In the early 1980s, New York designer Leonard Horowitz developed a color palette of approximately 40 colors as part of a plan in conjunction with Barbara Capitman to enliven the dated and worn Art Deco facades in Miami Beach (see attached exhibit). With the help of Ernest Martin, then the Director of the Dade County Office of Community and Economic Development, funding was provided to paint facades of the city’s Art Deco buildings in the Horowitz color palette. This important rehabilitation program was fully funded and operated by the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation (MBCDC). By the end of the decade, more than fifty property owners agreed to have their facades painted in the Horowitz palette.

The success of the 1980s facade improvement project was due in large part to grant funding obtained by Miami-Dade County which allowed the MBCDC to paint the facades at no cost to the owner. While over the years, many property owners have chosen to forgo the multi-color pastel paint palette, others have continued the more intricate painting schemes seen in the 1980s and 1990s. These include, among others, the Park Central, Imperial, Marlin, Crescent, and Cavalier hotels.

The City owns multiple buildings within historic districts, but only a small number, including the Colony Theater and Beach Patrol Headquarters, are in the Art Deco or Streamline Moderne style, which is the most appropriate architectural style for the pastel color palette.

The LUSC discussed the item and recommended the following:

1. Re-painting the Colony Theater and Beach Patrol Headquarters in a color scheme that utilizes the Leonard Horowitz color palette and highlights architectural features, including consulting with Ms. Barbara Hulanicki on the color scheme.

2. Performing outreach to paint companies for sponsorship of painting additional buildings in the City, utilizing the Horowitz color palette.

3. Conducting a media campaign to promote the Horowitz color palette.

4. Exploring whether the North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency Façade Improvement Program could provide funding for paint projects on eligible buildings in North Beach.

LOBBYIST DISCLOSURE
In accordance with Resolution No. 2023-32857, adopted by the City Commission on December 13, 2023, the following information has been provided by the primary item sponsor as it relates to the subject discussion item:

1. Was the Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

2. If so, specify name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s): Not Applicable