ANALYSIS:
Found on the intersection of 12th Street and Ocean Drive, the rainbow crosswalk is purposefully placed in an area which has been popular within the gay community since the 80s. Known for its deep roots in Miami Beach LGBTQ history, 12th street was home to The Palace, a gay bar exceptionally famous for its drag performances, and the gay beach area.
The rainbow crosswalk is an iconic testament to the City of Miami Beach’s LGBTQ community and a proud symbol of the urban island’s commitment to inclusiveness and equality. Since 2014, a temporary rainbow crosswalk on was re-striped annually, until the City unveiled a permanent rainbow crosswalk installation in November 2018.
The City expressed a desire to capture the significance of the rainbow crosswalk with a commemorative plaque. Following direction from the NCAC, Administration investigated the feasibility of incorporating two design recommendations made at the Committee’s April 24th meeting: Embed the rainbow crosswalk plaque into the serpentine wall or fabricate a plaque pedestal with pastel colored mosaics.
The cost for the design and fabrication of a cast bronze 28”x14” plaque is $2,550.00.
Proposed design option 1 (Exhibit A) is to install the plaque onto the serpentine wall, located in Lummus Park. Approval from the Historic Preservation Board will not be required. The final cost for option 1, inclusive of plaque costs and installation, is $2,775.00.
Proposed design option 2, a pastel-colored mosaic pedestal can range upwards of $15,000.00, depending on the mosaic design. The Planning Department advised that design elements of a mosaic pattern would need to be reviewed. Should the Committee want to pursue this option, a mosaic pedestal would trigger the need for Historic Preservation Board approval.
In light of the NCAC’s favorable recommendation for a plaque monument, funding for the design and placement of the plaque needs to be identified.