R9M-Discuss- Create A Miami Beach History Museum In Historic Miami Beach Womensb MIAMIBEACH
Clly of Mloml Beoch. ,l700 Convention Cenler Drive, Miomi Beoch, Florido 33139, www.miomibeochfl.gov
COMMISSION MEMORANDUM
TO:Mayor Philip Levine and Members the C mrssron
FROM: Jimmy L. Morales, City Manager
DATE: September 10,2014
SUBJECT: DISCUSSION REGARDING THE LITY OF CREATING AND OPERATING A
MIAMI BEACH HISTORY MUSEUM
CLUB
IN THE HISTORIC MIAM! BEACH WOMEN'S
BACKGROUND AND ANALYSIS
The Miami Beach Women's Club is a historic, single-story Mediterranean Revival building
located at 2401 Pinetree Drive. lts 5,000 sq. ft. interior includes a proscenium theater, kitchen,
dining room and restrooms. The building was badly damaged by fire several years ago. lt was
recently purchased by the South Beach Hotel Group, and is being restored to historical
accuracy for use as a rental hall. South Beach Hotel Group's owners have approached the City
to see if there is any interest in sharing the space with them at no charge for use as a museum
chronicling the history of Miami Beach.
The building has charming architecture and historic details but very little usable wall space,
except for the stage and backstage areas. Because of its primary use as a rental hall, exhibition
materials would have to be mounted in movable cases that could be relocated to a backstage
storage room when necessary. Staff has consulted with several local museums and estimates
the cost of an initial exhibition to be approximately $250,000 (curatorial and exhibition design
fees, showcases, additional lighting, conservation, installation, audio-visual equipment, etc.)
Additional costs would include daily staffing, off-site storage and conservation of the collections,
transportation, and all costs relating to any new or additional exhibitions. All of the museum
professionals consulted agreed that long-range planning should be our first priority to ensure
that the museum would survive, be adequately staffed and funded, and be relevant and remain
relevant for future generations.
CONCLUSION
fnis itff presented to City Commission for discussion and input.
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