178-2000 LTC
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
CITY HALL 1700 CONVENTION CENTER DRIVE MIAMI BEACH, FLORIDA 33139
http:\\ci.miami-beach.fl.us
L.T.C. No~-2ooo
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LETTER TO COMMISSION
September 13, 2000
TO: Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin and
Members of the City Commission
FROM:
Jorge M. Gonzalez
City Manager
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SUBJECT: HISTORIC PRESERVATION - FEDERAL FUNDING OPPORTUNITY
In preparation of the 200012001 Federal Budget, President Clinton requested an appropriation of$30
million as an initiative to commemorate the Millennium by preserving the Nation's historic sites and
cultural artifacts that are America's treasures.
After congressional review, the House Interior Appropriations Report referenced Congress' desire
to fund this initiative. During last minute budget negotiations, it now appears that Congress plans
to provide funds for this program.
On September 13, 2000, the City was contacted by its Federal Lobbyists regarding this Federal
funding opportunity for a historic preservation project. Said historic project would require a 50:50
funding match and must be located in a National Register District.
City staff identified three potential projects: (1) the Colony Theater, (2) Old City Hall, and (3) the
10th Street Auditorium. It was determined that the City would fare best in this last minute funding
opportunity by submitting a request to supplement the existing funding secured for the Colony
Theater since a restoration strategy and plans are in progress. The Colony Theater was also found
to be similar to other projects funded through this federal appropriation. Old City Hall did not have
the required match, since funds have already been expended and the 10th Street Auditorium's
restoration plan is not clearly defined through the G. O. Bond program. Therefore, attached please
find the testimony submitted in connection with the City's efforts to secure said Federal funding for
the Colony Theater Renovation project.
If you have any questions, please contact me.
JMG/~/rar
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c: Christina M. Cuervo, Assistant City Manager
Matthew Schwartz, Assistant City Manager
Jorge Gomez, Planning Director
Kevin Crowder, Community Development Division Director
,
Colony Theater Restoration Project
Miami Beach, Florida
The 465-seat Art Deco Colony Theater is a former movie house that anchors the western
end of the Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall and is listed on the National Register of Historic
Places, as well as in the Miami Beach Historical Properties Database. The property is
located in the Flamingo Park Local Historic District and the National Register "Art
Deco" District. Originally built in 1934, the theater's Art Deco architecture includes a
ziggurat parapet and other Art Deco ornamentation.
The theater was a vital part of the economic and social fabric of Miami Beach in the
years following the stock market crash of 1929, when the winter season tourist economy
developed and the modestly-sized Art Deco hotels and theaters were built. The
decorative, futuristic motifs of the Art Deco style helped people "escape" the reality of
the Great Depression of the 1930's. The theater also served as a primary entertainment
location for many of the 500,000 U. S. troops who trained in Miami Beach between 1942
and 1945. It is estimated by military historians that Miami Beach's participation as a
training center reduced the length of Wodd War II by six to eight months.
The Colony Theater Restoration Project will not only restore the theater's original
Lincoln Road fa9ades, but will transform the theater into a fully functional performance
facility, and make further enhancements to historic Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall that
accentuate the restoration of the Colony Theater.
The Colony Theater is the most heavily used, medium sized theater in Miami-Dade
County, and it serves the area's large non-profit performing arts community. In 1999,
more than 75% of the theater's performance dates were used for non-profit activities.
Although heavily used, the Colony Theater is currently unable to accommodate all of the
needs of most users, inhibiting its use as a full performance facility. The following
weaknesses and constraints were identified in Miami-Dade County's Performing Arts
Needs Assessment Report:
1. Severe limitation of wing space and backstage support space.
2. Substantial lack of offices and dressing rooms.
3. The platform built to support audience seating is showing its age.
4. Comer location on the street property line limits expansion opportunities for
correcting the backstage problem.
5. Zoning limitations restrict vertical expansion, yet fully support restoration of the
historic structure.
In addition to the restoration of the original Lincoln Road fa9ade, the renovation will also
encompass expansion of the backstage area, as well as the creation of an adequate right
stage wing, new dressing rooms, technical shops, offices and storage space, a backstage
,
elevator, a new loading area, the relocation of HV AC equipment and ADA compliant
backstage toilets/lavatories/showers.
Renovated in 1996 at a cost of $16.7 million, historic Lincoln Road Pedestrian Mall will
be improved in order to accentuate the renovation and restoration of the Colony Theater
as an international cultural destination. Since the overwhelming majority of the
performances at the Colony Theater occur at night, the Lincoln Road improvements will
include enhanced lighting that will address the concerns for the safety of the patrons that
visit the theater. Significant and appropriate improvements will also be made to the
historic fountains on Lincoln Road. The original design of the fountains does not provide
the adequate water supply needed for proper operation causing problems with water
circulation in "playing" fountains..
In order to complete the identified improvements to the Colony Theater, the City of
Miami Beach is evaluating several options in order to accommodate the improvements
that are needed to keep the theater viable. Given the constraints of the site, the three most
viable options are:
1. Expansion into the adjacent property to the east.
2. Cantilevering over and partially expanding into the alley behind the theater.
3. Expanding beneath the stage and ground level.
The City's historical and design review team is currently evaluating these options to
identify which is the most feasible and cost effective. However, at a minimum the project
will require an additional $1,500,000 beyond the $1,800,000 that the City has secured.
General Obligation Bond..... ....... .............. .......... ...................... ....... .................$300,000
Cultural Arts Council. .............. .................... ............... ............ ................ ....... ...$165,000
Florida Department of State Cultural Facilities Grant......................................$500,000
Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs...............................................................$775,000
City of Miami Beach.... ,. '" ,.. .... ... ................ ............ ... ....... ............ ...... ............. ...$60,000
Total Secured Funding..... ...... .............. ............. ..... .......... ............ ........ ....... ...$1 ,800,000
The combination of the restoration of the Colony Theater and the improvements and
enhancements to Lincoln Road's fountains and lighting will give Miami Beach's National
Register Architectural (Art Deco) District a great public plaza whose centerpiece will be
one of the District's most important properties - the fully functional and restored Colony
Theater.