DuPont Towers renderings

[Don Pacho]

DuPont Towers renderings


This is the complete set of renderings with both towers together. Last year I posted a set of 35 renderings of only the west tower.

The DuPont Towers is a joint undertaking by CMC Group, composed of Ugo Colombo (developer of the exclusive Bristol Tower and Santa Maria, and co-developer of Porto Vita and the Grovenor House) and Lionstone Hotels & Resorts, headed by Alfredo Lowenstein, developers of the Ritz Carlton on South Beach and hotel properties in the Caribbean. With groundbreaking expected sometime next year, talks are already underway with W Hotels, owned by Starwood Hotel & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/8975/02332view1s6yq.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/7323/02332view2s0mg.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/9470/02332view3s8og.jpg

http://img277.imageshack.us/img277/7320/02332view4s6uy.jpg

:)


Thanks to ImageShack for Free Image Hosting (http://www.imageshack.us)

[BHK25]

wow, excellent work Don Pancho. The only thing I don't like is that they'll block the BoA, It won't be seen from Key Biscayne.

[Toucano]

I'm getting really sick of buildings on parking Garage Pedestals...

[Don Pacho]

I'm getting really sick of buildings on parking Garage Pedestals...

that means that you are not an architect and you dont know anything about architectural proportions, no offence but a pedestal is the most important element in a building. In this case they are the lofts of these towers, beautifully dividing the residential, retail and hotel areas.

:)

[rider_of_rohan]

The angle makes it hard to judge the height, and there are a buildings missing in the pics. Must have taken them a long time ago. Otherwise they arent bad looking and the FAA probably wont cut them down :)

[dave8721]

I'm looking at them trying to place Met1 and Met2. It looks like Met1 will still have some views because the taller dupont looks to be set back a little from the curve in the road, and from the renderrings I've seen Met1 will hug that curve. The more western units of Met1 will be looking right into the side of the taller Dupont.
I'm not a fan of the "Club at Brickell Bay" style paint job, but oh well, at least its 600 feet. What will the facade facing the street look like? Is that glass? Are those the hotel rooms? That is the side that people will actually see (unless you are on Brickell Key).

[Toucano]

Nope, I’m an engineer, much smarter than an architect. I do like pedestals and I understand their importance to buildings, I just do not like how we must accommodate vehicles into all our developments. The problem with American architecture and urban planning is that we design with a vehicle in mind rather than human beings.

[The Mad Hatter!!]

whoa these renderings are old,one miami or carbonell hadn't even started yet.

as to the towers they're ok but of course there designed by luis revuelta which i despise because his renderings are very misleading .i especially like pic#2

so pancho,youre the engineer right..i got a couple of questions for ya..
1.when is the expansion of the bridge going to happen .
2.from the rendering which shows the bridge it looks like the bridge and the building are really close together ,is there a potential for car accidents to happen there?
3.i heard theres suppose to be a skywalk connecting both buildings,so whats the purpose of connecting both buildings.

[The Mad Hatter!!]

well not to say that i agree with the huge parking pedestals but atleast were improving them somewhat,if you look at the wachovia parking lot and the dupont parkinglot which one is better,obvisouly the dupont.
also i must say that developers can make alot of money off parking especially in cbd.

[MAH45462]

The problem with American architecture and urban planning is that we design with a vehicle in mind rather than human beings.

The human being drives a vehicle. Not having a parking garage is a severe marketing problem, especially in Miami. The only buildings that I know of that doesn't have a parking garage are the Loft buildings, and they have a lease agreement with the parking authority and will be using the public parking garage across the street.

While there are other ways in incorporate garages into designs, when you have a very narrow space like Dupont, you can't submerge or make it a seperate structure. And the garage will be surrounded by lofts, hidden from view.

[Don Pacho]

Nope, I’m an engineer, much smarter than an architect. I do like pedestals and I understand their importance to buildings, I just do not like how we must accommodate vehicles into all our developments. The problem with American architecture and urban planning is that we design with a vehicle in mind rather than human beings.

I see your point. It would be ideal to hide parking areas preferably underground, a common practice in Europe. The problem we face as you know is our Florida soil and climate that unfornutaly we have to come out basically with a design solution similar to what architects are doing today. At least hide them with lofts and retail areas as shown on these towers.

:)

[archifreese]

okay i have to say something from a soon to be architects perspective - we dont want parking really at all we have to do it because zoning and crap state the 1 or 1.5 spaces per unit in Dade, if that wasnt the case there probably wouldnt be any as part of the design. The flanking of it with lofts and things is best but remember in Dade approx. 50% of the garage has to have some kind of exposed ventilation which makes it even more awkward and exposed.

and as to the comment on humans and cars not entirely true, any new residence in New York or London or other decent transit cities are not obligated to include a single parking space for anything other than deliveries and garbage, if Miami had an existing transit infrastructure that you could actually rely on the parking mandates would diminish.

Remember the architect doesnt have the luxury to go and tell the client hey youll get no parking or i want so and so thing on your building, rather the client, city and other gov't things (see FAA) tell the architect sorry no fun or good things you suggested will happen, instead we will make your building generic, short, uneventful and most importantly cheap, thanks.

