Posted on Tue, Sep. 04, 2007
Bayfront museum, garage get support
By MATTHEW I. PINZUR
With an outpouring of emotion for one of the seminal moments in Cuban-American history, the Miami-Dade County Commission on Tuesday overwhelmingly supported the notion of building a museum and parking garage on a small piece of bayfront land earlier promised as park land.
The site behind AmericanAirlines Arena, known as Parcel B, would host a Bay of Pigs museum on top of a parking garage -- a move that commissioners said would acknowledge the community's history while building for its future.

''Obviously the area has changed dramatically from what it was in the past,'' said Chairman Bruno Barreiro, fretting that nearby development was leaving the arena without sufficient parking. ``I think we might hamper and will hamper the arena if we do not really consider an additional parking structure with amenities on that site.''

A decade ago, voters were promised a soccer field, palm trees and a baywalk on the 4.5-acre parcel. Development has stalled, though, and the area is sealed behind a locked fence.

County Mayor Carlos Alvarez has voiced support for the commission's vote, which calls for a feasibility study to be completed by early December.

Some activists, including the Urban Environment League, have opposed any plans for building on Parcel B, one of the last pieces of open bayfront land in the city.

''A parking lot on the waterfront is even more offensive than something like this museum that would be a worthy project,'' Ernest Martin, the league's vice president, told The Miami Herald last week.

Commissioners, however, evoked images of a signature building that would draw tourists and locals alike.

''This is a very beautiful thing that will look good on the bay,'' said Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who said it could compare to Sydney's signature Opera House in Australia.

Some said it could maintain a park-like atmosphere with the right landscaping.

''You could design these things nowadays with a lot of greenery around the edges and borders, a very friendly pedestrian use,'' Barreiro said.

Two commissioners, Dennis Moss and Katy Sorenson, supported the study but said they might prefer it in another location. Other said the bayside site was crucial.

''It's going to be very close to the water and the history of Cuba is so close to the water,'' said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. ``Recognizing the Bay of Pigs veterans is something long due in this community.''

The museum project is sponsored by Brigade 2506, the organization of veterans of the failed 1961 invasion of Cuba, which marked a turning point in the history of Miami and Cuban exiles.

The group operates a small museum in a Little Havana house and has been working for years on plans to establish a bigger, more expansive exhibit space, said Executive Director William Muir Celorio.

A number of Bay of Pigs veterans were in the audience; one survivor, Commissioner Javier Souto, recused himself from the otherwise unanimous vote.

Commissioners also urged the museum to share resources with existing institutions such as the University of Miami and the Historical Museum of Southern Florida.

''It's ours, not as the Cuban community, but the community that represents Dade County: diversified, strong and always together,'' Seijas said. ``This is another time for us all to join and I know it'll be a beautiful thing.''

I'm sure all 5 people who go to the museum will love it too...

Please tell me that Natacha Seijas did not compare this to the Sydney Opera House.

Man oh man...for a supposedly big city Miami is SO small sometimes.

I am curious of what this museum would look like.

''This is a very beautiful thing that will look good on the bay,'' said Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who said it could compare to Sydney's signature Opera House in Australia.

Or it could look like a Boxy Cheap Piece of Shit:
http://www.bayofpigsmuseum.org/images/renderings04272007/Museum_004_800.jpg

''You could design these things nowadays with a lot of greenery around the edges and borders, a very friendly pedestrian use,'' Barreiro said.

Or you could cheap out, plant a couple of palms, and create another useless cement wasteland accessible by only two flights of stairs...Then you could hire plenty of security and keep out just about anyone "strolling through the area and not visiting the museum:
http://www.bayofpigsmuseum.org/images/renderings04272007/Museum_003_800.jpg

I'm sure it will be just as successful at the government led Carnival Center, the airport terminal expansion, affordable housing program, and parrot jungle island....

[/sarcasm]

Jesus Christ, what idiots! Is this for sure?! You have got to be kidding me!

What the hell is that. It has no flare to it. at all. That thing definitely doesn't belong on the bay. My little cousin came home and showed me something he made out of glue and Popsicle sticks and it looked the same if not better because it was more imaginative. That better not go through.

:ohno:

Damn. As someone who thinks a soccer field is a complete waste of such a prime site, this seems like it could be neck and neck. Can someone re-visit the Sydney Opera House? Or Guggenheim Bilbao or the previously posted America's Cup building or the new ICA Boston etc etc.

''This is a very beautiful thing that will look good on the bay,'' said Commissioner Natacha Seijas, who said it could compare to Sydney's signature Opera House in Australia.

Or it could look like a Boxy Cheap Piece of Shit:
http://www.bayofpigsmuseum.org/images/renderings04272007/Museum_004_800.jpg

''You could design these things nowadays with a lot of greenery around the edges and borders, a very friendly pedestrian use,'' Barreiro said.

