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April
- May 2006, No. 3 |
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Next-Generation
"Pay & Display" Machines Simplify Parking
MPA continues to maximize convenience and minimize the
sidewalk clutter of old-fashioned parking meters by replacing
them with high-tech "Pay & Display" (P&D)
machines. The 184 P&D machines already in operation
will be joined this year by an additional 150 units to
be installed in two phases, bringing the total to 334.
Each P&D machine replaces 8-10 traditional parking
meters.
Phase One, a 30-unit installation, is currently underway
with 25 machines now operational. Phase Two, installing
another 150 units now on order, is expected to be complete
by September.
More... |
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MPA
Bonds to Fund Parking Improvements and New Developments
throughout City
MPA's recent $40.7 million bond issue ensures steady funding
for numerous parking projects on the drawing board, under
construction or recently completed.
"As a semi-autonomous entity of the City, we are
fortunate that we are allowed to issue revenue bonds,
which enable us to pledge our future revenues in order
to access capital for today's projects," said MPA's
Art Noriega. "In 2004 the City authorized us to issue
up to $45 million in bonds and this is the first time
we have tapped the well."
More... |
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| Building
For Miami's Future |
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Garage
1 Redevelopment Plans Reconfigured
MPA has revised the redevelopment
plans for the Garage 1 site,
a 1.65-acre parcel located
at 40 NW 3rd Street in downtown
Miami.
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The revised plans now call
for a 700-space parking garage,
three floors of office space,
and street-level retail space
facing the new U.S. Federal
Courthouse to the north and
the Miami-Dade County Courthouse
to the south. The exact square
footage of each component
has not yet been finalized.
More... |
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Gusman
Center Restoration Approaches Completion
As the Gusman Center for the Performing
Arts celebrates its 80th anniversary
this year, patrons will notice the
stunning results of the historic theater's
years-long facelift. To date, some
$6.5 million in state, county and
city grants has been invested to return
the former silent movie palace to
the Mediterranean-inspired splendor
envisioned by its architect, noted
theater designer John Eberson.
More... |
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MPA
Earns International Honors for Service to
Miami Community
A community service program introduced by
MPA last year has earned recognition in the
International Parking Institute's 22nd annual
"Awards for Excellence" program.
MPA will be recognized with the Award of Merit
for outstanding programming at the IPI Conference
in Las Vegas in May.
More... |
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Art Noriega
Executive Director
As you will learn in this issue's story about our
recent bond issue, MPA benefits from a unique public-private
organizational structure that offers us several
distinct competitive advantages as we fulfill our
mission to provide convenient, safe and affordable
parking for the City of Miami.
Created by the Florida Legislature as a semi-autonomous
entity more than 50 years ago, MPA enjoys a decades-long
perspective and focus on the community most private
parking developers lack. Our board's guidance, combined
with our need to generate sufficient revenues to
meet operational requirements, ensure that we operate
efficiently and stay on solid financial footing.
MPA can use business strategies unavailable to the
private sector, such as acquiring properties via
eminent domain for the good of the city. And, our
tax-free status and ability to finance development
by issuing bonds ensures that the cost of our money
stays low.
Our board
of directors is drawn from the private sector.
They bring specialized industry skills and experience
to their role, as well as personal and professional
relationships in the business community that benefit
us immensely. With their oversight we developed
the five-year
plan that guides our work and allows us to continue
to return substantial revenues to the City. |
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Miami Parking Authority
190 N.E. Third Street
Miami, FL 33132
Phone 305-373-6789
Fax 305-371-9451
www.miamiparking.com
info@miamiparking.com
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About
The Miami Parking Authority
The Miami Parking Authority develops and manages convenient,
safe and affordable parking in the City of Miami. Overseeing
more than 22,000 parking spaces - including five garages, 56
lots and 7,631 metered street spaces - MPA provides parking
for approximately 45,000 vehicles per week. Two garage projects
under construction will add another 550 spaces. MPA facilities
are either wholly owned or managed through government, non-profit,
or public/private joint ventures.
MPA funds its operations through parking revenues and receives
no income from taxes or parking tickets. MPA was created in
1955 by a Special Act of the Florida State Legislature and incorporated
into the City of Miami's Charter in 1968. |
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Arthur
Noriega, V.
Executive
Director
Miami Parking Authority
MPA BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Oscar Rivero, Chairman
Principal
Rivers Development Group
Arthur H. Hertz
Chairman & CEO
Wometco Enterprises
Marlon A. Hill
Founding Partner
delancyhill, P.A. |
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Jami Reyes
Partner
Gordon Reyes & Co.
