NOW, YET ANOTHER BEAUTIFUL BOUTIQUE HOTEL HAS OPENED TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF LITTLE HAVANA’S ART AND CULTURE
Fabulous art and wheelchair access at El Jardin Inn Miami.
“A boutique neighborhood hotel where
local art & modern hospitality meet in the heart of Little Havana”
A welcome addition to the community, a block from the heart of Calle Ocho, at 1568 SW 7th St.
https://www.eljardininn.com
CONSTRUCTION THAT CREATES BARRIERS DESTROYS INDEPENDENCE AND DIGNITY FOR THOSE WHO USE ASSSTIVE MOBILITY DEVICES
The triumph
and failure of cities can be evaluated in the way they accommodate the
vulnerable pedestrian population.
In the case
of Miami, its inhumanity shows abject failure.
This is the gateway between two of Miami’s biggest icons — the waterfront
skyscraper Brickell district and culturally vibrant historic Little Havana.
Yet it
blocks people with disabilities and is a tripping hazard to all with bumpy
crappy asphalt.
This is an
Americans with Disabilities Act violation.
Barriers created by construction then neglected for ages strip all independence and dignitiy for those who uses wheelchairs for mobility.
PROUD TO HAVE BEEN PART OF THE BOOK LAUNCH
AT BOOKS AND BOOKS THIS MONTH
His street photography is inspired by Ara Güler, the Eye
of Istanbul. He learned from and edited a book about the great Turkish
photographer.
Wright is a Pulitzer-nominated, award-winning writer and
has published more than 5,000 professional articles.
His Save My Little Havana, a one-man show photo exhibit
opened in August 2023 at the Art Deco Welcome Center in Miami Beach and ran
through Thanksgiving.
Several photos by Steve are published in the book, and
will exhibited at the Books & Books Gallery Space.
Steve and other artists were present at the Book Launch
on October 4, when they signed books.
THE EVENT WAS PART OF DESIGNING CITIES 2024: MIAMI-DADE
I
was thrilled to join Raissa Fernandez of Healthy Little Havana for a tour
highlighting walkability, transit and mobility for all this week.
It was part of the National Association of City Transportation Officials annual meeting, hosted in Miami this year.
The NACTO Designing Cities Conference brings together 1,000 officials, planners, and practitioners to advance the state of transportation in cities across North America.
Healthy Little Havana is a local nonprofit that actively co-designs -- with other residents and partner organizations-- a dynamic Community Action Plan that addresses the root causes of poor health and health inequities.
Currently HLH focuses on: housing, healthcare access, education to employment, and food and public space.
Led by Raissa, our tour had more than two dozen top professionals from across the U.S.
We highlighted:
Sidewalks too narrow for people with disabilities – that ironically cover more than a city block adjacent to the accessible entrances to a city services center and performing arts hall.
The three-lane, one-way couplets (Flagler westbound/SW 1st Street eastbound, SW 7th Street westbound/Calle Ocho eastbound) that are very dangerous to cross for people with disabilities, children and elderly residents.
The lack of shade canopy in East Little Havana. The transit stop where the group joined the tour – has zero shade despite hosting two (bus and trolley) major transit shelters.
The threat of over development that is both robbing Little Havana of its rich architectural heritage, but also shrinking the supply of affordable housing in one of the most rent-burdened cities in America.
STORYTELLER AND ADVOCATE
If there was one thing you could change, address, etc. about Miami, what would it be?
All politicians would be in it for the little guy, not themselves.
Elected officials would make decisions based on creating a
legacy of inclusion.
What are you looking forward to in 2023?
World travel and more work being an evangelist for
Universal Design and a barrier-free built environment.
STORYTELLER AND ADVOCATE
What’s your favorite local social media account and why?
@BecauseMiami, because it’s snarky, sardonic
and cynical.
If you could give any one piece of advice to locals, what would
it be?
Love people who are different than you. Learn from
them; drink in their culture.
How does Miami help you do what you do or influence your work?
