213-2001 LTC
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CITY OF MIAMI BEACH
Office of the City Manager
Letter to Commission No.a( I 3 -~9Y!J (
m
To:
From:
Mayor Neisen O. Kasdin
and Members of the City Commission
Jorge M. Gonzalez \ ~
City Manager O'
Date: September 17, 2001
Subject: STATUS REPORT ON THE BYRON.CARLYLE THEATER
On September 27, 2000, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution 2000-24104,
establishing two committees to facilitate the purchase and adaptive re-use of the Byron-
Carlyle Theater. The Negotiating Committee was established to begin a dialogue
concerning the purchase of the Byron-Carlyle Theater with the owner of the property,
Theater Realty, Inc. Concurrently, the Program and Uses Committee was established to
meet with representatives of cultural arts groups, North Beach residents and other potential
users of the facility, who supported the purchase of the building.
On March 28, 2001, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2001-24313
authorizing the acquisition of the Byron-Carlyle Theater pursuant to the contract for Sale
and Purchase between the City of Miami Beach and Theater Realty, Inc. The Negotiating
Committee had successfully negotiated a reduction in the purchase price from $2.2 million
to $1.7 million, which was appropriated from the City's General Fund.
On April 18, 2001, the Mayor and City Commission adopted Resolution No. 2001-24344,
appropriating an additional $500,000 for improvements to the facility. Of this $500,000
amount, $260,000 was budgeted to replace the roof, $200,000 to refurbish the 3,000
square foot lobby and an additional $40,000 was allocated to purchase a security system
and for FY 2001-2002 building maintenance.
Since acquiring the property, the City of Miami Beach has embarked on a multi-phase
program to evaluate and to renovate the Byron-Carlyle Theater guided by the Program and
Uses Committee. This effort has worked in tandem with those of the City's Planning
Department, Arts, Culture and Entertainment, the Cultural Arts Council, and the Economic
Development Department.
The Byron-Carlyle project has tentatively been divided into three phases to meet
immediate, short term and long term needs. The goal of Phase I is to renovate the lobby
in order to provide office space for arts groups and other organizations who support the
Arts in North Beach Initiative. To this end, the City's Property Management Department
has completed the renovation of the lobby and will soon determine Common Area
Maintenance (CAM) and other fees appropriate for the facility. Negotiations with possible
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Letter to Commission
Status Report on the Byron-Carlyle Theater
Page 2 of 2
tenant organizations are ongoing, including the relocation of Florida Dance from the 555
17th Street building. Other interested organizations include North Beach Development
Corporation, Arts and Business Council, and the Children's Cultural Coalition,
The goal of Phase II is to provide a 450 to 600 seat performance theater, with film
exhibition capabilities, in North Beach by August 2002. The need for such a facility has
been supported by the Miami-Dade County Cultural Affairs Department. Additionally, this
theater can also provide performance space for the 12 month period that the Colony
Theater will be under construction, which is July 2002 to July 2003. This will assist existing
Colony Theater users who would like to keep their performances in Miami Beach rather
than renting elsewhere in the County.
A second component of Phase II will be to evaluate whether it is possible to renovate an
another space within the Byron-Carlyle into a dance rehearsal studio. Currently, major
dance performances are held on Miami Beach, but often during these festivals rehearsal
space is rented elsewhere in the County as there is an absence of this type of resource
within the City.
Funding for Phase II will be provided by Quality of Life and CDBG Commercial Facade
Renovation funds committed by North Beach Development Corporation and the Miami
Beach Community Development Corporation in the amount of $700,000 and a potential
$500,000 in grant funds from the Florida Department of State Cultural Facilities program.
The goal of Phase III is to establish a multi-use office, rehearsal and performance complex
in North Beach to continue the development of the cultural arts community. A structural
assessment of the Byron-Carlyle building and an underground utility survey are possible
first steps in evaluating and planning for Phase III.
Upon finalization of the CAM costs associated with Phase I, the City and Program and
Uses Committee will meet with potential facility users and return to the City Commission
with recommended use agreements for occupancy during Phase I.
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