Sorry to go on so long but i just want to clarify that architects and parking aren't voluntary or romantic actions, its the necessary evil of Miami and suburban-mentality cities.
PS the renderings are odd but the scale is great for the area.
oh yeah why are engineers much smarter than architects? thats a very arrogant and unprovable statement hopefully it was somewhat of a joke. ..

[Don Pacho]

whoa these renderings are old,one miami or carbonell hadn't even started yet.

as to the towers they're ok but of course there designed by luis revuelta which i despise because his renderings are very misleading .i especially like pic#2

so pancho,youre the engineer right..i got a couple of questions for ya..
1.when is the expansion of the bridge going to happen .
2.from the rendering which shows the bridge it looks like the bridge and the building are really close together ,is there a potential for car accidents to happen there?
3.i heard theres suppose to be a skywalk connecting both buildings,so whats the purpose of connecting both buildings.

I've heard the story of the bridge before. What is shown in the renderings is not very clear. I asked the CMC team once and they didn't know what I was talking about. Let's see if in the models they'll show something.

This is the wall in the west tower where the skywalk will connect if they come out with something like that:

http://img212.imageshack.us/img212/6976/111703view23s6ai.jpg

I haven't checked the site lately, but they were supposed to be building the sales office by now where they will be displaying the models, etc.

:)

[MAH45462]

and as to the comment on humans and cars not entirely true, any new residence in New York or London or other decent transit cities are not obligated to include a single parking space for anything other than deliveries and garbage, if Miami had an existing transit infrastructure that you could actually rely on the parking mandates would diminish.

..

Miami has one of America's biggest car cultures. It is a larger market for luxury cars than cities twice it size, including Chicago. Miami could have a world-class transit system and it wouldn't matter. Miamians love their cars, and they are not giving them up, even if they don't need them. I'll be moving downtown in a few years with no need for a car. In fact, I probably won't use it Monday through Friday. Though I'm not getting rid of my cars.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

wow, excellent work Don Pancho. The only thing I don't like is that they'll block the BoA, It won't be seen from Key Biscayne.
LOL :rofl: BHK :cheers1: , those two Towers aren't the only buildings to block the famous Lighted B.O.A. Tower, How about All Three Met Towers in the same area when All Completed in 2012 !!! :banana2: :pepper: :rock: , With the WIND Condo and IVY Condo Towers to the southwest of B.O.A. Tower and the PEI condo Two Towers Tall Towers to the west of the B.O.A. Tower and the Downtown lofts 2 and 3 Condo towers to the North of the B.O. A. tower, This Lighted Tower will be out of sight in the year 2012 !!!

and YES, Don Pacho :) , Great renderings of the Dupont Plaza Twin Towers, they both should be completed by 2011, also. Very nice update Don, thanks. :cheers:

[Don Pacho]

i heard theres suppose to be a skywalk connecting both buildings.

Some close-ups of the renderings detailing the skywalk area you mention.

http://img328.imageshack.us/img328/4571/02332view4bs7au.jpg

http://img328.imageshack.us/img328/234/02332view3b9dr.jpg

:)

[Pablo63090]

Nice renderings. It's great to see the eastern DuPont Tower close to the 200m. range. And to make everything better, there's alot of glass. :pepper:

[Dale]

If you Miamians wamt to set up a meet, on that skywalk, come 2009, or so, I might drive down myself. :)

[Roark]

I'm not a fan of the "Club at Brickell Bay" style paint job, but oh wellYeah, me neither, but I was talking to sweet Lou, and he was very concerned that Mad Hatter can't tell one Revuelta building from another...so he decided to put racing stripes on this one. He said he loves you too Hat...
PS. And another thing, from the south point of view, that DuPont blocks out the Freedom Tower. How disrespectful.

[nimbyhater]

now wat the hell is the point of that skywalk? seems like something they put in just cause they could, no actual utilitarian purpose to it...

eh, w/e, their money... im all for it, that things cool

[jzquince69]

I think they put it in so residents could base jump from it.

[rider_of_rohan]

From that skywalk they have a fabulous view of many many parking garages

[MIAballinboi]

thnx don, u da man

[Don Pacho]

The entire series of the DuPont West Tower renderings


Building elevations

http://img158.exs.cx/img158/4356/dupontwesttower004s8tw.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower004s8tw.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/1166/dupontwesttower003s9zs.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower003s9zs.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/6310/dupontwesttower002s2jn.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower002s2jn.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/166/dupontwesttower001s0dv.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower001s0dv.jpg)


Street side views

http://img158.exs.cx/img158/5182/dupontwesttower005s9bu.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower005s9bu.jpg)http://img158.exs.cx/img158/7351/dupontwesttower009s6jr.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower009s6jr.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/2884/dupontwesttower008s5fg.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower008s5fg.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/8895/dupontwesttower007s5kh.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower007s5kh.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/7600/dupontwesttower006s8mm.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower006s8mm.jpg)


