PreservationNation

It seems like everyone’s talking about “the next High Line.” And why not? Who wouldn’t want to see the same wild success that the redevelopment of New York City’s abandoned elevated rail structure into a unique linear park has brought? What began as an unpopular – to the city, at least – preservation issue has now catapulted into one of the city’s top tourist and resident attractions and has sparked over $2 billion in surrounding private investment.

Miami Marine Stadium looking towards the city. (Photo: Vik Cuban on Flickr)

The Miami Marine Stadium, one of our 11 Most Endangered Historic Places in 2009, is one of those “next cool place” contenders. Built in 1963, the waterfront stadium has many of the same ingredients that the High Line had before getting its green makeover: passionate supporters, urban grit, awesome views, and a distinctive architectural foundation.

Looking up at the stands and the stadium’s iconic roofline. (Photo: Vik Cuban on Flickr)

But one of the biggest lessons from the adaptive reuse of the High Line is that it takes more than passion, interest, and big ideas to get massive projects like these off the ground. Unless 100% private funding falls into place, there has to be a marriage of public interest and public funding. Fortunately for Miami, that marriage is already producing results.

Significant work would need to be done to bring the stadium to any modern use. (Photo: Vik Cuban on Flickr)

This past weekend, The Miami Herald featured a story on Friends of the High Line founder Robert Hammond’s visit to Miami Marine Stadium and what needs to happen to bring this project to life:

Not coincidentally, Hammond’s visit came at a critical moment for the four-year-old marine stadium campaign, which has proceeded in fits and starts. Activists have succeeded in saving the 1963 structure from the wrecking ball, won historic landmark protection for it and generated worldwide admiration for its still-dazzling architecture and engineering.

Leaders of the nonprofit Friends group had hoped to also formally announce an agreement with the city granting the organization the right to undertake the stadium’s renovation, but that has been delayed amid disagreement over details of the deal.

Last year, stadium supporters were ready to walk away in frustration over what they said in a letter were “obstacles’’ imposed by the city, but they now say the deal should be approved soon by the city commission.

The agreement would give the Friends organization, an offshoot of Dade Heritage Trust, two years to raise an estimated $30 million to renovate the stadium, shuttered by the city in 1992 after it was damaged by Hurricane Andrew. Worth said the group has secured more than $10 million of that, including $3 million in public funds.

“The advocacy battle has been won, and we’re at the cusp of the next stage,’’ Friends co-founder Don Worth said. “Now we have to do it.’’

Read the full article “Can the Miami Marine Stadium become the next High Line phenom?” to learn more and see pictures of Hammond’s visit to the site.

David Garber is the blog editor at the National Trust for Historic Preservation.

Nominations are now open for the 2012 Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards. We’ll be highlighting a few of our favorites from last year here on the blog to give you a sense of what’s won in the past, and hope to see some of your projects here when the winners are announced at the 2012 National Preservation Conference in Spokane, Washington, on November 2!

Thompson Falls High Bridge – Thompson Falls, Montana
2011 Honor Award

Spanning 588 feet between the towns of Cherry Creek and Island Park, Montana, the 80-foot high Parker-Pratt-style Thompson Falls High Bridge has connected two remote communities on opposite shores of the Clark Fork River for nearly 70 years. The structure remained a local link until it was closed to motorized traffic in the early 1970s due to significant deterioration of the wood deck. The bridge was closed to bicycle and pedestrian access in 1979.

For the next 30 years, county leaders patiently saved Transportation Enhancement funding and secured federal, state and private grants, while rallying local support by forming a “Bridge the Gap” steering committee. The bridge was finally renovated during the winter of 2009 and 2010, and is now open once again for pedestrian and bike access between the neighboring towns.

Each year the National Trust for Historic Preservation celebrates the best of preservation by presenting the Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Awards to individuals and organizations whose contributions demonstrate excellence in historic preservation. We invite you to nominate a deserving individual, organization, agency, or project for a Richard H. Driehaus National Preservation Award. The nomination deadline for all awards is March 15, 2012.

Gutting. It’s kind of a bad word in some preservation circles. But in the case of Lionel Lofts, most of the interior walls and surfaces weren’t original to the building: drywall, dropped ceilings, and carpet that would make me fear for my life if I walked on it barefoot.

As you can see … EXPOSED BRICK! Although in most cases exposed brick was never intended to be exposed, it’s a trend that adds warmth and character to building interiors and isn’t likely to go away any time soon. For capital H historic buildings, keep the plaster. For lofts in a cool-and-old-but-not-necessarily-historic-building on a hot restaurant corridor, exposing brick isn’t exactly a deal breaker.

Removing the plaster also exposed some 10-Commandments-shaped brick details in the walls (above). Anyone have an explanation for these? They don’t tie into anything on the inside, but don’t look like they were windows, either.

Demolition is a dusty job. But someone’s gotta do it. While wearing air purifying masks.

During an intensive demo such as this, spraying a mist of water over the debris is an effective way to minimize airborne particulate matter, AKA all the stuff I was breathing in since I wasn’t wearing a mask.

Goodbye, old pipes.

At this point you’re probably wondering: “Are they saving anything??” Yes, but not much. The floor joists, elaborate radiators, and things like cool old cast iron sinks are being salvaged. But otherwise, the interiors will be pretty much brand new. Inside the old exterior, of course.

Mid-way through demo on the second floor…

And almost done with demo on the second floor. Notice a difference in ceiling height?

I thought this was a neat juxtaposition of places where the exterior has been opened and closed over time. From left to right: original window, new(ish … very much ish) air conditioner unit, and old doorway, now bricked up.

As you can see above, the garage space is currently being used to sort and store demolition debris. Although the demo to this point has taken place only on the top two levels, hammers will hit the first floor retail space starting later this week.

David Garber is the blog editor at the National Trust for Historic Preservation. More information on this development project can be found on the Lionel Lofts website.