HomeMy WebLinkAboutM-87-03454C
greater
Miami
chamber of
;ommerce
March 27, 1987
Cesar Odio
City Manager
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
Dear Mr. Odio:
77
As you are aware, the Hispanic Affairs Committee of the Greater
Miami Chamber of Commerce, has produced a ten minute videotape
presentation on the Latin Quarter.
This presentation will be used be City of Miami staff as well
as several other groups that are interested in the development
of the Latin Quarter area. We would like to be placed on the
April 9, 1987 Commission Agenda to present the final product
to the Mayor and Commissioners.
We would like to address the Commission after the lunch break,
if at all possible.
We appreciate your assistance in this project and offer special
thanks to Sergio Rodriguez and Jose Casanova, from the City of
Miami Planning Department.
Very truly yours,
Sandy Gonzalez
Executive Director
cc: Honorable Mayor Xavier Suarez and
City of Miami Commissioners
GREATER MU NI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Omni Intemational Complex • 1601 Bisccoyne Boukword • Miami, Florida 33132 • (305) 350-7700
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,ommerce City Clerk
LATIN QUARTER FACT SHEET
Location: West of Downtown Miami bounded by N.W. 1st Street and S.W. 9th
Street, from 12th to 17th Avenues.
Goal: To create a showcase of hispanic cultures in Miami similar to the
French Quarter in New Orleans and Chinatown in New York,
within the boundaries of the Latin Quarter, that will attract
visitors and tourists on a twenty-four hours basis and help to
revitalize the neighborhood.
History: * Late 1960's Downtown merchants conceived the idea of a Latin
Quarter (L.Q.) in Downtown Miami.
* Mid 1970's Latin Merchants and Community leaders conceived the
idea of a Latin Quarter in Little Havana, and late 1970's
the City Planning Department got involved.
* Early 1976 the first public improvements in the area occured.
* Early 1980 an EDA Grant (matched by the City, County and State
funds) - over $3 million -was obtained.
* Late 1984, the City Commission approved legislation creating the
Latin Quarter in Little Havana.
* June 1984, The Latin'Quarter Merchants Association was created.
* January 1985 the Latin Quarter Review Board began reviewing
projects in the Latin Quarter.
* May 1985, the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Hispanic Affairs
Committee started started supporting the development of the Latin
Quarter.
Objectives:
1) To market and promote the Latin Quarter to attract developers,
new residents, visitors and tourists.
2) To encourage a better quality of architectural design, which
reinforces the Hispanic Culture, in a pedestrian setting and
tropical atmosphere.
3) To attract larger scale developments (specialty center, hotel,etc.)
4) To attract anchor stores.
5) To encourage mixed -use commercial -residential development.
6) To encourage the development of better quality housing projects
with more amenities.
7) To encourage younger, more affluent people to visit and live in
the area.
8) To improve parking facilities.
Project Status:
* The area has improved physically, specially the Commercial
corridors, thus making the area more appealing to the visitors.
* There is enthusiasm by the business community to invest in the
area. Over 50 private sector projects have been approved by the
City in 1986.
* Parking is beginning to improve as a consequence of new
development.
* The City and County has allocated Community Development funds -
for Commercial area rehabilitation (facades by the City;
building. interior by the County) including a paint program;. -
and improvements of residential structures.
GREATER FIiIAMI C14AMBER OF COMMiERCE ';a
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Investments
* Feasibility study being conducted by the City of Miami, will
be completed in March 1987.
* Latin Quarter Banners have been placed in the boundaries to
identify this district.
* Gateway Competition Project sponsored by the Latin Quarter Assoc.
and Greater Miami Chamber of Commercelwill be judged Dec. 15,
1986.
* Public sector - over $4 million since 1976
* Private Sector - over $15 million since 1985
Investment Opportunities
* Specialty Center
* Hotels
* Restaurants
* Housing
Potential Funding Sources
* Community Development Block Grant (CDBG)
* Urban Development Action Grants (UDAGS)
* City Mini UDAGS
* City Bond funds
* Tax Increment financing
Citizen Participation/Organizations
* Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
* Little Havana Development Authority (LHDA)
* Latin Quarter Merchants Association
* Latin Builders Association
* InterAmerican Businessmen Association
* Kiwanis of Little Havana
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
CITY OF MIAMI
PLANNING DEPARTMENT
Sergio Rodriguez/Jose Casanova
579-6086
LITTLE HAVANA DEVELOPMENT AUTHORITY
Dr. Pedro Montiel `
324-8127
GREATER MIAMI CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
Sandra B. Gonzalez
350-7700
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