River side views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5254/dupontwesttower013s1yw.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower013s1yw.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/6924/dupontwesttower012s5eh.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower012s5eh.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/2148/dupontwesttower011s1hl.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower011s1hl.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/6603/dupontwesttower010s3bd.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower010s3bd.jpg)


More street side views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/6210/dupontwesttower018s8ja.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower018s8ja.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/1870/dupontwesttower017s4oo.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower017s4oo.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/2588/dupontwesttower016s1ye.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower016s1ye.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/2994/dupontwesttower015s9wp.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower015s9wp.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/8427/dupontwesttower014s3vm.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower014s3vm.jpg)
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/8149/dupontwesttower020s5eh.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower020s5eh.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/9817/dupontwesttower019s6qp.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower019s6qp.jpg)


Building views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4752/dupontwesttower025s6ev.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower025s6ev.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/1760/dupontwesttower024s3nr.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower024s3nr.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/7651/dupontwesttower023s3za.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower023s3za.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/7189/dupontwesttower022s2pv.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower022s2pv.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5530/dupontwesttower021s1fy.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower021s1fy.jpg)
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5158/dupontwesttower030s7mr.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower030s7mr.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/2746/dupontwesttower029s9vt.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower029s9vt.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/9900/dupontwesttower028s2jv.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower028s2jv.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/8265/dupontwesttower027s0rj.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower027s0rj.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4021/dupontwesttower026s1ve.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower026s1ve.jpg)
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4684/dupontwesttower032s1rw.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower032s1rw.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/6108/dupontwesttower031s6gf.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower031s6gf.jpg)


Bird's eye views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5918/dupontwesttower035s6uc.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower035s6uc.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/1356/dupontwesttower034s6tn.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower034s6tn.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/424/dupontwesttower033s4wp.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower033s4wp.jpg)

:)

[900Biscayneguy]

Does anyone have any information on how get intouch with the sale staff for this project?

I would appreciate any information.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Does anyone have any information on how get intouch with the sale staff for this project?

I would appreciate any information.
900 Biscayne Guy :) , go to www.miamicondocommando.com its got one of he best sales and redering sites of all the Miami condos .Check it out. :cheers:

DON PACHO :) , you da man, Thanks for those great renderings, Nice pics !!! :cheers:

[The Mad Hatter!!]

NO MORE CONCRETE!
Let’s Save The Dupont Plaza
By K. Lee Sohn
BBT Staff Writer

In January 2005, an 11-story blockade known as the Dupont Hotel was demolished. It was a celebrated occasion – even city of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz came out to man the bulldozer. And, akin to the leveling of the Brickell Apartments in 1998, the Dupont’s removal unveiled something both historic and breathtaking.

Since 1957, the Dupont Hotel, formerly located at 300 Biscayne Boulevard Way, had obscured the view of the mouth of the Miami River, where the tannin water flows into the blue of Biscayne Bay and the seemingly endless expanse of Miami sky. The freed space also provides a direct view of the 2,000-year-old Miami Circle, the only archaeologically documented Tequesta structure, which was uncovered by the removal of the Brickell Apartments in 1998.

But this view will soon be gone, remaining hidden for a lifetime of steel and cement. In a few months, the Dupont Towers: a 48 story building with 632 residences, 62 hotel rooms, and a 60 story building with 596 residential units will begin their ascent.
The project, a joint venture between CMC Group and Lionstone Hotels & Resorts, also includes 5,000 square feet of retail and 24,600 square feet of restaurant/lounge space.

To provide some public waterfront access, the development will feature a public walkway that would connect to the 5.5 mile long Riverwalk (or the Miami River Greenway). The Riverwalk would consist of a 16-foot wide pedestrian path, which will connect beneath the Brickell Bridge to the Hyatt Regency Hotel.

Yes, visitors will be able to stroll or rollerblade along the bank. However, two massive structures hovering to your side will certainly decrease the appeal of these activities. Especially considering that the Dupont Towers will only have a setback of 41 feet – that’s nine feet less than required for most riverfront structures, and in some areas the setback will be even closer.

The City Charter requires a 50-foot setback for new developments along the Miami River to the east of the Fifth Street Bridge, unless the parcel is less than 200 feet wide, as is the Dupont site. If the property is less than 200 feet deep, the city charter requires a minimum setback equal to 25 percent of its depth. Because sections of the Dupont building have setbacks less than 41 feet, the project required a waiver to the charter setback requirement.

At the Miami River Commission on February 2, 2004, Luis O. Revuelta, architect for the proposed project, argued that providing a 50-foot setback would make the project impossible.

Although making some projects impossible is certainly the main goal of any regulation, the project was approved: first by the Miami River Commission, then by the Miami-Dade County’s Shoreline Review Committee, then by the Miami City Commission.

Miami desperately needs more green space and public parks. Miami ranks 12 out of 12 high-density cities in regard to park acreage per thousand residents, according to a Trust for Public Land study of 2002. That same year, Miami had 3.1 acres of parkland for every thousand residents, but now the ratio is down to 2.9. Furthermore, Bicentennial Park is slated to give up greenspace to build Museum Park within the next few years.