Or you could cheap out, plant a couple of palms, and create another useless cement wasteland accessible by only two flights of stairs...Then you could hire plenty of security and keep out just about anyone "strolling through the area and not visiting the museum:
http://www.bayofpigsmuseum.org/images/renderings04272007/Museum_003_800.jpg

^^ ^^ ^^ Don't like it a bit.:ohno: :ohno:

What the hell is that. It has no flare to it. at all. That thing definitely doesn't belong on the bay. My little cousin came home and showed me something he made out of glue and Popsicle sticks and it looked the same if not better because it was more imaginative. That better not go through.

Amen.

I thought it was a great idea until I saw the pictures. WTF??????????????????

Really though, if something is going there let's make it a real museum. Does anyone think this exile museum is anything other than ego masturbation by the Miami Cuban community?

Really though, if something is going there let's make it a real museum. Does anyone think this exile museum is anything other than ego masturbation by the Miami Cuban community?

:wtf: Its a small piece of crap, you dont have to say that. If it were something the size of the PAC then yea, ok, but look at the size of it, my house is bigger than that.

It i so sad to know a building like this is going to be built. It makes me feel angry how authorities can approve this sh*t.

Really though, if something is going there let's make it a real museum. Does anyone think this exile museum is anything other than ego masturbation by the Miami Cuban community?

Do not blame the cuban community for this piece of crap, get your friends involved in local politics and elect some young progressive people (cuban or not) to the local government and you wont see any more of these idiotic disasters. The problem is these old dinosaurs are completely divorced from reality. I'm cuban and I think this is the wrong building the wrong idea and definitely the wrong place. Lets fight this thing. THIS IS HORRIBLE!

Do not blame the cuban community for this piece of crap, get your friends involved in local politics and elect some young progressive people (cuban or not) to the local government and you wont see any more of these idiotic disasters. The problem is these old dinosaurs are completely divorced from reality. I'm cuban and I think this is the wrong building the wrong idea and definitely the wrong place. Lets fight this thing. THIS IS HORRIBLE!

How can we fight?:ohno: :ohno:

Why can't politicians honor their promises? Why can't politicians leave public waterfront space as open waterfront space?

Why does every blade of grass in Miami have to get paved?

Why not put the Cuban Museum in Hialeah?

How about housing all the miami Cuban history things in the freedom tower instead of building that? Wasn't it going to be a Cuban-American museum after all? It should be... It's already there, and it's so symbolic. The freedom tower should be like the ellis island museum so future generations can see their ancestors arriving and stuff... how cool would that be!

Here's the museum I'm talking about http://top2bottom.net/Ellis%20Island,%20New%20York.jpg

Do not blame the cuban community for this piece of crap, get your friends involved in local politics and elect some young progressive people (cuban or not) to the local government and you wont see any more of these idiotic disasters. The problem is these old dinosaurs are completely divorced from reality. I'm cuban and I think this is the wrong building the wrong idea and definitely the wrong place. Lets fight this thing. THIS IS HORRIBLE!

I think you nailed it. The key is getting RID of these old troglodytes from positions of power and stop letting them yank Miami around by the leash. It was the same situation when I left there six years ago and, unfortunately, those same dynamics are still in play.

People need to stop being so damn afraid of their reaction. A patently stupid idea like this speaks for itself...and saying so is no more "anti-Cuban" than saying you got a bad pastelito at Versailles. Those who wish to live in the 21st Century (and who realize the Cold War ended 20 years ago) have GOT to start joining the conversation---consequences be damned. Miami has been held back by this counterproductive nonsense for too long.

(In other news, Natacha Seijas just compared "Mt. Trashmore" to the Great Pyramid...:nuts: )

It i so sad to know a building like this is going to be built. It makes me feel angry how authorities can approve this sh*t. Wow...I for one (evidently) won't get worked up about the pictures the Brigada 2506 put on their website. These guys are operating a museum out of a single family residential building in Little Havana right now, I doubt that they have the coin for reasonable renderings.
According to the article, the commission "overwhelmingly supported the notion" of a museum on top of addition arena parking on parcel B.
Don't be sad my PeruvianMetalMusic loving friend. A building like the one posted here isn't going to be built. Let's not jump to conclusions.

To think that something so ugly like that is going to ruin the great look of the AAA.

That better not get built, EVER! It should be put somewhere else, in the downtown core or off of Calle Ocho in Brickell or something, this is ridiculous. Enough with the insanity!

Seriously, I am a Cuban American and I take great offense at that building. There are many great Cuban American architects that need to voice their outrage at this design as well. Again, WTF??????????????

This is the only thing that building inspires.

:badnews:

:wtf: Its a small piece of crap, you dont have to say that. If it were something the size of the PAC then yea, ok, but look at the size of it, my house is bigger than that.

Exactly. So why does it deserve a spot. Why does the Bay of Pigs deserve a museum in the first place? I'm not anti-cuban in the slightest. If we're going to put a musuem there, let's do it right though; something that will actually attract a tourist or two. Better yet, let's keep the green space a put a nice monument to commemorate the occasion.

Exactly. So why does it deserve a spot. Why does the Bay of Pigs deserve a museum in the first place? I'm not anti-cuban in the slightest. If we're going to put a musuem there, let's do it right though; something that will actually attract a tourist or two. Better yet, let's keep the green space a put a nice monument to commemorate the occasion.

