211-1999 LTCCITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci,miami-beach.~,us
LETTER TO COMMISSION
L.T.C. No.
211-1999
October22, t999
TO:
FROM:
SUBJECT:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City ' '
SS1OR
Sergio Rodriguez
City Manager
State Historic Preservation Grant Requests for Fire Station #2 and the Colony Theater
The State of Florida' s Historic Preservation Advisory Council recently reviewed two City of Miami
Beach Historic Preservation Special Category grant applications at its October 5, 1999 meeting in
Tallahassee. The City requested $270,000 for the restoration of the Colony Theater and $270,000
for Fire Station #2.
The Colony Theater application was judged ineligible because its rudimentary schematics did not
satisfy the Historical Resources Design Review Committee. This problem has been addressed by
the City through the hiring of the State's Department of Management Services (DMS). DMS will
manage the Colony project, which includes an extensive A/E search and design formulation. The
City has separately applied for a State Cultural Facilities grant for the Colony Theater.
The Fire Station #2 application ranked 64 out of 72 projects that together totaled $17.095 million.
Last year, there were 62 projects that totaled $15.2 million. All of last year's projects were funded.
In order for Fire Station #2 to be funded this year $15.4 million must be allocated by the legislature.
To obtain a funded grant request for Fire Station #2, the City will gather wide backing for this project
with the aid of our lobbyists. The City will seek support from leaders of the State and National level
fire organizations and fraternal orders to urge full funding of the Fire Station #2 grant request.
The City will also seek the support of the two other historic preservation projects that involve fire
stations. Monroe's Fire Station #1 ranked 7 out of 72 projects and Tampa's Fire Station #3 ranked
17. A show of unity with these other stations may beneficial for our Fire Station #2 project. All
such support requests will be gathered before the new calendar year and aggressive efforts will be
made to assure that the Fire Station #2 request is awarded.