Executive Briefing Town Center Charrette

Companion to the Town Center Charrette Report

Opa-locka Community Development Corporation

An intense brainstorming and design workshop. OLCDC has sponsored two:

The first charrette (2010) focused on Magnolia North and ideas for downtown and the industrial / commercial corridors

The second charrette (2011) focused on testing the ideas for downtown that originated from the 2010 charrette, including:• Repurpose the downtown around arts, culture, food, and festive events.

Tap the visibility of the historic Moorish city hall• Enhance the appearance of corridors, celebrate auto parts and “fixing

things”

Background: What’s a Charrette?

A thriving Town Center

Expert Loeb Fellows from Harvard Graduate School of Design were asked how to get there from present conditions

Jeanne Giordano: Highly regarded retail, arts/cultural marketing, programmingguru. NYC

Seitu Jones: Noted artist known for public art projects. Minneapolis

Bill Karg: Architect, owner Contemporary African Art gallery. NYC

Reese Fayde: Urban housing developer, collaborative planning. NYC

Ana Gelabert-Sanchez: Planner expert in zoning (Miami 21). Miami

Mary Means: Renowned creator of national Main Street program. Washington, DC

Roughly it’s Opa-locka Blvd from Sherbondy Park to Tri-rail, and one block to either side of it

Its compact scale, character (historic Arabian Nights), and the asset of city hall and grounds could give Opa-locka a competitive edge in the region

Miami-Dade’s thriving arts scene has fueled transformation of similar distressed areas like Wynwood

Where is our Town Center?

A thriving town center is emblematic of a desirable city Yes, a focus on arts/culture/food could work here, given Miami’s

exploding art market, and Opa-locka’s unique Moorish profile Yet, there is not enough disposable income in Opa-locka to

support the desired Town Center. To overcome it, a sufficient draw to attract regional investors, regional visitors, and new income-diverse residents to live in or near Town Center must be created

Plus, fixing up Town Center will not be enough: must address shabby corridors leading to it

Team’s Key Observations

Start with what is here: help local businesses shine, look better, and do better.

Key Recommendations

Downtown feels neglected and barren, yet has several successful businesses in buildings that would look much more inviting if they were painted and window displays were more appealing.

Public realm: street trees and landscaping.

Key Recommendations

Opa-locka Blvd at 22nd.

Note what a difference landscaping has made on the left side of the street.

Example of a planted median, which softens expansive street.

Engage property owners: use paint and landscaping to improve the arrival experience and first impressions.

Key Recommendations

Opa-locka Blvd near 22nd. Unsightly fences. Vines, shrubbery conceal chain link fence in Wynwood.

Paint + artists + shabby buildings = big improvement at little cost

Key Recommendations

Building in Wynwood similar to several in Opa-locka

Attract new residents to Town Center: artist housing, mixed use residential above retail

Key Recommendations

Sketch above: looking north to city hall from Ali Baba. To the right:from City Hall south to Ali Baba.

Huge demand exists for artist housing in Miami Dade. Artists are often the first wave of revitalization in cities.

Preserve and adapt the historic city hall complex for arts / cultural purposes and festival events. Produce regular programming such as festivals to draw people to Opa-locka and to discover its unique Moorish profile.

Key Recommendations

$2m MDC grant for preservation, repurposing of historic city hall sets the stage for Town Center.

Its courtyards and grounds are ideal for celebrations unique to Opa-locka.

Producing quality festive programming Regularly will help enhance Opa-locka’s image.

Having a strategic plan for revitalizing the Town Center is essential, so is having zoning and design guidelines that are friendly to the desired investment and providing incentives to bring businesses along as partners.

Because there is not enough disposable income in Opa-locka to support the desired Town Center, the goal is to create sufficient draw from beyond Opa-locka.

With a plan, steady commitment, and a phased approach, Opa-locka’s Town Center could be the next hot place in Miami-Dade.

Reality Check

The City of Opa-locka and the OLCDC team are producing Sustainable Opa-locka 20/30, the citywide planning and zoning document.

It will include a downtown strategy for the Town Center and the zoning and public policies to support executing it.

Regular briefings will be held with businesses and city officials during the plan’s development.

Timeline aims for completion by January, 2013.

Next Steps