Miami Hairball: Bacardi landmark gains historic designation

[Billy Burnett]

Bacardi landmark gains historic designation
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/southflorida/story/1270179.html

Bacardi's Miami headquarters won historic designation. Bacardi, which is planning
to move out, has not publicly discussed its plans for the Biscayne Boulevard landmark.

It's done.

With Bacardi's ``wholehearted'' endorsement, the city of Miami's preservation board on Tuesday unanimously voted to designate the company's Biscayne Boulevard headquarters as historic, protecting the architectural landmark in perpetuity.

The designation covers the original mural-bedecked 1963 tower, the square annex, and the plaza -- emblazoned with Bacardi's trademark bat -- between them.

At Bacardi's request, the board agreed to carve out of the designation a landscaped rear lot that the company wants to develop eventually. The lot has no historic significance.

In exchange, Bacardi attorney Stanley Price said the company would voluntarily submit any proposed building to city review to ensure it's compatible with the historic complex.

Bacardi, which also owns a two-story building to the north of the complex, said it would limit the bulk of any redevelopment on that site to preserve open views of the historic tower.

``It's a superb trade-off,'' said board member Miguel Seco, urging his peers to take the deal.

``We should be appreciative and thankful and move forward.''

There was little discussion about the historic and architectural merits of the buildings, widely regarded as architectural and engineering masterworks, and among the most distinctive of Miami's modern structures.

Preservationist Ivan Rodriguez told the board the case for designation was ``overwhelming.''

``It's a slam dunk,'' Rodriguez said.

Until Tuesday's hearing, Bacardi's position on the designation was unclear. Although the city's preservation ordinance allows the board to designate a property without an owner's approval, the board had agreed to delay its decision to permit the company time to respond.

The designation doesn't settle the future use of the buildings. Bacardi is scheduled to move out by the end of the year and has not publicly discussed any plans for the historic complex.

The board also unanimously voted to study the site of the recently discovered Lemon City Cemetery for possible historic designation.

The long-forgotten ``colored cemetery,'' which dates back almost 100 years, was unearthed in April during construction of an affordable housing complex.

[Downwinder]

1. 1963 is historic?

[Billy Burnett]

2. A celebration of a then new and fast growing industry in Miami- the anti Castro, anti Cuba industry.

And a bounty it's been. Deserves a celebration. :puke:

[flamingdem]

3. Havana Club tastes much, much better, especially 7 year old anejo nt

[Downwinder]

4. Rum, the second leg of the slave trade.

Keeping their hand in?

[Vogon_Glory]

5. It's Historic. Preserve It.

The 1963 Bacardi headquarters is architecturally noteworthy and ought to be preserved. I'm glad that the City of Miami's historic preservation board voted to save it.

I'm sure that somebody in the profits-before-posterity developers' club has a spare crying towel or two that they'd be willing to loan Bacardi-haters disappointed by the board's decision.