According to Miami’s Large Scale Development Report of December 2004, 63,575 residential units have either been built, are under construction or are being planned. Assuming a minimum of two people per unit, Miami could have 127,000 new residents over the next few years. Therefore, Miami desperately needs more public land to keep up even the small ration of green space it currently has.

Rather than sheer quantity, suggested lead Miami 21 planner Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, at the July 26 Wynwood/Edgewater NET open house, the city should be looking at quality. She also mentioned during her opening presentation at all the NET open houses, that “Miami’s main open space is not green, it’s blue – the bay and accessibility to it is an issue.”

Since construction on the Dupont Plaza has not yet begun, the City of Miami could purchase the Dupont land, or if the developers refuse to sell, claim eminent domain. The Fifth Amendment to the Constitution requires that just compensation be paid when the power of eminent domain is used, and requires that “public use” of the property be demonstrated.

This property, then, would be the perfect opportunity to acquire a small, but worthwhile, piece of land for public use.

If we take the cost of the Miami Circle (2.2 acres), which the city bought for $26 million in 1998, and the Sheraton Hotel property (4.8 acres), which Related Group bought in 2004 for $94 million, into account, we could roughly estimate the market value of the Dupont property (3 acres) to be $45-55 million.

The Florida Department of Transportation recently purchased 3.5 acres in front of the Miami Performing Arts Center for $78 million. The sellers were planning on building towering condos that would have blocked the front of the Performing Arts Center from views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami.

Yet, the city buying this land is a long shot, for even saving the Miami Circle, a historically significant site that archeologists compare to England’s Stonehenge, was a terrible battle to endure. It took former Miami-Dade County Mayor Alex Penelas, to intervene, asking the county commission to pursue a lawsuit to take the property from developer Michael Baumann by eminent domain.

As the majestic southern entrance to Downtown Miami, a historic Tequesta settlement, and a complimentary greenspace to the Miami Circle, tourists and residents alike would benefit from the city’s acquisition of this land.

But more importantly, the fact that city officials didn’t have the foresight to recognize the great aesthetic and historic gain a site like this would bring, we must question whether they are aiming to improve the city for all residents, present and future, or just developers and the upper class.

BBT
Send feedback to
klee@biscayneboulevard.com.

[nimbyhater]

a park there would have been nice and i prob wouldve taken one over these particular conods cause i was never crazy about the design... but no way in hell that city of miami is gonna fork up that much money for such a small space...

like it said... woulda been nice if about ten years ago the city would've bought the building and put a park there... mayb we should luk at this and try and buy all the land in little havana and little haitia and overtown and such and put up as many parks as we can now, while the land is cheap... cause those areas are gonna start gettin crazy in a few years...

but the dupont towers will b nice... imagine the canyon with goin to biscayne rite when u get off the bridge with them on the right... met 1 and met square on the left... and one miami straight ahead....

now if miami wants to take the 50 biscayne land and put a park there... that i would be all for...

[archifreese]

im still curious as to why miami 'desperately' needs a park on the river since icon brickell will have miami circle park, the brickell park then of course theres bayfront park and museum/bicentennial park all within a walking distance of this site. in fact you could throw a stone across the river and hit the miami circle park.
Miamis problem with parks and public spaces is that they are very frequent in small obscure unprogrammed doses. I dont know how this city is going to fix these issues but by providing more small random parks they will only keep the existing ones vacant.
The re-programming of the Margaret pace park and the addition of all those condos has made it a 'thriving' park by miami and american standards. but more is not always better a few good things r better than a lot of mediocre ones and id rather the condos and then really work with the miami circle and brickell parks. Sorry for the rant again gang!!!!

[Roark]

Ohhhh....where to begin....NO MORE CONCRETE!
Let’s Save The Dupont Plaza By K. Lee Sohn BBT Staff Writer

