LTC 432-2023 Resolution from the Collins Park Neighborhood Association Relating to the Jackie Gleason TheaterM IA M I B EA C H
O F F IC E O F T H E C IT Y C L E R K
LT C #
T O :
F R O M :
D A T E :
432-2023
LET TE R TO C O M M IS SIO N
M a yo r D a n G e lber and M em b e rs of the C ity C om m ission
A lin a T. H u d a k, C ity M ana ge r
R afae l A. Pa z, C ity A tto rn e y
Jo se p h M . C e nto rin o, Inspe ctor G eneral
Ra fae l E. G ra n a d o, C ity C le rk ~
S e p te m b e r 26 , 20 2 3
SUBJECT: Resolution from the Collins Park Neighborhood Association Relating to the Jackie
Gleason Theater.
O n be h a lf of the Bo a rd of D ire cto rs of the C o llins P a rk N e ighborhood A ssociation, please find a resolution
re la tin g to the Ja ckie G le a so n T he ater.
C o llin s l...an.l.ta.h
September 25, 2023
Honorable Mayor and City Commissioner
1700 Convention Center Drive
Miami Beach, FL 33140
Dear Commission:
RECEIVED
SEP 26 2023
CITY OF MIAMI BEACH OFEE ± +Er7yo ULERK
The Collins Park Neighborhood Association held a Board of Directors meeting on September 20th and on
the agenda was a discussion on the future of the Jackie Gleason Theater.
We know that:
A. $30,000,000 was allocated from the Cultural GO Bond from last November for renovations.
B. There are talks regarding tearing down the Jackie Gleason to build a brand new State of the Art
theater.
C. The original Jackie Gleason was a twin theater of the Miami Dade Auditorium and that over the
years, there has been 3 different additions by 3 different architects to that space.
D. There are so many performers who WILL NOT perform in this theater because of the horrible
acoustics and to correct this problem, the cost will be higher than building a new theater with all the
latest technology.
E. There is absolutely nothing historic about this building. It doesn't even look the same as it did when
Jackie Gleason made it famous. We do agree that it is imperative to continue to honor Jackie
Gleason's legacy and a new theater, carrying his name, should be built.
After reviewing the conceptual plans for a new theater that would front the street, CPNA voted, although not
unanimously, to support building a new theater and we hope that the commission realizes that the current
Jackie Gleason is not historic, and it is not in an historic district. Naturally, we realize what we saw was
conceptual and more detail is needed for a final approval.
For those of you who do not know, a previous commission under Mayor David Dermer voted to allow Cirque
du Soleil to come in and rebuilt the Jackie Gleason into a permanent venue with an attached hotel. At the
end, Cirque backed out because there was a huge contingent of residents that opposed them even though it
passed the commission. Cirque made it clear that they did not want to come nor bring all their resources to
a community that wasn't embracing them.
It is time to finally build a new state-of-the-art theater that will bring major attractions to Miami Beach and
also augment the needs of tJConv:ntion Center. Live Nation is prepared to do that.
Thank you. ~ ~
Ray Breslin, President SPNA p:305-772-5665 email: bresaro@aol.com
Executive Board
President: Ray Breslin (resident and business owner)
Vice President: Harvey Burstein (resident)
Secretary: Pam Mayer (resident)
Treasurer: Debi Quade (resident)
Board members:
Sabrina Anica (Bass), Ron Bloomberg (business owner), Bryant Capley (Regional Library), John Couriel (resident),
Juan Jose Escalante (Miami City Ballet), Gabriela Fluerariu (South Beach Group Hotels), Laurie Kaufman (resident),
Orlando Garcia (resident) Steven Mandell (Marseilles Hotel) Chris Meland (resident)
255 West 24th Street CU-6, Miami Beach, Fl 33140