Thomas B. Jelke, Ph.D.
President & CEO
t.jelke solutions CITY
OF MIAMI
Mayor
Manuel A. Diaz
City
Manager
Joe Arriola |
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City
Attorney
Jorge L. Fernandez
City Clerk
Priscilla Thompson
Commissioners
Angel Gonzalez, Chairman
Tomas P. Regalado
Joe M. Sanchez
Michelle Spence-Jones
Johnny L. Winton |
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MPA
respects your privacy. We will never share your information with
others.
To update your contact information, reply with your changes. Privacy
Policy.
© 2006 Miami-Parking Authority. All rights reserved.
e-Newsletter Development by Loop
Consulting Group |
| |
|
|
Next-Generation
"Pay & Display" Machines Simplify Parking
MPA
continues to maximize convenience and minimize the sidewalk
clutter of old-fashioned parking meters by replacing them
with high-tech "Pay & Display" (P&D)
machines. The 184 P&D machines already in operation
will be joined this year by an additional 150 units to
be installed in two phases, bringing the total to 334.
Each P&D machine replaces 8-10 traditional parking
meters.
Phase One, a 30-unit installation, is currently underway
with 25 machines now operational. Phase Two, installing
another 150 units now on order, is expected to be complete
by September.
"Customer feedback regarding the P&D system has
been very positive over the past couple of years and we
are rolling out the technology to expanded areas,"
said MPA Deputy Executive Director for Operations Fred
Bredemeyer. |
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"The technology has advanced recently and these next-generation
units are the most attractive, compact, efficient and full-featured
on the market today. The new model also accepts bills, which
adds an additional payment option to our valued customers."
The P&D machines are manufactured by Parkeon, a worldwide
leader in Pay & Display technology, which has more than
130,000 units in operation in 40 countries, which manage more
than three million parking spaces. Local Parkeon distributor
Bytewise Solutions is assisting with the implementation.
Parkeon's "Strada" model, selected by MPA, is fully
solar powered and connects to the MPA computer system via a
wireless network. The units are highly secure and resistant
to jamming and tampering, with a built-in real-time attack detection
system that sends an instant alarm to the MPA security force.
The slim, ergonomic design blends unobtrusively into the streetscape.
And, the units are fully ADA compliant, with the controls positioned
within easy reach of a person in a wheelchair.
The switch to P&D machines from traditional meters has already
decreased citations in Coconut Grove by nearly 50%, Bredemeyer
noted. |
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MPA Bonds to Fund Parking
Improvements and New Developments Throughout City
MPA's recent
$40.7 million bond issue ensures steady funding for numerous
parking projects on the drawing board, under construction or
recently completed.
"As a semi-autonomous entity of the City, we are fortunate
that we are allowed to issue revenue bonds, which enable us
to pledge our future revenues in order to access capital for
today's projects," said MPA's Art Noriega. "In 2004
the City authorized us to issue up to $45 million in bonds and
this is the first time we have tapped the well."
The bonds' net proceeds (after the cost of the transaction)
will be allocated to a slate of projects identified in MPA's
five
year plan, including:
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$25.9
million for the Garage 1 parking/office/retail complex
in downtown Miami (see related story), |
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$3.3
million for the Allapattah
Parking Plaza now under construction, |
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$1.9
million for recently completed parking lots under the
I-395 overpass in downtown Miami's Entertainment District,
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$4
million for 300 Pay & Display parking units (see related
story), and |
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$1.3
million for recently completed lots on Watson Island adjacent
to the Miami Children's Museum and the Watson Island Boat
Ramp. |
MPA was assisted in the bond issue by parking consulting firm
Leonard Bier & Associates, which conducted a comprehensive
parking and financial analysis; the Fixed Income Group of securities
firm RBC Dain Rauscher, which assisted with structuring and
pricing the offering; and Bear Stearns, the bond underwriter.
Moody's Investors Service has assigned an A3 underlying rating
to the bond series. Moody's based the rating on "the historically
favorable financial operations of (MPA) combined with pro-active
and conservative management, the significant amount of debt
now being issued that leverages the existing system, the well-established
and sizable parking system, and the open-loop flow of funds
allowing excess operating funds to flow to the City of Miami
(rated A3)." |
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| Garage
1 Redevelopment Plans Reconfigured
MPA has revised the redevelopment plans for the Garage 1 site,
a 1.65-acre parcel located at 40 NW 3rd Street in downtown
Miami.