But this view will soon be gone, remaining hidden for a lifetime of steel and cement. In a few months, the Dupont Towers: a 48 story building with 632 residences, 62 hotel rooms, and a 60 story building with 596 residential units will begin their ascent.
Whoooooaa....which one is it? Will the view soon be gone or will there be 632 residences? Call me a hayseed, but if'n you gots 632 residences, then some of 'em must have views...but if'n the view has gone, hidden for a lifetime, then none of dem residences have views. (bonus points to anyone that gets the "Raising Arizona" reference).
To provide some public waterfront access, the development will feature a public walkway that would connect to the 5.5 mile long Riverwalk (or the Miami River Greenway).
So, if'n you walk down the green way, that view ain't really disappeart now is it?
Yes, visitors will be able to stroll or rollerblade along the bank. However, two massive structures hovering to your side will certainly decrease the appeal of these activities.
To everyone or to the author? I know a few people that like tall buildings. The "decrease in appeal of these activities" is by no means certain.
The City Charter requires a 50-foot setback for new developments along the Miami River to the east of the Fifth Street Bridge, unless the parcel is less than 200 feet wide, as is the Dupont site.
Uh huh...I follow.
At the Miami River Commission on February 2, 2004, Luis O. Revuelta, architect for the proposed project, argued that providing a 50-foot setback would make the project impossible. Argued or demonstrated ... whichever your point of view may be...I was at that meeting and it was clearly demonstrated that without the variance, the DuPont would remain standing there as it was...and the Riverwalk would be interupted...who wants that?
Miami desperately needs more green space and public parks. Is that so? Has anyone ever had any trouble finding a place to picnic in Bicentennial Park? How about Margaret Pace park? Or Lummus Park, or Simpson Park, etc. etc. I have, however, seen people struggle to park on South Beach at Ocean Drive, and sometimes finding a place to tan close to the waves is difficult...the 7 miles of public beaches do well to support the community of Miami. They are not counted in the all mighty Trust for Public Land Study of 2002 though, because either they are not "green" or more likely because Miami Beach or Crandon Park won't count in their assesments. I wonder how Miami MSA ranks for beaches for every thousand residents.
Miami ranks 12 out of 12 high-density cities in regard to park acreage per thousand residents, according to a Trust for Public Land study of 2002. That same year, Miami had 3.1 acres of parkland for every thousand residents, but now the ratio is down to 2.9.. Furthermore, Bicentennial Park is slated to give up greenspace to build Museum Park within the next few years. Ohhh noooo!!!! Where are people going to throw their Malt Liquor bottles now!?!?!? Cancel the Museums!!! We desperately need the greenspace.
According to Miami’s Large Scale Development Report of December 2004, 63,575 residential units have either been built, are under construction or are being planned. Assuming a minimum of two people per unit who buys into that?, I'd say maximum of 2...many of these places are second homes. Miami could have 127,000 new residents over the next few years. Therefore, Miami desperately needs more public land to keep up even the small ration of green space it currently has.It's hard to be against parks, and I'm not, but come on....desperately??? I think that a 5.5 mile river walk is another great amenity to add to our existing parks. Why does this guy view a riverwalk, whether it is 50 ft wide or 41 ft wide with such disdain?
Since construction on the Dupont Plaza has not yet begun, the City of Miami could purchase the Dupont land, or if the developers refuse to sell, claim eminent domain. If we take the cost of the Miami Circle (2.2 acres), which the city bought for $26 million in 1998, and the Sheraton Hotel property (4.8 acres), which Related Group bought in 2004 for $94 million, into account, we could roughly estimate the market value of the Dupont property (3 acres) to be $45-55 million. Wow...this guy clearly does not have his real estate license (yet). If FDOT paid $78Million for a non-waterfront 3.5 acres, how does he come up with $45-50 Million on the water???
But more importantly, the fact that city officials didn’t have the foresight to recognize the great aesthetic and historic gain a site like this would bring, we must question whether they are aiming to improve the city for all residents, present and future, or just developers and the upper class. "The fact that....we must" ???? What???
How about this...the city officials did consider it for about as long as the idea warranted...and decided that instead of plunking down $90 Million to buy the land that will generate ZERO property tax revenue, and will instead COST money to maintain, they chose to do the prudent thing... and allow 632 residents to pay roughly 2% of their purchase price in PROPERTY TAXES....EVERY YEAR!
Let's see....632 units times about $400k average is $252.8 Million times 2% = about $5,056,000 EVERY YEAR increasing at no more than 3% per year.
Hmmmmm....defender of the city. Let's suppose you are in charge....you just paid $90 Million and and will continue to pay $15,000 per year to maintain your acerage because you don't like the upper class, while the city leaders are saving the $90 Million for our existing parks and schools and, FURTHERMORE, they are receiving over $5 Million every single year in new property tax revenues to be used for more pressing needs than a 3 acre park on each shore of the Miami River.
:wallbash:
Someone send this kid a copy of SimCity and let him be the Mayor of Greensville.
BBT
Send feedback to klee@biscayneboulevard.com.
Allrighty....You asked for it...

[Roark]

im still curious as to why miami 'desperately' needs a park on the river. Sorry for the rant again gang!!!!Glad you were thinking the same thing....It just took me much longer to format.

PS. You call THAT a rant! :)

[rider_of_rohan]

Nah Arch your right. Miami has a land problem however that will make fixing the small parks a problem. They just have to think outside the box so to speak. Can Miami creat more land to have parks on? Not really, but they can do things that they are already doing and some more. They already use land under highways for parks, and have for a long time (one of my favorite playgrounds in Miami was under a highway, but it closed years ago). The riverwalk is a good idea, and things like having bike trails under the metrorail works too. Another idea that I have been floating in my head but may cost too much is to have parks on top of parking ramps. This still would of course limit the size of the park as most ramps are pretty small, but Miami is becoming a vertical city and its park may follow suit. There are some advantages to having parks on top of a parking ramp, one there are lots of them, they are useful and needed, and then the area has multiple uses. You can assume that you will always have a place for your car when you go to the park. Skyways could be built between the ramps and highrises so people could just walk to the park. Also by having them elevated it will help to eleminate the noise of the city somewhat. The cars wont be just zooming by 10 feet from you (well maybe below). The views would be better if elevated as well. The cons of course are things like, you wouldnt want to play frisbee with the dog there, the park would be limited in its use to picnic grounds, and green spaces. Ok Im not sure how that will work, or if it could but it was my stab at thinking out of the box. There is also what was spoke of earlier about digging a tunnel and putting 395 underground and having parks over it. This is not totally original as they have done that in Seattle and Duluth, MN. In Duluth they have tunnels and parks above, and honestly from the park if you didnt know you could not tell. You cant hear the cars at all. Other than that, creating an island may be the only other option. Anyone else have any ideas?

