How a desperate struggle over two square miles of prime oceanfront real estate gave birth to one of America’s most iconic destinations for tourism, art, fashion, and nightlife.
Only 30 years ago the southern end of Miami Beach was a dingy warren of deteriorating hotels, retiree apartments, and high crime rates. Saving South Beach is the compelling story of the fight to preserve a decaying neighborhood, only to see it transform into one of the world’s most glamorous hotspots--“SoBe.”
In Saving South Beach, historic preservation clashes with development as each side vies for control of South Beach. A spectrum of characters are present, from Barbara Baer Capitman, the ailing middle-aged widow who became an evangelist for the Miami Beach Art Deco district, to Abe Resnick, the millionaire Holocaust survivor determined to stop her. From pioneers to volunteers, from Jewish retirees to Cuban exiles, from residents and business owners to developers and city leaders, each adds another piece to the puzzle, another view of the intense conflict that ensued.
Although a number of the area’s iconic buildings were demolished, the Miami Design Preservation League succeeded in entering almost half of the neighborhood into the National Register of Historic Places, kicking off a revitalization effort that spread throughout South Beach.
Preservationist M. Barron Stofik lived in Miami during this turmoil-ridden period and, through hundreds of interviews and extensive investigation, weaves together dramatic themes of civic heroism, preservation, and cultural change in the passionate human story behind the pastel facades and neon lights.
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| A guide for city managers and administrators in search for a renaissance |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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The book could serve as a guide for depressed cities in search of a path to follow. City leaders will find many things to copy, imitate and avoid.
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| A Must Have |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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I am a resident of South Beach, and knew of its history as a tattered slum before being amazingly restored to its rightful place as a world-class destination.
What irked me immensely was that I could not find any thorough explanation of how all this was accomplished. I had heard of the wonderful work of Barbara Capitman and the Miami Design Preservation League and wanted to learn more about them. Then one day, on my usual trip to Books & Books on Lincoln Road, there was "Saving South Beach" sitting on display.
After barely looking at the beautifully designed cover, I eagerly bought my own copy. Thanks to Ms. Stofik, we now have the full account of South Beach's salvation, told in a delightful writing style which is at once scholarly, intricately detailed, and gently amusing.
Not just a history lesson; the background of the residents, and the conflicts involving the city government, developers, and preservationists (and the detailed profiles of these players) make this book quite a read. It is hard to put down and most gratifying in the end. Included are rare photos, including of Capitman herself, and the incredibly gorgeous New Yorker Hotel which was tragically lost to demolition.
If South Beach fascinates you, you must learn of its history and this is a perfect way to start.
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| Saving South Beach |
| Customer Rating: 5 out of 5 |
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A must have for anyone interested in preservation and the saving of our national treasures. Stofik shows how one city, despite politics and special interests, revitalized a decaying past into a vibrant future.
An easy going writing style makes this a joy to read and Stofik's passion for historical preservation shines through.
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