The revised plans now call for a 700-space parking garage,
three floors of office space, and street-level retail space
facing the new U.S. Federal Courthouse to the north and the
Miami-Dade County Courthouse to the south. The exact square
footage of each component has not yet been finalized.
When originally announced in April 2004 the project was to
consist of a 36-story condominium, street-level retail space
and a 1,000-plus space MPA garage providing public parking
as well as designated parking for the condominium.
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"We have
redirected this project to be able to address the parking demand the
area is facing right now, while retaining the flexibility to add another
major component in the future when demand warrants," said Art
Noriega, executive director of the Miami Parking Authority. "As
stewards of this very valuable parcel of city-owned land, we are proceeding
prudently. The garage will improve parking dramatically for courthouse
employees and jurors, commuters, tourists and residents in the downtown
core."
Demolition of the existing 45-year old Garage 1 is expected to commence
in early 2007, with construction of the new development to be completed
by mid-2008. Miami Downtown Developers, LLC, the original development
team, will assist with construction of the commercial and retail portions;
MPA will oversee construction of the garage.
The unused land adjacent to the reconfigured development will be landscaped
to serve as "passive green space," a park-like area that
can be enjoyed by the public until market conditions warrant building
on it.
MPA expects to move its headquarters, currently located at 190 NE
3rd Street, to the new office building upon its completion, occupying
a portion of the top floor with customer service and reception offices
at the street level. |
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| Actors
Steven Bauer (Scarface, Thief of Hearts) and
Tomas Milian (The Lost City, JFK, Amistad) join
Andy Garcia, director and star of The Lost City,
for the movie's screening at the Gusman. |
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Friends
of Gusman Celebrate at Film Festival, Launch Membership Campaign
The Gusman Center's booster organization, Friends
of Gusman, continues to reinvent itself. The new board now
meets monthly and recently participated in two team-building
and strategic planning retreats, one facilitated by Laura Bruney,
of the Arts & Business Council of Miami.
The Friends have also launched a membership
campaign offering four levels of benefits with annual dues
ranging from $50 to $1,000. An introductory basic-level rate
of $19.26 (in honor of the theater's 1926 opening) is in effect
until
December 1.
A "Friends Only" cocktail reception on March 5, in
conjunction with the Miami International Film Festival's sold-out
screening of The Lost City, welcomed the picture's director
and star, Andy Garcia, and cast members as well as actors Nestor
Carbonell and Steven Bauer. |
"The Friends had a fascinating opportunity to chat with Andy
Garcia about his film, which obviously struck such a chord with the
audience with its depiction of pre-Castro Cuba," said Theater
Director Mike Wharton. "Festival Director Nicole Guillemet deserves
praise for filling the house for The Lost City as well as several
other films during this year's run."
The Gusman is enjoying its most active calendar
in years, with all weekends booked through June. Thursday, June 1
has been selected as the date of the Gusman's 80th anniversary celebration. |
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Gusman
Center Restoration Approaches Completion
As the Gusman Center for the Performing Arts celebrates its
80th anniversary this year, patrons will notice the stunning
results of the historic theater's years-long facelift. To date,
some $6.5 million in state, county and city grants has been
invested to return the former silent movie palace to the Mediterranean-inspired
splendor envisioned by its architect, noted theater designer
John Eberson.
After the restoration conducted by architect Morris Lapidus
in the mid-1970s, the condition of the theater began to deteriorate.
Due to lack of funding, repairs were made haphazardly, with
problems being patched as they occurred, but no cohesive plan
existed to preserve the historic masterpiece. |
By the late 1990s, it became evident that a long-range strategy
for restoration of the theater was necessary. Theater management
hired noted restoration architect Richard J. Heisenbottle to
develop a plan to completely restore the theater to its former
elegance while bringing structural components up to current
codes.
Virtually every structural system of the theater was in need
of repair or replacement. The roof had several leaks that had
damaged the theater's historic paint and plaster, as well as
the seating and carpeting in the auditorium. The HVAC system
required complete replacement. Electrical, sound systems, and
plumbing all had to be upgraded before cosmetic restoration
could begin. "The most time consuming repairs, and those
that had the greatest effect on the overall stability of the
theater, were those that the average patron would never see,"
said Theater Director Mike Wharton.