[Rx727sfl2002]

connect all these towers parking decks with skywalks then you would have a vertical city with double decker sidwalks connecting to pool decks and tennis courts and basket ball courts and landscaped gardens and dog parks you name it...

wouldnt that be nice to go swimming and peeing in someone elses pool

[Miaminole]

I would actually love to see some greenspace on Biscayne in the median from Flagler to 6 street (where there are meters for parking). I was in Santiago, Chile last month and they have alot of park space in the middle of large boulevards. Looked great. Would look great in Miami aswell.

[Roark]

Anyone else have any ideas?First you have to buy in to the idea that Miami is "in desperate need" of park space. I don't buy what the star columnist from the Biscayne Boulevard Times is selling.
The article was referencing the DuPont Plaza site, and if the writer were at the site whilst he was pondering the desperate problems of Miami, he could have walked one and a half blocks north and sat at the Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial in Bayfront Park, or at the water fountain on the bay to do the minimal amount of thinking he appears to have done.
If that wasn't enough....he could have walked north for about a mile along the bay through Bayside, behind American Airlines Arena, and through about 16 acres of Bicentenniel Park.
If he wanted to beat the crowds that must be overwhelming our limited supply...he could simply go anytime of the day or night when the demand is low.
The point of the article was "City Leaders should have bought the DuPont site to make a 3 acre park".
I say that is nonsense. (there are better words, but Nimby and Hatter are still young and impressionable).

[south florida dave]

there's a nice pic of epic in the skyline in today's home buyer's guide...

http://specialsections.miami.com/imagehandler/ss-zoom/1016862

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

The entire series of the DuPont West Tower renderings


Building elevations

http://img158.exs.cx/img158/4356/dupontwesttower004s8tw.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower004s8tw.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/1166/dupontwesttower003s9zs.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower003s9zs.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/6310/dupontwesttower002s2jn.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower002s2jn.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/166/dupontwesttower001s0dv.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower001s0dv.jpg)


Street side views

http://img158.exs.cx/img158/5182/dupontwesttower005s9bu.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower005s9bu.jpg)http://img158.exs.cx/img158/7351/dupontwesttower009s6jr.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower009s6jr.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/2884/dupontwesttower008s5fg.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower008s5fg.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/8895/dupontwesttower007s5kh.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower007s5kh.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/7600/dupontwesttower006s8mm.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower006s8mm.jpg)


River side views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5254/dupontwesttower013s1yw.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower013s1yw.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/6924/dupontwesttower012s5eh.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower012s5eh.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/2148/dupontwesttower011s1hl.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower011s1hl.jpg) http://img158.exs.cx/img158/6603/dupontwesttower010s3bd.th.jpg (http://img158.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img158&image=dupontwesttower010s3bd.jpg)


More street side views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/6210/dupontwesttower018s8ja.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower018s8ja.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/1870/dupontwesttower017s4oo.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower017s4oo.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/2588/dupontwesttower016s1ye.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower016s1ye.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/2994/dupontwesttower015s9wp.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower015s9wp.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/8427/dupontwesttower014s3vm.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower014s3vm.jpg)
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/8149/dupontwesttower020s5eh.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower020s5eh.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/9817/dupontwesttower019s6qp.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower019s6qp.jpg)


Building views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4752/dupontwesttower025s6ev.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower025s6ev.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/1760/dupontwesttower024s3nr.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower024s3nr.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/7651/dupontwesttower023s3za.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower023s3za.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/7189/dupontwesttower022s2pv.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower022s2pv.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5530/dupontwesttower021s1fy.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower021s1fy.jpg)
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5158/dupontwesttower030s7mr.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower030s7mr.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/2746/dupontwesttower029s9vt.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower029s9vt.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/9900/dupontwesttower028s2jv.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower028s2jv.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/8265/dupontwesttower027s0rj.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower027s0rj.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4021/dupontwesttower026s1ve.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower026s1ve.jpg)
http://img135.exs.cx/img135/4684/dupontwesttower032s1rw.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower032s1rw.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/6108/dupontwesttower031s6gf.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower031s6gf.jpg)


Bird's eye views

http://img135.exs.cx/img135/5918/dupontwesttower035s6uc.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower035s6uc.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/1356/dupontwesttower034s6tn.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower034s6tn.jpg) http://img135.exs.cx/img135/424/dupontwesttower033s4wp.th.jpg (http://img135.exs.cx/my.php?loc=img135&image=dupontwesttower033s4wp.jpg)

:)
EPIC !!! :hi: , Thanks Don :applause: , great pics, :rock:

[miamicanes]

I think Rohan's idea is exactly what the City should look into. Aside from being immensely cool places for non-downtown-dwellers to visit, they'd bring an added bonus: sunlight. Down at ground level, any park in the middle of the CBD is going to be in shadowy twilight... most likely, with a view of the side of 3 parking garages and a busy street. On the other hand, if the City were to offer some huge bonu$ (particularly FAR) to developers with well-placed properties that will become the site of office buildings to lease the top of the parking pedestal to the City in perpetuity for some token amount of money per year (with direct access to the street that doesn't entail entering the building itself), I think it would be a hit.

