Miami River Quality Action Team
Annual Report 1996-1997
Commercial Viability
 Boatyard & Commercial Marina
Viability
The Miami River's two oldest boatyard establishments, Merrill
Stevens and Jones Boat Yard, continue to thrive in boat repair
and the service of commercial vessels and luxury yachts, with
Jones Boat Yard offering the two largest drydocks in South Florida
operating at 100% capacity.
New investments in the river also show vitality for the marine
business. Several neglected waterfront properties formerly offering
marine services have been or are in the process of being restored.
Hurricane Cove (formerly Nuta's Boatyard) is a completely refurbished
hurricane safe marina with 100 slips filled to capacity and drydock
storage for an additional 60 vessels. Florida Yacht Basin which
remained fallow for many years was purchased by a consortium,
Global Marine and Trading, with plans to establish a state-of-the-art
yacht refurbishing operation, pending the results of a feasibility
study conducted by Arthur Anderson. In all, 82 facilities along
the river hold Marina Operator Permits from Miami-Dade DERM.
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Infrastructure Improvements
Infrastructure improvements also indicate strong economic
viability for the river's future. Completely refurbished terminal
facilities at formerly degraded sites such as 3300 N.W. North
River Drive and Sea Terminals, Inc. at 2974 N.W. North River
Drive represent substantial improvements of existing facilities.
Modernization measures include realignment of shoreline to accommodate
fenders for manatee protection, upgrading of upland properties
to meet environmental requirements and new paving and drainage
systems.
One of the river's environmental service firms, Cliff Berry
Inc., is expanding its facility on the river's north side in
a county enterprise zone that saves developers taxes and utility
hookup fees. Remediation at the former Unocal site is underway
with a vertical tank farm that includes three new tanks for expanded
growth. The firm plans to eventually move some of its Fort Lauderdale
operations to the river site.
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Miami River
Bridges Operated by
Private Contractors for FDOT |
N.W. 27th Avenue
N.W. 12th Avenue
N.W. 5th Avenue
Flager Street
S.W. 1st Street
Brickell (or S.E. 2nd Ave.)
Miami River Bridges Operated by Miami-Dade County
N.W. South River Drive (or Tamiami)
N.W. 22 Avenue
N.W. 17 Avenue
S.W. 2nd Avenue
South Miami Avenue
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Bridges are also enjoying their
share of attention by way of improvements. The newest bridge
on the river at Brickell Avenue is 10 feet higher than the replaced
bridge, effectively improving service to vehicular and vessel
traffic by requiring 10% fewer openings. It also serves as an
important aesthetic gateway to the river signaling appreciation
for its historic significance. The next bridge scheduled to be
replaced at S.W. 2nd Avenue is the river's oldest, and will take
two to three years to complete.
A Citizen's Advisory Committee has been established to oversee
the design and placement of a new bridge at N.W. 12th Avenue
which will follow the replacement of the 2nd Avenue Bridge. A
proposed bridge at N.W. 32nd Avenue to serve future intermodal
traffic is awaiting inclusion in FDOT's five-year plan.
Downtown Development and River Amenities
A number of interesting river destinations have enjoyed popular
support during the past year, particularly the restaurants on
the North and South sides of the river that feature outdoor dining
and river related ambiance. The newest among them, The Big Fish
Mayaimi, offers campy arts assembled by artist/owner Antonio
Miraldo, and joins the ranks of the historic East Coast Fisheries,
which has added an outdoor patio for dining and live jazz performances.
Garcia's Seafood Grill and Fish Market also expanded its waterside
dining capacity, and Joe's and Bijan's on the river remain popular
seafood destinations.
| The City of Miami's occupancy of
the Riverside Center building at 444 S.W. 2nd Avenue has encouraged
activities and development in the Riverside district, with the
City receiving $1.5 million in grants to make improvements in
the Lummus Park area. The planning direction for the Riverside/Lummus
Park area's future growth includes more restaurants, marinas
and businesses that will create an entertainment district companionable
with the development of a future riverwalk. Water taxi service
to these destinations is becoming an increasingly popular mode
of transportation from the downtown area, and is now handling
overflow traffic for city-wide events. |
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The City of Miami further encouraged public exploration of
the river from the Bay to 5th Street by initiating River Day,
a festival held in Lummus Park as the kick-off event for Dade
Heritage Days in April of 1997. The day long event featured music,
food, folk arts, local crafts, educational lectures, tours of
the Scottish Rite Masonic Center, free transportation by water
taxi, free river tours by boat and assorted entertainments for
children. Over 2000 people participated, signaling the beginning
of a popular annual event. In 1998, River Day will take place
on April 4th from 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. at Lummus Park on the
Miami River, 404 N.W. 3rd Street, Miami.
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