A five-year plan was devised to completely restore and renovate
the theater. In order to minimize loss of income, construction
occurred each year primarily during the summer months when bookings
were normally at a minimum. Critical components were broken
down into construction segments that could be completed in three
months. During the rest of each year, the architectural and
engineering team planned the subsequent summer's work while
management worked to secure funding for it.
Now, after six consecutive summers of restoration, several major,
critical systems have been repaired or replaced, including the
roof, HVAC system, electrical and sound systems. Other projects
that have made the theater more attractive for promoters, such
as enlarging the stage and improving stage lighting, have also
been accomplished to help increase theater income even while
construction is ongoing. And the historic paint and plaster
in the auditorium itself has been restored to its original dazzling
color scheme.
Most recently, carpeting in the lobby and on the orchestra level
of the auditorium has been replaced with a custom-loomed pattern
duplicating the original design. All historically inaccurate
orchestra-level seating has been replaced with new, vintage-style
seating with wood trim and plush fabric.
Other substantial structural changes have brought the theater
into compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act. These
improvements include ramps, railings, specially equipped restrooms
and a motorized lift to the stage. New seating on the orchestra
level was designed so that blocks of seats can be removed to
accommodate wheelchairs.
Key items in the construction plan remain unfunded, however,
including termite treatment, replacement of windows and doors,
and painting and waterproofing the building's exterior. An additional
"wish list" of non-critical needs such as replacement
of tapestries, artwork and decorative accessories as well as
balcony seating and carpeting; additional loading facilities;
and special-event equipment will further enhance the theater's
appeal. The Friends of Gusman, the theater's support organization,
is developing a long-range fundraising program to address these
needs.
"Much like a historic home, the repair and restoration
work on a structure like the Gusman is never truly complete
- it is always a work in progress," said Wharton. "We
need reliable sources of funding to manage these ongoing challenges."
The former Olympia Theatre opened in 1926 as a silent movie
palace. After years of showing films and hosting vaudeville
acts, the theater entered a long decline and was purchased in
1970 by benefactor Maurice Gusman for the Miami Philharmonic
Orchestra. Renamed the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center, the theater
reopened in 1972. In 1975, the theater was donated to the City
of Miami and underwent a two-year renovation. It was added to
the National Register of Historic Places in 1984. |
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MPA
Earns International Honors for Service to Miami Community
A community service program introduced by MPA last year has
earned recognition in the International Parking Institute's
22nd annual "Awards for Excellence" program. MPA will
be recognized with the Award of Merit for outstanding programming
at the IPI Conference in Las Vegas in May.
"It's exciting to create a local innovation that receives
praise at the international level," said Mark Trowbridge,
MPA deputy executive director for business development. "We
devote substantial effort to supporting the community and we
will continue to seek out creative ways to use our resources." |
The MVP (Miami resident Vehicular Protection) program offers City
of Miami residents a sheltered place to store a car during weather
emergencies. Residents must register
for the MVP program in advance by completing a one-page application.
They then receive a special decal to display while parked.
MVP was rolled out in early 2005 with a multifaceted communications
campaign that included trilingual news releases, periodic "crawls"
on The Weather Channel, and news alerts issued upon the announcement
of each hurricane watch and warning. "Timing for the program
could not have been more critical, with four named storms that activated
the MVP program three times," said Trowbridge.
Registrations for the program continue and space is still available
for the coming hurricane season. More than 3,000 spaces in MPA garages
have been set aside for this use. |
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Customer
Service | Subscribe To Our e-Newsletter | Forward
To A Friend |
Miami Parking Authority
190 N.E. Third Street
Miami, FL 33132
Phone 305-373-6789
Fax 305-371-9451
www.miamiparking.com
info@miamiparking.com
|
About
The Miami Parking Authority
The Miami Parking Authority develops and manages convenient,
safe and affordable parking in the City of Miami. Overseeing
more than 22,000 parking spaces - including five garages, 56
lots and 7,631 metered street spaces - MPA provides parking
for approximately 45,000 vehicles per week. Two garage projects
under construction will add another 550 spaces. MPA facilities
are either wholly owned or managed through government, non-profit,
or public/private joint ventures.
MPA funds its operations through parking revenues and receives
no income from taxes or parking tickets. MPA was created in
1955 by a Special Act of the Florida State Legislature and incorporated
into the City of Miami's Charter in 1968. |
MPA respects
your privacy. We will never share your information with others.
To update your contact information, reply with your changes.
Privacy
Policy.
© 2006 Miami-Parking Authority. All rights reserved.
e-Newsletter Development by Loop
Consulting Group
|
|
|