I’m from Ohio. It’s sure nice to have warm, sunny winters.
That gets me going when I’m having trouble writing or launching a big project.
STORYTELLER AND ADVOCATE
Share your other top three destinations for where you’d go on your perfect Miami day.
(1) Miami Beach at 5:00 a.m. to run on the sand till
the sun rises.
(2) Ball and Chain in the heart of Calle Ocho
for great music, drink, and vibes any time — day or night.
(3) Play on the grass at William Jennings Bryan Park,
because I live on it and spent more than two years protecting the one acre of
greenspace from being paved over.
STORYTELLER AND ADVOCATE
What’s your favorite Miami memory?
Getting to create, from scratch, a revolutionary
course on Universal Design.
I taught it to graduate and undergraduate
architecture and urban design students at the University of Miami School of
Architecture.
If you could eat only one meal from a local
restaurant for the rest of your life, what would it be?
A BBQ steak sub, well done, on wheat, no cheese,
black olives as the only condiment, and hot cherry peppers on the side.
From Super Subs, an institution on Bird Road in
South Miami.
(I eat less than half the sub bun and have no fries or chips to keep it healthy!)
STORYTELLER AND ADVOCATE
What brings you most alive about the 305?
Walking for entertainment and exercise.
I lost 125 pounds eating healthier and walking from
my home in Shenandoah to the Miami River and throughout Little Havana.
I documented the Art Deco, Spanish Mission,
Mediterranean, and other 1920s to 1940s classic apartment, commercial, spiritual,
and single-family homes.
My images were part of a six month, one-man Local
Artist exhibition at the Art Deco Welcome Center in Miami Beach
It ran through mid-February 2024.
STORYTELLER AND ADVOCATE
Howdy, Steve! Who are you? What do you do?
I am a writer, visual artist, keynote speaker,
planner, educator, and advocate.
I work for myself, creating content about Universal
Design and a better built environment for people with disabilities.
My clients include the National Association of
REALTORS, the United Spinal Association, the American Planning Association,
Global Disability Inclusion Inc., and many others.
I also create workshops and speeches about how to
make cities more inclusive for all.
MY FINE ART PHOTOS OF LITTLE HAVANA
Dozens of fine art images are available for sale at the Art Deco Museum Miami Beach, Ocean Drive and 10th Street.
My photo exhibit has been extended to Dec. 31. The gallery and gift shop are open 9 a.m.-5 p.m.
Free museum admission for Miami-Dade
Residents.
50% of sales support the Miami Design
Preservation League.
Buy local and support Miami artists when you do you Holiday Shopping.
A POP UP ART SHOW IN THE HEART OF LITTLE HAVANA
--WHEN
THE ART WORLD IS FOCUSED ON THE MAGIC CITY
I’m honored
to be one of the featured artists at Art & Design Gallery’s event during
Art Basel Miami.
It takes place 10 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday December 8 and Saturday December 9 at 2380 SW 9 Street Miami – footsteps from my historic Little Havana home and just a block south of wonderful Calle Ocho.
The free
event will feature art displays and sales, live music, food and more at Art by Hurley.
RSVP at:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/miami-art-exhibit-tickets-764844840507
BY THE HONORABLE MIAMI-DADE COUNTY COMMISSIONER EILEEN HIGGINS
Thrilled to give a special tour of my Little Havana photography exhibit to the Honorable Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins.
I was honored to received an official Miami-Dade County Commendation recognizing my art and activism.
Commissioner Higgins has proudly represented Little Havana by ensuring there is funding to preserve great buildings with affordable housing.
I’m am thankful, proud and gratified to receive recognition of my tireless work to make Miami a better place.
There are so many stories to tell about Little Havana.
It
is a rich tapestry of historic buildings, trailblazing immigrants, world class
artists, renowned musicians, mom and pop restaurants and growing nightlife scene.
I
have happily called Little Havana home for more than two decades.