That small piece of property should be kept green. I agree with what someone said earlier, if they want a Bay of Pigs musuem, then put that in the Freedom Tower, or on the lot behind it.

That small piece of property should be kept green. I agree with what someone said earlier, if they want a Bay of Pigs musuem, then put that in the Freedom Tower, or on the lot behind it.

Something like that would be fine. It's just this whole notion of devoting prime real-estate to such a narrowly focused idea (nobody outside Miami has given two seconds thought to the Bay of Pigs in decades) that is absurd. It's incredible that Seijas or whoever actually thinks this would be a tourist attraction, but she apparently isn't tethered too strongly to reality anyway.

The sad thing is that this is probably destined to become another political football should anybody "dare" to criticize the location, design, or scope of this so-called museum. Hopefully it just moves quietly to another spot.

Something like that would be fine. It's just this whole notion of devoting prime real-estate to such a narrowly focused idea (nobody outside Miami has given two seconds thought to the Bay of Pigs in decades) that is absurd. It's incredible that Seijas or whoever actually thinks this would be a tourist attraction, but she apparently isn't tethered too strongly to reality anyway.

The sad thing is that this is probably destined to become another political football should anybody "dare" to criticize the location, design, or scope of this so-called museum. Hopefully it just moves quietly to another spot.

The only thing that woman is tethered to is a Double Whopper with cheese.

I seriously doubt this project will get off the ground and if it does it better be something similar to the Museum of Natural History's Rose Center in New York City.

A good sign:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/070906/fyi.shtml

Many commissioners expressed more enthusiasm for the museum than the site, vacant more than a decade as ill-fated plans for the prized property came and went. "I don't know if at the end of the day it will wind up there, but I support the idea of the museum," Dennis Moss said.

At least 2 commissioners (both from fairly non-cuban districts) are against the site:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/225872.html
Two commissioners, Dennis Moss and Katy Sorenson, supported the study but said they might prefer it in another location. Others said the bayside site was crucial.

A good sign:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/070906/fyi.shtml

Park si, Museo no! :lol:

http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/225872.html[/url]

They need to open the museum inside of the Freedom Tower.

The only thing that woman is tethered to is a Double Whopper with cheese.



LOL!! (and agreed this thing is unlikely to happen when all is said and done).

btw, did you hear Seijas just compared 27th Avenue to the Champs Elysses?

I wouldnt mind if it was an Hispanic-American history museum....not feeling the whole bay of pigs thing....and if they would of atleast tried to make it a little bit world class atleast put some damn color on the thign with some trees...having 3 museums in bayfront doesnt sound like a bad idea...i think it would really help museum park get world wide recognition

A good sign:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/070906/fyi.shtml



At least 2 commissioners (both from fairly non-cuban districts) are against the site:
http://www.miamiherald.com/news/miami_dade/story/225872.html

Oh man I was soo bumed until I read your post!
I have no problem with the actual idea of the museum (well it does sound kind of pointless) no one cares about that outside of little havana, but if these genius of commisioners we have really want the museum dont do it on parcel B!
I totally agree with Moss and Sorenson build the museum but not there.
Possible Locations:
1. Freedom Tower
2. Behind the Freedom Tower
3. Little Havana
4. Hialeah
5. Or just anywhere just not in prime Miami real estate.

Little Havana is an icon city for Cubans. This project should be constructed there. I don't think Hialeah is a good place for this project to stand. Hialeah is a more ethnically diverse city where you find many people other than Cubans.

Little Havana has lost many Cuban residents. That has filled up with Central Americans now.

Little Havana has lost many Cuban residents. That has filled up with Central Americans now.

Yeah?. Man, I never knew that.

Little Havana has lost many Cuban residents. That has filled up with Central Americans now.

But it's still historically notorious for its Cuban population.

Yea I know that, but I'm just saying that there aren't as many Cubans as there once was.

what a hideous rendering! Anyways wasn't the Freedom Tower given to MDCC? That would be the perfect place for a museum of this type and how much space do they really need for an event that was over in a space of a few hours?

It should be an hispanic history museum....or a crazy thought maybe having a giant ferris wheel (london eye type) representing miami as the gateway of the americas

Or a Carousel where you ride on latin american dictators instead of horses...

i said it was a crazy idea....didnt say it was realistic...besides its better than a bay of pigs museum

Or a Carousel where you ride on latin american dictators instead of horses...

I really love this idea!

I can't decide whether to ride the "Alberto Fujimori Log Flume" or the "Augusto Pinochet Tilt-a-Whirl" first...

not before the che guevara bumper cars

not before the che guevara bumper cars

I'm sure it will be a flying chopper!

:ohno: :ohno: I just don't like the disgn.

Only a a fraction of the population can enjoy this museum. Obviously the council believes the means of the few outweigh that of the many.:)

So what's the verdict? Is there a ground breaking date?

I was shocked to see what they were thinking of building there. It would not compliment the area or nearby luxury condos one bit. :bash: