On my way to my new favorite area of town, Biscayne Park, I couldn’t help but notice the flags floating from the lampposts. What did these flags say?
“MIMO Biscayne Blvd Historic District”.
I knew what MIMO was – Miami Modern – a post WWII style of architecture that expressed the optimism and prosperity of the times. I was also aware that this style of architecture made flamboyant use of materials such as; concrete, stone, glass mosaic tile, aluminum and plastic laminates. But what I didn’t realize was that these historic buildings were slowly disappearing. How sad that would be!
Once upon a time Collins Avenue from the Carillon Hotel (Canyon R
anch) to the Diplomat Hotel in Hollywood (Westin) was resplendent with MIMO architecture. Few of these exist in their original form (if at all) today.
On Biscayne Boulevard, approximately 16 out of the over 20 motels that were built in this style still exist. I’m very happy to know that the City of Miami designated this area historic and hopefully the following preservation incentives will be enough to encourage maintenance and longevity of these buildings.
Preservation Incentives
“The historic district designation will further enhance the stability of the neighborhood. Design review of new construction that may be built in the neighborhood will assist in maintaining aesthetic harmony. Further, for residents as well as income producing property owners, Miami-Dade County allows an ad valorem tax exemption for the rehabilitation of historic structures.
If a nomination to the National Register of Historic Places were written for all or part of this proposed district, upon listing, the depreciable buildings would become eligible for a 20% Investment Tax Credit. The credit is applied against the owners’ income tax liability when a “substantial” rehabilitation of a building is undertaken. “
