Please place on the March 31, 2024 agenda a referral to the Finance and Economic Resiliency Committee (the “FERC”) to discuss the programming for the new Byron Carlyle G.O. Bond project for a multi-purpose cultural arts space and, possibly, workforce housing that is compatible with a cultural arts center and the surrounding neighborhood, and to consider the various options for financial and funding models for the Project.
The Byron Carlyle Theater complex is located at 500 71st Street, between Byron Avenue and Carlyle Avenue, where it opened in 1968 as twin cinemas hosting first-run movies. The City purchased the Byron Carlyle Theater (the “Theater”) from the WBC Broadcasting Corporation in 2001 and partially renovated it to spur economic development and bolster North Beach arts and culture. In 2014, the City executed a Management Agreement with Living Arts Trust d/b/a O Cinema, who occupied the Theater’s western portion. The remaining eastern portion remained uninhabited. On October 31. 2019, the Theater was permanently closed.
Since its closure, there have been several discussions held regarding the condition and future of the Byron Carlyle. The North Beach community and the City Commission have expressed interest in exploring various uses for the building, primarily as a cultural center, which could include such potential uses as a museum, a business incubator gallery space, artist studios, a film or arts center, as well as retail (like a café), office space for arts organizations, and workforce/artsforce housing. Attached as Exhibit A is a conceptual plan developed by Shulman and Associates in August 2022 reflected some options that were based on initial community meetings. There have also been discussions, primarily at FERC meetings, regarding potential funding sources for a renovation or reconstruction of the Byron Carlyle. Below are some of the more recent developments.
· On November 8, 2022, the City’s voters approved a $159 million General Obligation Bond (GOB) for Arts and Culture that included $30,570,000 for the redevelopment of the Byron Carlyle Theater.
· On December 14, 2022, during its discussion of item R7 E, the Mayor and City Commission directed the Administration to seek expressions of interest from cultural institutions to occupy and/or activate the Byron Carlyle venue. Consequently, on January 25, 2023, the Administration issued Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI) 2023-261-KB for Cultural Partners for Byron Carlyle Theater. The RFLI was developed with input gathered from the Cultural Arts Council and Michael Spring, Director of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. On February 22, 2023, responses to the RFLI were received and published via LTC 106-2023, attached hereto as Exhibit B.
· Based on the discussion at the FERC’s January 27, 2023, the Administration, under the City Manager’s authority, engaged AMS Planning and Research (“AMS”) and TheatreDreams, both cultural arts consulting firms, to provide insight and technical advice on best practices and models for developing an innovative cultural center that would best serve residents, act as catalyst for investment/reinvestment in North Beach and support local arts organizations. AMS recently issued a draft report for input from staff and it is anticipated that the report will be finalized on or around March 31, 2024 and thereafter presented to the City Commission.
· On April 21, 2023, the Friends of the Byron, a group of interested residents and stakeholders, made a presentation to the Committee regarding possible visions for the reactivation of the Byron Carlyle. One vision consisted of a two-story multi-disciplinary cultural arts center and a second vision including the same two-story cultural arts center, topped by approximately 70-80 units of “arts force” housing on levels three through seven and a roof top event space. A copy of the Friends’ presentation is attached hereto as Exhibit C.
I would like to engage in a preliminary conversation with my colleagues to discuss the various options for programming of the Byron Carlyle G.O. Bond project, as well as possible financing/funding models for this important project before any more time elapses and we lose more of the buying power of the $30 million that voters allocated to bring this site to life.