Should We Build A Home Depot On South Beach?

The question is not whether a Home Depot fits in South Beach.  Of course it doesn’t.  But there is more to this issue than just a yes or no answer.

The real question here is how did we get to the point of a big box retailer thinking they can come to Miami Beach? It was due to a lack of vision and planning on the part of our City.   We need comprehensive neighborhood plans, that cover density, historic designations, green space, parking, and access.

We need to have the City’s administration give the City Commission the tools in the form of neighborhood plans that will enable us to move forward with an organized cohesive plan of what we want our neighborhoods to look like. Without a plan, how can we make intelligent decisions?  Without a plan, how do property owners and developers know how to move forward? We need to make sure we learn from places like Coconut Grove and make sure we get things right in Miami Beach. We need to make sure our plans let a big box retailer know where it does not belong!

We are a historic vibrant community, our plan, neighborhood by neighborhood, needs to remember the themes that has put Miami Beach back on the map.

We need a proven leader who has vision, foresight and a proven track record of looking forward.