Flamingo Calls for Corrective Action on FDOT Alton Road Plan

Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association is opposed to the FDOT plan for the reconstruction of Alton Road and seeks your support and assistance to require the Florida Department of Transportation to adequately address concerns of surrounding neighborhoods with the project. Alton Road reconstruction is a once in 50 year event to properly address the multiple needs of all user groups – multi modal mobility options for pedestrians, bikers, autos, and transit users, contribute to a functional environment for business and with trees, landscaping and street furniture foster an attractive and safe neighborhood for our residents and visitors.


Concerns with FDOT Plan

The Process of adoption failed to provide community input, discussion and participation in the final decision-making;

The South Beach neighborhoods adjoining Alton Road are characterized by a pedestrian oriented urban design fabric that serves an outstanding amenity for local residents and a major attraction for visitors. The maintenance of such character is a high priority in one of Florida's most highly dense and highly neighborhoods. The proposed Alton Road plan does irreparable damage to the character of our adjoining neighborhoods.

Creation of 13’ wide outside traffic lane, fosters an unacceptable high rate of speed along the Road; This condition would also require that pedestrians cross an unacceptably wide roadway; The crossing width must be shortened to limit the amount of time pedestrians take to cross the “kill zone”;

Additional safety measures must be incorporated into the program: The speed limits on Alton must be reduced from 35 mph to 30 mph; No-turn-on-red restrictions should be incorporated at intersections with heavy foot traffic;

The current plan provides inadequate pedestrian amenities and lack of support for local businesses; All intersections should provide crosswalks and traffic controls to meet pedestrian needs; Meager sized sidewalk and planting area: Narrowing the sidewalks and swales limit the landscaping and makes the street less friendly to pedestrians, shoppers, neighborhood businesses and sidewalk cafes;

The highly pedestrian environment requires automatic pedestrian Walk signalization as the lights change rather than requiring push buttons. Many people either don't know to press the button or arrive at the crosswalk at or near the time the signal changes. It is unacceptable to force those pedestrians to wait another vehicle cycle.

The current “solution” for Alton Road is worse and more auto-oriented than it is today; In fighting to remove the bike lane, nothing was gained that the removal of the bike lane was supposed to create;

Our proposal for a shared-use pedestrian/bike path would satisfy the need and statutory requirement for biking facilities, and in our high-density urban corridor this is far safer for both bikes and pedestrian safety than a sharrow on a widened street with faster-moving traffic.

Linkage to --
Complete Statement with Images and Community Reflections

Knight Foundation hosts economic development initiative -- Start-Up City: Miami,

Start-Up City: MiamiWednesday, February 13, 2013, 9am to 4pm
at The New World Center, Miami Beach
Information and Reservations:
http://startupcitymiami-eorg.eventbrite.com/#

A Collaborative Economic Development Initiative among
The Atlantic, The Atlantic Cities, the Creative Class Group, and the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation for discussions about different aspects of the city’s innovation ecosystem, emerging models of “urban tech” and a focus upon how to attract tech, talent, and innovation to the Miami community.

Program Highlights
Opening Remarks – Matthew Haggman, Knight Foundation
Framing: Miami: Entrepreneurial Mecca of the Future – Mayor Manny Diaz
Framing: Urban Tech Revolution – Richard Florida
Keynote: The City as Start-Up – Tony Hsieh, CEO Zappos
Other Contributors: Neisen Kasdin, Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, Susan Amat

Building an Entrepreneurial Ecosystem, New Start-Up Geography, Urban Tech Shift – Lessons from New York and London, Transcontinental Hub, Sparking Success

On February 13, The Atlantic and The Atlantic Cities will launch Start-Up City: Miami, gathering leading entrepreneurs and tech experts from London, New York, California, Kansas City, and more at the New World Center in Miami for a day of discussions about different aspects of the city’s innovation ecosystem. In partnership with the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation and in association with the Creative Class Group, the inaugural program will explore the emerging models of "urban tech" taking root in cities around the world.

In recent years, Miami has seen a surge in entrepreneurship and creative ventures. After a decade of rapid growth and urbanization, much work remains to be done if Miami is to become a hub for the global creative class. What short-term and long-term strategies will do the most to attract entrepreneurs and start-ups to the city? Featuring roundtables, panels, and interviews on tech, design, start-up incubators, audience Q&A, a networking lunch and more, this daylong program will give participants a 360-degree view of how to attract tech, talent, and innovation to the Miami community.

Land Use Committee to address Side Walk Cafes

CMB Land Use and Development Committee Wed, Feb 13th, 3pm, City Manager's Conference Room The sidewalk café ordinance will be discussed at the CMB Land Use and Development Committee Meeting, Wednesday, February 13, 2013, 3:00 pm, in the City Manager’s Large Conference Room, City Hall. An engaged coalition of residents, concerned business leaders, and city administration has emerged with the mission to correct the prevalent abuse of good practices for sidewalk cafes. Miami Beach United, SoFi leadership, Ocean Drive Association, and the Planning Director urge community attendance and support for corrective action.

Flamingo – the historic, urban residential neighborhood in South Beach. from Washington Avenue to Alton Road, from 5th Street to Lincoln Road All residents, property owners and other stakeholders are invited to attend and participate.    Flamingo Park Neighborhood Association Monday, February 4, 2013, 5:30 pm at The Seymour, 945 Pennsylvania Avenue AGENDA 1. Update on Flamingo Park improvement projects, Matilde Reyes / Kevin Smith 2. Status Report on 6th St + 16th St Design/Build, Rick Saltrick      BODR Amendment for No / So Street Narrowing 3. Redevelopment of Alton Road Street Corridor, Jose Gonzalez /Josiel Ferrer-Diaz 4. Alton Road Historic District Buffer Zoning / Parking Ordinances, Mark Needle Other Matters   5.1 Miami Beach United – Neighborhood Intrusions, Mark Needle 5.2 Short Term Rental, Enforcement of Prohibition, Jeff Donnelly 5.3 Discussion of Neighborhood Challenges with Andres Duany, Denis Russ        Andres is willing to meet with us;  Next Steps