Roof gardens are nontrivial engineering exercises (especially when tall trees are involved; in a hurricane, well-rooted trees in planters that are part of the building itself become HUGE dynamic loads that can subject their immediate vicinity to the kind of stress normally associated with earthquakes), but they're seriously cool... and enable parks to coexist with tax revenue-generating economically productive uses.

OK, I'll admit it... back when I was in college, I used to love going downtown and going to the roof deck above the garage of the building formerly known as Centrust. :-)

[archifreese]

well said miamicanes and i agree - imagine if they had a skybridge system to connect these roof gardens like a contemporary and tropical interpretation of calgary or minneapolis' system !!!

[rider_of_rohan]

Minneapolis has a good system. In fact I knew a couple who wanted to escape the cold when they retired so they moved to a condo in downtown Minneapolis that was connected to the skyway system. They didnt have to go outside all winter. They were able to go to concerts, shows, restaurants and do all their shopping without going outside. Its a good thing.

[mileageman]

Can anyone confirm the height of the building going up? Acoording to the plans, one building is supposed to be 500 feet and another 609 feet. The west tower (next to the bridge) looks like it has the foundation ready to go vertical soon, and in the above renderings looks to be the shorter building. But in the sales literature they are selling to floor 55, with ceiling heights ranging from 9-12 feet, which must be the taller building. So is the building that is currently under construction 609 feet?

Here is an article from last October (http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:P7J96_gSTJEJ:www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/12927909.htm%3Fsource%3Drss%26channel%3Dmiamiherald_business+epic+miami+haggman&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=firefox-a)

Colombo now says he and business partner Diego Lowenstein are ready to begin construction in January on the first of two towers on the downtown parcel along the Miami River.

The development, called Epic, is to include a 55-story tower with 350 condominium units and a 450-room hotel. A second tower, 51 floors devoted to condos, is slated for construction in 2007, Colombo said. Ground-floor shops and restaurants are planned for both high-rises, which he expects will cost more than $400 million to build.

[ChuckScraperMiami#1]

Can anyone confirm the height of the building going up? Acoording to the plans, one building is supposed to be 500 feet and another 609 feet. The west tower (next to the bridge) looks like it has the foundation ready to go vertical soon, and in the above renderings looks to be the shorter building. But in the sales literature they are selling to floor 55, with ceiling heights ranging from 9-12 feet, which must be the taller building. So is the building that is currently under construction 609 feet?

Here is an article from last October (http://64.233.179.104/search?q=cache:P7J96_gSTJEJ:www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/12927909.htm%3Fsource%3Drss%26channel%3Dmiamiherald_business+epic+miami+haggman&hl=en&gl=us&ct=clnk&cd=2&client=firefox-a)

Colombo now says he and business partner Diego Lowenstein are ready to begin construction in January on the first of two towers on the downtown parcel along the Miami River.

The development, called Epic, is to include a 55-story tower with 350 condominium units and a 450-room hotel. A second tower, 51 floors devoted to condos, is slated for construction in 2007, Colombo said. Ground-floor shops and restaurants are planned for both high-rises, which he expects will cost more than $400 million to build.
:cool: :cheer:
Mileage Man :hi: , your correct my friend :okay: ,

Epic Hotel and Residences :cool: , 48 floors at 500 feet, expected to be Completed and Open for the News Years eve party of 2007 :righton: , New Years Day, 2008 !!! :drunk: :cheers1:

Dupont Miami Condo Tower :cool: , 60 floors at 609 feet, expected to start construction Mid to Late, 2007 :rock: , probably after next years hurricane season :runaway: . :hm: :soon:

[dach2k5]

Doesn't this seem highly unlikely? That's 18 months away. and it hasn't really even started yet. You sure you didn't mean '08/'09 NY Eve?

It amazes me what they can put on a little strip of land. I can't believe these towers fit on that space.


Epic Hotel and Residences :cool: , 48 floors at 500 feet, expected to be Completed and Open for the News Years eve party of 2007 :righton: , New Years Day, 2008 !!! :drunk: :cheers1:

[Rx727sfl2002]

EPIC LIVE CONSTRUCTION CAM

http://epicmiami.com/html/livecam/index.php

http://img271.imageshack.us/img271/7742/img1qg2.jpg (http://imageshack.us)






MORE PICTURES OF EPIC

http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/3460/epic09di9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2333/epic01en5.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/7969/epic02hu9.jpg (http://imageshack.us)




http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/5875/epic03kg7.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img50.imageshack.us/img50/2813/epic10pc4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)
http://img248.imageshack.us/img248/5766/epic11qt4.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[Rx727sfl2002]

http://img72.imageshack.us/img72/4537/miami060403realestate56bi8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

[VisionMIA]

Epic from top of Wachovia tower lookin down
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Sotomon3/1189520063104744.jpg

Did I mention how much I hate Dupont..I love Epic it is dazzling. but Dupont needs to be redrawn..It just looks like a long wall the will add with One Miami ughhh..they should make two towers out of that dupont site kind of like Villa Magna maybe better..

