DISCUSSION OF STATUS UPDATE PRESENTATION FOR FUTURE USE OF WEST LOTS BY DOVER, KOHL AND PARTNERS. 

Administration is seeking direction and input from the City Commission for the development of the preliminary design and implementation plan by Dover, Kohl, & Partners for the future use of the North Beach West Lots. 

BACKGROUND

The City-owned property known as the “West Lots” consists of 8 city blocks of land located on the West side of Collins Avenue, directly across the street from the North Shore Open Space Park. Currently, four of the blocks are developed as off-street parking, two blocks are vacant, and one block is being temporarily used by Ocean Rescue for their headquarters, and one block is being utilized by the Parking Department. The North Beach Master plan identified the West Lots as highly potential spaces for future mixed-use development. It is believed that the development of these lots have the opportunity to add additional recreational/civic spaces as well as retail and dining options to the neighboring community. The master plan  suggested two scenarios for potential development: 1) Mid-rise and residential development on four of the eight lots to be considered for public/private partnerships, with the remaining four lots to remain available for civic uses; 2) primarily public uses such a hotel, various active public and civic spaces along with a parking structure. Both of these scenarios were included in the adopted North Beach Master Plan.

A resolution was passed at the December 13, 2017 City Commission meeting authorizing the City to hire and retain Dover, Kohl, & Partners, the principle designers for the North Beach Master Plan, to develop a conceptual design plan for the future development of the West Lots. The City entered into an agreement with the agency in April 2018. 

At the December 13, 2017 Commission meeting, a resolution was adopted authorizing the City to retain Dover, Kohl, & Partners (DKP) to analyze and develop a design plan for the future use of the eight vacant West Lots. The baseline for this analysis came from the recommendations and ideas put forth from the North Beach Master Plan. The plan identified the West Lots as potential catalytic development sites that could increase economic opportunity and neighborhood vibrancy. 

Beginning the week of April 30, DKP hosted a series of community charrettes and meetings to inform this conceptual design plan. At the public ideas kick-off session on Monday, April 30, 2018 Dover Kohl led participants in an interactive exercise that allowed residents to provide input on how they would like to see the West Lots developed. Attached to this document are photos that show some of the public feedback and the idea boards.

Following the kick-off session, Dover Kohl held open studio hours at the Miami Beach Rowing Center on Tuesday, May 1, 2018 and Wednesday, May 2, 2018, allowing for community members to provide input on the West Lots and feedback to potential usage ideas. A public share out session was hosted on Thursday, May 3, 2018 where members of Dover Kohl provided a summary of ideas and concepts that were generated from the weeks public meetings. A copy of the slide deck presented at this final session is attached to this document. 

A parallel recommendation was also developed by DKP in regards to potential placement and usage for the Log Cabin. This was reviewed and discussed at the May 18, 2018 Finance and Citywide Projects Committee, with Committee direction to place the Log Cabin in the North Shore Oceanside Park and to restore the Log Cabin for a mixed used community center to operate as a café or concession. This recommendation is also on the June 6, 2018 Commission agenda for approval.

City Staff has been arranging individual meetings between the Commissioners and DKP to gather additional feedback and ideas for the design plan. At the conclusion of these sessions, DKP will review all the input gathered and put forth a design and implementation plan for the West Lots that reflects the comments and ideas from residents, Staff, and the Commissioners. 

DKP plans to present these findings and showcase a conceptual design plan during the June 6, 2018 City Commission meeting.