A Second Look
Protection of 1950s-Era Buildings to Be Discussed in Future Workshop

Lynch believes the county would be “ill advised” to impose historic designation on the town or individuals who do not want it.

By Evan Berkowitz

A month after preservationists from all over South Florida picketed for historic designation of much of Bay Harbor Islands, town officials have agreed to schedule a workshop to discuss the possibility.

The Bay Harbor Islands Town Council voted unanimously for the workshop during its Dec. 11 meeting. The workshop date has not yet been set.

Last summer an architectural survey, the first of its kind for the two islands that comprise the town, was completed. Its purpose was to identify and document buildings 50 years of age or older and to see if a historic district should be formed. During the survey, which began in late March, 312 structures were photographed and recorded, and 83 were identified as architecturally significant and worthy of local protection. Five were mentioned as possible contenders for historic designation.

The report, conducted by Jared Tuk from the firm GAI Consultants of Orlando, stated that much of Bay Harbor Islands could be placed in a historic district. However, area property owners feared they would lose control of their homes or buildings, persuading the Town Council to reject the idea of historic designation on Sept. 28.

Mayor Peter Lynch said he has since done extensive research on the subject, and he wrote in the town’s newsletter this month that “the concept of achieving historic designation for a property brings both rewards and restrictions.” If a property is declared historic, “the owner is entitled to funding at a very low interest rate to rehabilitate the property and tax concessions; however, modification, alteration or possible demolition of the property must be approved by the county’s Historic Preservation Board. This could make the sale of a property to a potential developer very restrictive or block it altogether.”

There was some confusion as to what role the county, specifically the Miami-Dade Historic Preservation Board, has in designating properties historic in Bay Harbor Islands. Teri D’Amico, a member of the town’s Design and Review Committee who led a rally for historic protection last November, told the SunPost that about 25 years ago the county passed an ordinance that gave municipalities the option to break with the county and create their own local historic preservation boards. She said these boards would have to be professionally run like those in Miami Beach, Hialeah or Coral Gables. Currently Bay Harbor Islands has no historic board.

Lynch, however, wrote in the BHI newsletter that the Miami-Dade ordinance states the town “has no authority to designate properties, block designation of properties or establish its own historic preservation board.” Further, the county can “declare a property a historic preservation site with or without the owner’s consent” and declare one of Bay Harbor Islands’ two islands a historic district.

Lynch believes the county would be “ill advised” to impose historic designation on the town or individuals who do not want it. “People should have a choice on their own,” Lynch said at the Dec. 11 meeting, “not have it rammed down their throats.”

Vice Mayor Kenneth Weinstein, who along with Councilman Alberto Ruder requested the new discussion, said he had received many questions from citizens and felt the town needed to be much better informed. Specifically needed is information regarding the actual regulations and codes of a historic district, Weinstein said.

Ruder complained that Tuk’s Sept. 28 presentation to the council was not nearly informative enough. It was “basically an inventory, it didn’t explain pros and cons,” he said, noting that Tuk did not discuss the county’s involvement at all.

Susan Luck, Taryn Copeland and Kelly Reid, all from the Bay Harbor Islands Citizens Coalition, spoke in favor of having the workshop.

“It’s really worth discussing,” said D’ Amico, who is also an adjunct professor at Florida International University’s School of Architecture. “It’s not about saving everything; it’s not about not developing.”

Councilman Isaac Salver said Bay Harbor’s architecture “should be celebrated, not fought over.” The workshop is a good idea and will not cost the town much in time and effort, he said. “There’s no downside to it; education is power,” he said.

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