MiMo Coppertone Sign Campaign

MiMo, that diverse group of citizens working to revitalize the historic Biscayne Boulevard MiMo district as a future destination, is working toward having Miami's famous Coppertone sign placed in the MiMo Biscayne Boulevard Historic District.

Besides MiMo, Mark "News Café" Soyka, owner of the pizzeria, Andiamo and architect Camilo Alvarado Boshell, developer of the adjacent Kubik condominium, would like to see the 35' tall Coppertone kid and her dog moved from its current location in downtown Miami to the MiMo historic district. Specifically, to Soyka's Andiamo pizzeria that once housed a General Tire store. That building, designed in 1954 by Robert Law Weed, has this great retro Jetsons look. The sign would go where the old one once stood.

Downside: It may be too fragile to move and the City of Miami may have a problem with erecting another sign in its city limits (unless, of course, they're billboards). According to a MiMo email, Coppertone has been approached to see if they want to get involved in the movement and restoration of the sign but the company isn't committing to anything at this point.

MVB applauds the effort MiMo puts into everything they do, but we suspect that the sign may overpower its intended location. As much as we love the sign, we like the animated one that use to greet people driving south at the Golden Glades Interchange even more. That one had the kid's dog pulling down the bottom of her bathing suit. It was smaller and would make a better fit in our humble opinion. In any event, Coppertone ought to fork over some money to at least restore the original sign in downtown Miami.

UpDate (7/30): Owners of the building have decided to restore the original design. Search for a new home for the Coppertone sign continues.

MiMo Dinner This Tuesday

Besides meeting influential stakeholders in the community, did you know that you can actually learn something useful over a MiMo dinner/breakfast? It's true. Last week's guest speaker Ellen Ugucconi, Historic Preservation Consultant, City of Miami, advised that Miami 21, Chapter 23 and related Ordinances will be going before the Miami City Commission for the first reading June 28th. Chapter 23 will repeal the current historic overlay district, repeal parking requirements and the 20% green space requirement. It will allow for shared parking and adaptive reuse which most cities have in place.

Ms. Ugucconi explained that TDRs are an incentive to keep historic buildings (including apartment buildings) in tact. TDRs are calculated by the square footage of the existing building and the difference between what could be built. An example where TDRs can be used is T6-8. A developer can build to the 6 stories by right and he can increase the height by 2 stories by purchasing TDRs, paying for affordable housing and green space credits or qualifying as a green building.

When an owner sells the TDR rights, he in turn completes an Existing Condition Report, a Long Term Maintenance Report and a 40-year recertification is required. Total TDRs can be sold ONE time only. There after, when the building is sold a covenant will pass along with the property requiring the building be maintained.
The MiMo Biscayne Boulevard District is the only district where TDRs will be offered for non-contributing buildings.

Now that's interesting.

The next MiMo Dinner is this Tuesday at 6PM at Uva69, 6900 Biscayne Boulevard (inside dining room). As always, everyone is responsible for their own check. The speakers will be Maria Mascarenas, NET Administrator and OFC Darrell Nichols and Carmen Caldwell, Miami-Dade Crime Watch Director speaking on the topic “How Crime Watch Can Work in the Business Community in concert with surrounding Residential Neighborhoods.”

MiMoBiBo Breakfast Tomorrow at Uva69

Please join us for the next meeting of the MiMo Biscayne Association.

JUNE 19th - Ellen Uggucconi crafted the Chapter 23 Historic Incentive Package which was been passed by the Historic Environmental Preservation (HEP) Board this passed week. Since she wrote it, she understands the ins and outs. This is your opportunity to get your questions answered and explained in a way you can understand. Please send us your questions and bring them in written form to the meeting.

NEXT REGULAR MiMo BREAKFAST MEETING JUNE 19TH
Please join us for the next regular meeting of the MiMo Biscayne Association.
When: Tuesday morning June 19th at 8:30AM
Where: Uva69, 6900 Biscayne Boulevard (inside dining room)
(Everyone is responsible for their own check)

Speaker: Ellen Uggucconi, Historic Preservation Consultant, City of Miami
What Chapter 23 means to Historic Biscayne Boulevard

Arts and Cultural Meeting Tomorow at UVA69

ARTS & CULTURAL MEETING SCHEDULED FOR JUNE 12TH
June 12th, 6PM -- Arts & Cultural Committee Meeting UVA69 - inside dining room.
Contact Kris Wessel, email: redlightlilriver@bellsouth.net

JUNE 19th 8:30AM

Ellen Uguccioni, Historic Preservation Consultant, City of Miami, crafted the Chapter 23 Ordinance (Historic Incentive Package) which went before the Historic Environmental Preservation (HEP) Board this passed week. She wrote it, so she understands the ins and outs. This will be our first opportunity since the HEP Board passed the ordinance to ask questions, obtain clarification and get answers we can understand. If you cannot make the meeting, please send your questions to bob_powers@bellsouth.net. If you are planning to attend, you may also send your questions in ahead of time so we can avoid duplication during the meeting. Please try to be on time (UVA69 in the inside dining room) and please bring any additional questions in writing.

MiMo On BIC/BID for Breakfast Tuesday June 8th

Please join us for the next meeting of the MiMo Biscayne Association.

When: Tuesday morning June 5th at 8:30AM
Where: Uva69, 6900 Biscayne Boulevard
(Everyone is responsible for their own check)

Speaker: Marcus Aurelius James, Project Manager, Department of Economic Development, City of Miami.

He will explain what a BIC (Business Improvement Committee) or a BID (Business Improvement District) can do for the MiMo District.

Miami City Manager Pete Hernandez Is Guest Speaker At Next MiMoBiBo Meeting

This Tuesday, May 29th, join a diverse group of citizens and guest speaker Miami City Manager Peter Hernandez for breakfast at:

Uva69

6900 Biscayne Boulevard

Time: 8:30am

(Everyone is responsible for their own check)

MiMoBiBo (Miami Modern Biscayne Boulevard) is a non-profit association focused on preserving and improving the historic district. They meet for breakfast or dinner on a regular basis to explore the challenge of revitalizing the historic area as a future destination. The tools they have established to meet their goals include creating a place-making streetscape, providing local/state and national incentives, marketing the area with a MiMo theme and empowering a leadership group of residents, business people and property owners who will nurture the neighborhood. You can learn more here.