LITTLE
HAVANA’S MAIN STREET OR BRICKELL’S HIGHWAY
(from FaustoCommercial.com blog)
Little
Havana’s Historic Calle Ocho stands close to a decision which will permanently
alter the direction of this neighborhood’s evolution. This a prime moment
for us to cement our commitment to great urban neighborhoods.
The Florida
Department of Transportation is currently studying Little Havana’s main street,
SW 8th Street, locally known as Calle Ocho, and accompanying SW 7th, going from
I-95 as far west as SW 27th Avenue. Both SW 7th and 8th Streets are now
three-lane high speed counter-directional thoroughfares, with SW 8 leading into
Brickell and SW 7 leading out.
What lies at
the core of this debate is the discussion of whether Calle Ocho is to continue
its existence as speedway into and out of Brickell, a mere tool of car
movement; or whether it should fulfill its potential as a vital commercial and
social artery of a vibrant neighborhood. Undeniably Little Havana is a
great local neighborhood, but one that has not lived up to its possibilities
for decades. And this should not be viewed as just a local problem.
Little Havana is a vibrant heritage neighborhood, defined by its cultural
flavor and dynamism, framed by a well-proportioned urban grid plan, gifted with
valuable architectural assets, populated by a diverse and colorful people, and
marked by a narrative arc so resonant of the American story. Little
Havana has the potential to be not just a great local neighborhood, it has the
potential to be a jewel in the patchwork of the Miami cityscape, and one of the
World’s Great Neighborhoods.
What we
decide about Calle Ocho can bring that untapped value to fruition.
History
Calle Ocho
began its life, and has been for much of its existence, a typical 2-way
American Main Street. That changed in the late 60s, when the current
speedway-like pattern of today was drawn. At the time the change serviced
an understandable need, but the subsequent opening of elevated east-west
Dolphin Expressway (I-836) eliminated the need. Despite this development,
the prime stretch between 27th Avenue and I-95 was never converted back.
Solutions
So the
question becomes, what is the alternative? To reverse the 50 years of
disenfranchisement and commercial blight that Calle Ocho’s current plan has
brought, step one is reversing the corridor to freeway shift, and restoring
Calle Ocho’s two way traffic. That is the critical first step, but other
needed solutions include expanding sidewalks, and permitting those expanded
sidewalks to house spillover activity from the adjacent businesses such a
side-walk cafes. Also critical is the better integration of multi-modal
transportation alternatives such as dedicated bike and transit lanes. And
lastly, while all these features in of themselves will improve the pedestrian
experience and safety, it is essential to incorporate greater safety features
such as distinct crosswalks.
The question
of how to incorporate SW 7 st is also significant. SW 7 is mostly
composed of residential multi-family buildings now, but the underlying zoning
encourages the development of mixed uses, which may bring street-front retail
components anchoring residential spaces above. SW 7 st would be an ideal
candidate to house dedicated bike lanes.
Amongst the
benefits of two-way corridors are:
Foster urban
life
one-way
streets encourage speed, two-way streets slow traffic
slowed
traffic encourages traffic safety and pedestrian safety
more
pleasant walking enviroments
less crime,
as more vigilant eyes on the street
increased
property values
More
economic activity, supporting local merchants
Two way
streets bring people to the area, as opposed to just channeling them through at
high speeds
Join an
impassioned coalition of local urbanists, business-owners, property owners, and
concerned citizens, as we voice to FDOT our concerns.
Our very
talented friends at PlusUrbia have started a petition. They’ve also
drafted a sample alternative plan which is definitely worth checking out:
-Carlos
Fausto Miranda
February 14,
2016
