami commissioners are expected to discuss today(3/7) r
_ remain above national and state
renaming of the Omni Area Media District to Fire Station No.2 Motion _
Picture District.The new name would be to recognize a historic fire station - -i' averages.
in the district.The city is trying to define a new use for the structure,which And with the summer season
i t 1 ahead—alwa s slow for hospital-
-
os ital-
needs to be restored. _ �.t i Y p
ity industry business—the Grouter
NET EFFECT:Miami commissioners are also due to discuss today(3/7) t Miami Convention & Visitors
moving the downtown Neighborhood Enhancement Team,or NET,office, - Bureau is leveraging new state
a city's satellite administrative center,to Technology Center of the Ameri- - - ti`' funds to market the area as a fun-
cas,50 NE Ninth St.The deal calls for the city to lease 1,526 square feet at _ "� `"*:
in-the-sun destination.
$1 a year for five years. 4- In February,the state gave the
INTERNATIONAL BRANCH:The International Bank of Miami bought bureau$1 million,bringing a total
land on Northwest 25th Street and 87th Avenue in the Doral area to open it of$2.1 million to a summer ad
first branch.The bank,operating in South Florida since 1964,has headquar- ._„:7:-,.,,_.,,,i. ,.� c we + push.Using state and bureau dol-
first
in Coral Gables.The branch is to open in first quarter 2003.Details: , r
tern in 250-7222. � r` lair partners
thefburs eau
will launch froh
s x ''�i partners, bureau will
GLOBAL POST:Global Spectrum,a public assembly facility manage- - rv..`+�'r .Fy'`p three initiatives,-cerorve.nt
z -''' Whitaker, senior vice president
ment firm,has named Robert Murray Jr.general manager of the James L. ",-#., _ t, .
Knight International Center,400 SE Second Ave.Mr.Murray succeeds .;� pinmwia.ne,eovaa; for marketing and tourism:
David Touhey,named by.Global Spectrum general manager of the new Carole Ann Taylor IA national radio campaign to
Ryder Center at the University of Miami.Global Spectrum,a division of promote June's Soul Beach Mu-
Comcast-Spectator of Philadelphia,has been managing Miami's Knight Promoting the neighborhoods sic Festival.
Center since 1999. The profile is on Page 4 •June restaurant promotion that
includes magazine ads.
ERegional TV campaign for
Park West owners score city with new nightspot due suemmerlseason,"the bureau's
branding to emphasize
the many local events.
BY PAOLA IusPA district but the revitalization is The agency also vows to de- 10th St.for$350,000. Greater Miami, like all US
taking too long. velop a promenade from He has now leased both sites destinations,saw tourism plum-
A new entrepreneur is leasing "Do anything,"he said."Plant Biscayne Boulevard west to Mi- to Tony Torrellio and partners met after Sept. 11, prompting
warehouse space in Park West a tree. Fix a sidewalk.Paint a ami Avenue between 10'" and for NJOI,a 24-hour bowling al- two earlier campaigns—first a
for a nightclub and 24-hour wall.Just stop talking and do it. 11'"sheets. ley with sushi bar and lounge. $2.5 million drive and a second
bowling alley while the handful But do it fast because the Park Evidence that investors are They plan to open by Septem- for$3.3 million.
of existing business owners West entertainment area hype is pouring money into Park West, ber. Room rates and occupancies
await a makeover by the City of fading fast.Creating the district Mr.Teele said,is that property NJOI will be west of Club have grown steadily since an ini-
Miami. was a great step,but nightclubs values are ballooning. Space,the Living Room,60 NE tial dive.
Two years after the city des- alone cannot save this area.We "Four years ago,the CRA was 11th St.,and Gold Rush,15 NE Smith Travel Researchreports
ignated an entertainment dis- are going to need other business collecting$140,000 in tax incre- 11th St.Operators of Club Exile that for the week ending Feb.23,
trict to allow 11 sites to hold such as restaurants and retail mentfunds,"saidMr.Teele,who at 90 NE 11th St.are applying Greater Miami's occupancy rate
liquor licenses, the neighbor- stores." took over the agency's reins in for permits. was 71.5%—down fromthepre-
hood,adjacent to Overtown and Security, he said,is also an 1997. "This year we collected Commissioner Teele said he vious week.Statewide,the aver-
the Omni area, is undergoing issue in Park West,home to at $1.1 million." knew of at least two other own- age was 68.4%and national oc-
change. But club owners said least three nightclubs and a strip Mr. Puig thinks the agency era planning clubs for the area. cupancy was at 61.3%.
the city is moving too slowly in club. should use the funds to reshape "Property in that area is still Room rates, too, dropped
attracting other businesses to City Commissioner Arthur Park West's image to attract more affordable enough to do projects slightly,to$139.41 for the week
help them survive. Teele agreed that safety needs to investors like David Lombardi. such as this," Mr. Puig said. ending Feb.23.Like occupancy
For a year,the city has consid- bereinforced.HechairsMiami's Ten months ago, real estate "Some other people are also levels,however,theareawasabove
eredturning analley behind 11th Community Redevelopment broker Lombardi bought two working on a skating rink project. state and national averages of
Street into a cobblestone,pedes- Agency,or CRA, in charge of warehouses there.One was the "Entertainment," Mr. Puig $105.61 and$85.80,respectively.
trian-friendly street.A decision luring economic development to 17,000-square-foot former Park said, "is not just about night- Despite the blips,the area is
is still pending. targeted areas. West Production Studio,85 NW clubs.There are other ways to faring markedly better than six
Louis Puig, owner of Club His agency,he said,plans to 10th St.,for$850,000,and the make money in this area.Inves- months ago.On Sept.18,aver-
Space,142 NE 11th St.,said he spend part of$1.1 million from other,he said, was the 6,000- tors just have to be a little more age occupancy dropped to
applauds the city for creating the property taxes on more patrols. square-foot warehouseat 67 NW creative." 30.7%.