I do have a question and I know the Expo Center is going, November 1 was the date planned to start demolition but in a perfect world, I would ask why is the Expo Center (shown above) being knocked down? The only reason we are being given is that it's because it blocks the water view. But isn't the proposed 4 story 200,000+ square feet garage going to do the same? And isn't the chrome and glass structure of retail and restaurants going to do the same?
The Expo Center is and could be a very big tourist attraction due to it's history. The Burn Notice crew made it into a working tv/movie studio. We have that right here in the Coconut Grove. A clean, money-making business. Movies, tv, videos all could be produced right here in the Grove at the working studio. I know that Regatta Park is taking it's place and that is part of the original plan.
Artifacts, is that the right word? From Burn Notice and other tv shows may be going to HistoryMiami to be put on display as a tribute to Miami's part in tv and movies. This would be an incredible museum for the Expo Center space, part of it anyway.
The Expo Center is squat and small, not so much the footprint, but the elevation. It fits in with the surroundings and has for over 50 years.
One interesting thing is that the Commissioner's office keeps bringing up The Fresh Market and how great and wonderful they are for saving the airplane hanger and making it into a supermarket. Well, that hangar is historic and it wasn't going anywhere, if it wasn't historic, it would have been gone long ago. So they aren't really kidding anyone.
If they cared about Coconut Grove history, they would leave the Expo Center and scrap the current waterfront mall plan and come up with something more waterfront friendly.
Apparently there is $2 million available to put in Regatta Park, so that's a good thing, at least when the Expo Center is gone, they will quickly move to put in the park and it won't just be an empty field of dirt.
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