Download the PDF file of the Miracle Mile & Restaurant Row Streetscape here. Follow along with the Presenter’s Notes here.
The BID Board of Directors passed a resolution earlier this year to form an expert advisory committee to include design professionals, urban planners, engineers, a transportation professional, retail expert, and merchants to make a solid recommendation as to which sidewalk/parking scenario is best for Miracle Mile and best for the continued success of commercial owners, but with a broader vision consistent with the walkable features recommended in the 2002 Downtown Charette.
The committee is being supported by an independent facilitator/moderator, Dr. Chuck Bohl, Director of the Knight Program in Community Building in the University of Miami’s School of Architecture, together with a team of architects who will be providing design and drafting support to develop actual drawings consistent with the committee’s vision. After some working meetings in the summer to gather maps, data and information, the committee conducted a public session on September 8th, 2008, so that merchants, owners and residents could provide input into the process. Over 60 people attended the meeting and provided feedback to the committee.
The BID is seeking public comments to the design alternatives contained in the presentation available on this page. Please visit and leave your comments, email us at info@shopcoralgables.com or call us at (305) 569-0311.
Tuesday, 9. September 2008
enjoy the presentation, great turn out. Looking forward in the selection fo the streetescape for both streets.
thank you,
Thursday, 11. September 2008
As a Gables business owner, property owner, and a resident I enjoyed this week’s information session. It was nice to see such a large turn out. We truly need to spend some energy and resources to make our downtown Coral Gables competitive with all the other urban destinations that are trying to win consumers to come to their areas. Nothing would better than a beautiful street with large canopy trees, lots of retail stores, places to sit, and just a wonderful environment for anything from a casual stroll to a serious dining or shopping experience. I especially loved the idea of making Giralda work as an easy street to close down (perhaps on weekends) which would allow for dining experiences better than most areas in Miami. What people have to understand is that a better area for which is more pedestrian friendly will increase business for all.
Thursday, 18. September 2008
I like the idea of improving the Mile, but not at the expense of the angled parking. It would eliminate too many on street spaces, and the street is far too dangerous for parallel parking. I also have a problem with the number of spaces that are currently reserved for valet parking on the Mile. Having seen the way the valets drive, I would never trust them with my car. Just last week we tried to parallel park on Aragon with our two small children in the car, and just as we were about to back into the space (the way you’re supposed to), a valet came up behind us and nearly hit us as he jammed into the space before we could. They also routinely travel at very high speeds in the garages, including when they’re going down the wrong lane in the Museum garage, and one nearly hit me today as he turned right onto Ponce from Aragon while I had the right of way in the crosswalk on Ponce.
Saturday, 20. September 2008
As the general manager of one of the oldest and most successful restaurants in the city of Coral Gables, I’m excited to see that at long last, steps are being taken to make this city the destination spot that it should be. Few places in South Florida are as beautiful and have as much to offer as Coral Gables. However I feel we desperately need these outdoor areas like alternative #5 of the Giralda Ave. presentation to make it so tourists and residents of South Florida alike will come and shop, dine and spend the day or evening in this amazing city. For those who have concerns about parking, I feel that with the amount of parking garages that have been built in recent years that this is a non-issue. In closing I hope that all of these incredible plans don’t get lost in the traditional Coral Gables bureaucracy.
Monday, 22. September 2008
Beautiful presentation! Thank you for your creativity, research and careful consideration as to how your great ideas might be implemented.
What is the next step?
For Giralda, if the sidewalk bump-outs are pursued, how will it be determined exactly where they will occur?
What are the notions as to how the project will be paid for?
Pls let me know if there is anything I can do to help nudge this along.
Gail
Monday, 22. September 2008
i loved the presentation. and the “shared areas design” is the best option because makes the areas versatile the issue of traffic and parking in Italy has been a huge problem since the 70’s.
Coral Gables has the same problems of an european town because how it was designed and organized by Mr. Merrick: as a Spanish town with a downtown where to walk, buy and have lunch or dinner. i’m from a town in Italy that (first in Europe ) closed completely the center(downtown) to the traffic. no cars and no parking on the street. and in italy we don’t have parking garages as we do have in the US. at that time all the merchants said that all the businesses would have been killed by this decision: it was completely the opposite. people love to walk from a store to another, sit out side at the restaurants. this is the same concept of an outdoor mall. leaving some parallel parking spots along the streets and improving Valet and parking garages(we have plenty from my point of view) will improve the walksides and make downtown a beautiful place to walk and meet. and to those that say that americans are not used to walk, i remember them the long walks at the shopping malls from the parking garage to the different stores. In Coral Gables, as the architects said, downtown is a 5 minutes walk
Saturday, 4. October 2008
I am glad to see efforts are being made to revamp Miracle Mile, as it is truly and underachievment in its current state of worn out side walks, chain eateries, outdated store fronts and frankly, absence of character. The proposed change in parking is a winner, on that note, the addition of traffic cameras at Miracle and Ponce as well as other primary intersections would greatly reduce hang ups due to motorists opting to block intersections. Without question, this plan is paramount to making Coral Gables the self proclaimed “City Beautiful” and as the presenter duly note, this is not rocket science. Not to be overlooked, of equal importance, is the correct combination of merchants producing robust evening and weekend foot traffic. Just take a stroll on Las Olas on a Saturday night and you will see for yourself. High number of restaurants with shops staying open until 11PM, providing a city like atmosphere. Nice job by the presenter, looking forward to seeing the finished product.