MIAMI'S HISTORIC LITTLE HAVANA HAS LOST ANOTHER LANDMARK -- PART 3

DEMOLITION OF THE SHENANDOAH PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH WAS WRONG 

In ancient Rome, a not so glamorous building -- repurposed with a B&B and monthly rental among old families that have been there for generations – lives into its 500^th year.

In Miami, we declare landmarks obsolete before they turn 100 and pretend it is impossible to restore and re-purpose them with adaptive re-use.

I think good leadership could have easily found a way to retrofit an old church into something economically viable that does not conflict with the neighborhood next door.

We have no shortage of brilliant urban designers and architects in Miami as well as a wealth of creative developers.

There is no reason an historic church had to be razed for a likely cookie cutter replacement structure devoid of character.

I know we must look forward rather than point fingers, but I hope the Little Havana-Shenandoah community demands a "demolition autopsy."

Maybe such a report can outline what when wrong.

And most important, we can all learn how to prevent this from happening again in the future.

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/little-havana/article235777177.html?fbclid=IwAR0bCsnmKUDt3fBNk6GYsluE54s6IljIYoJRw_5qeDaCUbBajOeql2kuOCo

https://calleochonews.com/shenandoah-presbyterian-church-a-thing-of-the-past/?fbclid=IwAR3f1OzfO5iRnHTm0BIF5gHH3NkAd8pLuPpAGpwlAPCJuV-Ljn0XY5m6N1Q