[305Lover]

^^Thats if the second tower gets built. Does anyone know what the chances are of it getting built?

[arch photographer]

What is Dupont? Wasn't Dupont demolished. Originally Epic was called Dupont but then the name was changed to Epic...Correct??

[dave8721]

What is Dupont? Wasn't Dupont demolished. Originally Epic was called Dupont but then the name was changed to Epic...Correct??

He's referring to the 2nd tower. They were originally termed Dupont-East and Dupont-West with Dupont-West becoming Epic. Or did "Epic" refer to the whole complex? Who knows. The eastern tower is wide but looks almost unnaturally thin (see the first page of this thread for renderings).

[305Lover]

Epic is the tower currently being built. Don't quote me on this, but I think its Epic and Dupont Tower.

[VisionMIA]

http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Sotomon3/Dupont.jpg



Vision's rendering..My way is better.
http://i3.photobucket.com/albums/y61/Sotomon3/Dupontmyway.jpg

[Don Pacho]

What is Dupont? Wasn't Dupont demolished. Originally Epic was called Dupont but then the name was changed to Epic...Correct??


Correct !!

[Don Pacho]

Tower 2 of the Dupont towers (now Epic) is on hold or cancelled.

[arch photographer]

I think the whole thing was renamed Epic. I remember them being Epic east and epic west for about 20 minutes before the east was put on hold. There is no more Dupont...I'm pretty sure.

Unnaturally thin buildings means floor through condos for everyone. A very good thing.

[spellbound]

Vision's rendering..My way is better.


It certainly IS better...by miles. I only wish that was the actual design.

Nothing exciting or the least bit daring about these monolithic boxes. They may add density but it comes at the considerable cost of adding sheer ugliness, too. Another project where I think Miami deserves so much better. How will the city ever be recognized as a place of truly significant architecture if they keep allowing such things?

Anyway, great job Vision.

[arch photographer]

I remember all these Epic and Met Miami lots being broken asphalt parking lots with Rusty chain link surrounding them for years and always thinking how ugly they were, anything is better...and GREAT design would be GREAT!

[Miaminole]

Epic is coming out beautifully, especially from the river side. Does anyone know how the base of the building will look from the street? I am not sure if it interacts very well with the street. From the river, BEAUTIFUL. All that glass. But from the other side, not sure.

[Toucano]

Epic East Should be Converted to Offices...

[BornInTheGrove]

i was gonna say that.... but then again... a monument with a nice little park wouldn't be so bad either, would it?

[305Lover]

You already have a park across the river. Do you really want more parks, I think downtown Miami is green enough as it is.

[MiamiMike]

VisionMia that graphic/rendering you did was really impressive. I would also agree with you that the tower under construction looks much better than the proposed tower.

Sounds pretty doubtful the 2nd one will be built though. Maybe thats not such a bad thing. The lot wont stay empty for too long..............maybe 4 or 5 years.....maybe a little longer. At that point we might see a beautiful glass office tower erected on the site!!!:banana:

I think the first tower (currently u/c) will be beautiful though.

[thetallerthebetter]

YES a little park/public square there would be glorious to open up views from all sides and also have public access to the river front. It would be perfect across from met square the current epic sales center would make a kick ass restaurant setting.

[Athenax]

Looking good...

[Don Pacho]

i was gonna say that.... but then again... a monument with a nice little park wouldn't be so bad either, would it?


...and again and again... It's private land, not public :lol:

[305Lover]

The only good thing that would come out of the second tower not getting built would be that the views won't be blocked from the residents of Met1.

[kevinkagy]

We can never have enough green spaces in downtown Miami!

[skyscraperhighrise]

That's Pretty wicked as far as I Concerned.

[thetallerthebetter]

...and again and again... It's private land, not public :lol:

Take it of the developers hand before the value goes up and preserve a liitle open space by the river for many generations to come.

Public good = eminent domain

[dave8721]

Take it of the developers hand before the value goes up and preserve a liitle open space by the river for many generations to come.

Public good = eminent domain

Not going to happen any time soon with the state mandated budget cuts. The city is cutting everywhere it can so I don't think they'll be making any $25mill+ payments for land for a small park. It looks like the state is going to make the city cut $53 million from the budget next year. Things like parks budgets are usually the first to go (followed by beautification projects).

[MiamiMike]

Does anyone know anything about the proposed park on the land where the hyatt and the knight center are? Dave?

[305Lover]

Wasn't the Hyatt supposed to build a tower of 40-some floors?

[MiamiMike]

I dont recall that.

[305Lover]

I don't remember where I saw it, but when I did, I was like...YES!!!

[mozartt]

For the past four years, the city, the commission and several nonprofit organizations have been seriously pushing developers to provide a riverwalk to guarantee public access to the water.:)