That stupid courthouse they destroyed by neglect is back in the news. By Geniusofdespair

Miami's Courthouse

Completed in 1928 the Civil Courthouse at 73 West Flagler Street is on the US National Register of Historic Places. The New York Public Library Main Branch opened in 1911.

One Building is an icon, visited by tourists from all over the world. The other building, in Miami, they want to demolish it and have us foot the bill for a new building. One way or another, it is going to cost us big-time. They tried a Bond vote but the public rejected that.

First, why was this building not kept up over the years? It is a travesty. Why can New York maintain an older building and we can't maintain ours? Are New Yorker's smarter?

So now that we have let the courthouse run down into ruin, I have a new question. The County Government knew for years that they have not kept up the building so why didn't they put aside money to rebuild it? Let's face it, Gimenez has been at the County for 12 years. We could have $360 million stashed away by now (what they claim in needed to replace it) with a sum of $10 million a year (a paltry sum in a $7 billion dollar budget).

Why should we pay for their neglect? Or worse, why should we have to give the land to a developer to get a new building? Wouldn't it have been cheaper to just do upkeep every year?

Condo owners call it reserves. Where are the reserves of Miami Dade County for projects such as this?

Here is an example of dumb upkeep: Look at the beautiful historic floor in the the courthouse bathroom. What did they do? They covered it with a shit floor. Why didn't they just fix up the original, beautiful floor?

The Miami Herald article

Task Force Needed For Courthouse Dilemma Says Commissioner Levine Cava. By Geniusofdespair

What to do about the Courthouse issue? We don't want blocks of concrete falling on our heads and $30 million has been set aside for that. As far as most Commissioners are concerned we should just do an RFP tailored for one firm (we all know that firm, lets be honest commissioners, I know which one it is). I think Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava has a better idea: We should think it through now that the $30 Million has afforded us time to do it right. This letter to Mayor Gimenez has some positive solutions that County Commissioners might consider. The Mayor, up for reelection, should certainly take note. This letter is chock full of good ideas:

What Does All Aboard Florida have to do with the Demolition of the Courthouse? By Geniusofdespair

The 360' Miami-Dade County Courthouse was the tallest building in the State of Florida when it was completed in 1928.

How do both link up - The Courthouse and the Rail? Sounds like a bad deal for us. Harvey Ruvin: Let's do some explaining. I don't know the answers, I just know something is afoot.  Are we going to give them the land? Tell us what is going on. Why not do some restoration instead of demolition?

BTW there are SEVERAL of these on the December 16th Miami Dade County Agenda:

RESOLUTION WAIVING BUILDING BETTER COMMUNITIES GENERAL OBLIGATION BOND PROGRAM ADMINISTRATIVE RULES...

Let's not WAIVE rules folks. Where is Bovo? Where is the Mayor? Why don't we waive rules for citizens and let them speak 10 minutes each? Stop waiving rules. We voted on this bond, we deserve for the rules to be followed on all items. It is only ethical and fair.

Miami Dade County Courthouse Jury-rigged Repairs. By Geniusofdespair

Yes, jury-rigged also happens to mean makeshift repairs.

I was in the courthouse the other day and took just two photos because I was busy with the swearing in of Daniella Levine Cava.

If you have a beautiful building you have to take pride in how you make repairs. You don't just stick a  screw in (that doesn't match and strip it) and put/leave a piece of hardware in that is butt ugly. Come on. Make believe this is Vizcaya. Treat it like that, you fixing folks. Don't just go to a box of hardware and choose something. Mayor Gimenez, go in and look at the building. Make Jennifer Glazer Moon do a survey of the repairs. This is unacceptable.

Bathroom Door Fastener

Needs a cleaning...both floors. Look at that beautiful under layer tile.

Who approves these fixes? Start floor by floor. This is Harvey Ruvin's floor (2). Damn Harvey. Do you think this looks good? Someone must take pride in the repairs. It looks like everyone had the notion that it was going to be torn down so they just slapped things together.