I
bought an old house in very bad shape and lovingly restored what is now a
lovely Spanish Mission Style century old abode that fronts historic William Jennings
Bryan Park.
I told Little Havana’s stories when I worked from Miami City Commissioner Joe Sanchez.
The high rise Brickell district has somewhat jumped west of I-95.
The buildings are not skyscrapers, but dozens of bland, faceless buildings – with expensive rents – have replaced quaint, small, beautiful 3-story Mediterranean and Art Deco buildings that have supplied affordable housing in Little Havana for decades.
I photographed the backstreets.
I documented the lovely apartments, houses, churches and commercial buildings.
ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
"Save My Little Havana" serves as a full-circle moment for writer-photographer Steve Wright, a native of Ohio who became a Miamian in 2000 after experiencing a Miami Design Preservation League guided tour and falling in love with the Magic City's rich architectural history.
Wright
encourages all who visit the exhibition to consider the mutually beneficial
relationship we could each have with our city's historic buildings.
"Nowadays, you get one or two stories of parking decks that are not
pretty.
You get
cookie-cutter units and usually don't get the prettier finishes.
I'm not
saying all zoning should be capped at three stories; I'm just saying, make room
for the historic.
Make room
for the authentic in your life," Writer-photographer Steve Wright says.
"I do
feel like our lives are richer for gorgeous buildings."
ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
%2010x8.JPG)
We hope this
will also lead to more in-person visits and tours of the area," Miami
Design Preservation League Executive Director Daniel Ciraldo says.
"We
hope that the exhibit will lead to additional incentives to protect this
nationally significant neighborhood."
ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
Writer-photographer
Steve Wright says he hopes this exhibition sparks passion in its viewers, who
may recognize the exhilaration he felt while snapping each of these photos.
Miami Design Preservation League Executive Director Daniel Ciraldo says
this exhibition can galvanize Art Deco Museum visitors — often tourists from
all over the country and world — to aid in ongoing efforts to preserve Little
Havana's historic buildings.
ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
George says
this multicultural history makes Little Havana such a jewel among South
Florida's many neighborhoods.
"The
layers of people who have called Little Havana home — be that southern whites
100-plus years ago, white and Black Bahamians, Jewish communities, Cubans,
Nicaraguans or Guatemalans — they're the reason why it's so important to
recognize that rich history and preserve this neighborhood," he says.
"It has
always been a darling neighborhood.
It's where
people came from under the oppressive governments of other countries to find
the American dream of freedom and economic opportunity. Little Havana is a
symbol of the zest people have for opportunity."
ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
According to
HistoryMiami Museum resident historian Paul George, what's known today as
Little Havana used to be two distinct neighborhoods: Riverside to the north and
Shenandoah to the south.
In the
mid-1920s, George says a real estate boom radically transformed Miami, and both
Riverside and Shenandoah became homes to a growing Jewish population.
ON DISPLAY AT THE ART DECO MUSEUM, STEVE WRIGHT'S PHOTOS SHOWCASE LITTLE HAVANA'S BEAUTY AND WONDER HIDING IN PLAIN SIGHT
“Too often
in Miami, developers come in and simply try to erase the very essence of what
makes each neighborhood distinctive and resilient.
We believe
that identifying, protecting, and promoting this neighborhood will lend more
cultural value to the place and lead to more thoughtful investment and
development."
HUMAN-CENTERED DESIGN MAKES THE WORLD NAVIGABLE FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES AND IT ALLOWS SENIORS TO AGE IN PLACE
He's trained
as a traffic engineer, so he knows what he's talking about.
Through
videos, essays and presentations, he helps us to create healthy communities.
I attended a
game-changing short film/presentation by Andy at the University of Miami School
of Architecture.
Then I sat
down with Andy the next morning to talk about how healthy design is essential
to quality of life for people with disabilities.
He interviewed
me in the heart of Little Havana and filmed our conversation for a future
broadcast.
I’ve posted some stills from our interview and friendly chat at the World Famous Ball and Chain.
https://substack.com/@speakeasy
 |
