LTC 095-2008 Historic City Hall Selected to Receive a Dade Heritage Trust Preservation Awardm I~IAMIBEA~
OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER
NO. LTC # 095-2008
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LETTER TO COMMIS~OI~'
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TO: Mao i rrera~ower and Me ers of the City Commission ~; o
FROM:`l~'"Jerg M. Gonzalez, City Manager ~, ~ t°
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DATE: April 2, 2008
SUBJECT: Historic City Hall Selected to Receive a Dade Heritage Trust Preservation Award
This letter is to inform you that Dade Heritage Trust, Miami's largest nonprofit historic
preservation organization, has awarded the City of Miami Beach a 2008 Preservation Award
for the restoration of Historic City Hall, 1130 Washington Avenue. For over 25 years, Dade
Heritage Trust has presented awards to those projects, organizations and individuals who
have excelled in historic preservation efforts. The recipients of annual awards are
showcased at the Trust's annual meeting and awards ceremony, as well as publicized in the
media and the Trust's magazine, Preservation Today. Further, in 2004, Dade Heritage Trust
played a major role in supporting the City of Miami Beach's request for one million dollars in
funding for this restoration work in the Miami Dade County Bond Program, Building Better
Communities.
Historic City Hall was designed by prominent Florida architect Martin Luther Hampton and
constructed in 1927, shortly after the Great Hurricane of 1926 severely damaged real estate
throughout Miami and Miami Beach. The structure became a major symbol of Miami
Beach's determination to prevail in the wake of the storm, and hence, detailed restoration
was very important to preserving the building's historic character and image.
Restoration work commenced early in 2006 in accordance with preservation plans approved
by the City of Miami Beach Historic Preservation Board. The work was undertaken by the
City's Property Management Division. Over the course of the next two years, as exploratory
demolition proceeded, it was determined that substantially more structural repairs would be
required than had been previously anticipated. Nonetheless, despite major additional work,
detailed restoration of the building's exterior proceeded in accordance with the original
design resulting in the superb preservation project which may be seen today.
Dade Heritage Trust has informed me that it is honored to invite Mayor Matti Herrera Bower
and the City Commissioners to attend the April 24th Annual Meeting and accept this
prestigious preservation award.
You and your guest are most warmly encouraged to attend so that you may be recognized
for all your fine work.
JMG1 JGGIWHC
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