Ariel Fernandez
Founder & Editor
[email protected]
Stephen Bittel’s Terranova Corporation, the largest property owner on Miracle Mile, has filed its initial application for a new development on the Mile, 93 Miracle Mile.
Located on the former location of Navarro Pharmacy on Miracle Mile, the proposed project will be taking advantage of Commission mandated remote parking, and seek to be the first approved under the up-zoned City code for Miracle Mile, which was approved by the prior City Commission. (Read: Developers Defeat Residents: Miracle Mile Up-Zoned).
As you will recall, Bittel was behind the proposed hotel without parking on Miracle Mile, which failed to receive the necessary support to be built. (Read: A New Hotel On Miracle Mile).
According to a press release sent by Terranova, 93 Miracle Mile is a “state-of-the-art mixed-use building at 93 Miracle Mile in Coral Gables. Designed by world-renowned architecture firm Arquitectonica, the building’s sustainability features include photovoltaic glass to harness solar energy, high-tech battery systems to collect and store energy to operate features like elevators and new A/C technology that uses 30% of what conventional air conditioners use. Each of 93 Miracle Mile’s advanced sustainable design features will make it the first carbon-neutral mixed-use development in the state of Florida. The goal is to be respectful of Coral Gables history while leading toward the future.”
“Aside from its sustainability features, 93 Miracle Mile’s curb appeal will compliment Coral Gables’ beloved design aesthetic without seeking any additional density, being respectful to the scale of Miracle Mile and Coral Gables’ history while leading toward the future,” it continues.
“The planned 36,482 square foot building complies with Coral Gables’ new Miracle Mile Overlay zoning code, standing at four stories tall. The ground floor includes 6,707 square feet for a restaurant as well as separate entrance lobbies for the second and third floor’s retail space and the fourth-floor office. The second and third floors will hold 9,730 square feet of retail space each, the fourth floor will be designated for 7,305 square feet of office space and the rooftop is a terrace greenspace. This proposed building would be the first to be built under the new Miracle Mile Overlay code,” adds the release.
“93 Miracle Mile will be a revolutionary project, not only as a platform to champion Coral Gable’s dignitaries as forward-thinking leaders in sustainable development but also a blueprint for other developers and city planners as we face a climate crisis around the world,” said Stephen Bittel, founder and chairman of Terranova Corporation who’s leading the development. “The modern proposed structure respects the scale of Miracle Mile, and uses traditional stone materials on the exterior, while also incorporating the best environmental options for the future. Myself, Bernardo Fort-Brescia and the entire design team at Arquitectonica are not only focused on 93 Miracle Mile becoming completely carbon neutral but also respecting the recent zoning code at the highest level to make this a win for the city and residents of Coral Gables.”
These aren’t just awful people, they are wicked smart in the art of manipulation and know exactly how to not only get away with disruptiveness but how to work it to their favor. Here are 6 reasons why they get away with it.
1. They cast themselves as the hero. Toxic people find followers who they can easily manipulate.
2. Individuals see what groups won’t. Individual people can see the reality of what is going on, but when placed in a group if no one speaks up they will think they are alone.
3. They create a perception of invaluableness.
4. Other people are dispensable. If someone crosses them, they know how to swiftly and effectively put them in their place.
5. They are master wordsmiths.
6. They build strong factions. The goal is to divide and conquer.
Add to this, we now have the carbon footprint crowd on tiny Miracle Mile jamming the same fractured logic down the throats of the gullible that the Great Reset gang uses to prevent the Dutch from farming their own land. It’s a lie there and it’s a lie here.
Here are two local lessons to illustrate:
1. The Mayfair, Coconut Grove.
The charming, Bohemian Grove was never the same after that high-end monster landed in its midst.
2. The Bakery Center, South Miami.
Developers handed another Trojan Horse to the unsuspecting. To this day, locals still pine for the smell of fresh bread being baked in the morning, something non-locals who insist on paving over paradise will never understand – nor care about. Meanwhile we who were born here, do. And speaking of Trojan Horses be sure to see the YouTube video posted by Mr. Jackson Rip Holmes who commented above. Here it is:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YUoM9DhpJxc
We do not need more retail and especially when its not on ground level!! Retail space on 2nd and 3rd floors are a waste of space. The project sounds and looks great, but maybe for another part of town. Again another example of Politicians and developers going to bed together.
93 Miracle Mile…. LOVE IT!!👍🏻👍🏻👍🏻
Terranova project is a Trojan Horse that will steal public parking and destroy Miracle Mile, 9-21-22…
https://youtu.be/YUoM9DhpJxc
Jackson Rip Holmes
Is Javier Banos correct that this building is already a done deal?
If so, all of you who made a comment on it wasted a lot of your valuable time.
Also, if so, those in City Hall who made it a done deal must be exposed and removed from office.
The design of this building is certainly innovative and different, especially due to its attempt to ameliorate its carbon footprint. Does it belong in Coral Gables? That is a much different question. I would have loved to engage in that discussion had it not been for our Commission amending the zoning code to permit this construction as of right. Now there is nothing residents can do to have their opinions heard on this matter. They will build it like this because they can — thank you Commissioner Mena
I don’t think there is any problem on Miracle Mile other than the rent being charged to retailers. Retailers have become wise to the manipulations of building owners and just walk away from such nonsense.
CARBON NEUTRALITY DOES NOT BEGIN AT NEW CONSTRUCTION. It can take up to 80 years to offset the carbon debt that is incurred when an existing structure is replaced. The definition of carbon-neutral refers to balancing out the total amount of carbon emissions, net-zero carbon means no carbon was emitted from the get-go, so no carbon needs to be captured or offset.
According to the Terranova press release, “the building’s sustainability features include photovoltaic glass to harness solar energy, high-tech battery systems to collect and store energy to operate features like elevators and new A/C technology that uses 30% of what conventional air conditioners use. Each of 93 Miracle Mile’s advanced sustainable design features will make it the first carbon-neutral mixed-use development in the state of Florida.”
All commendable features, but stewardship of our planet starts with preserving what already exists. That is the optimal carbon neutrality goal. Sounds like this project at 93 Miracle Mile won’t reach that level if a demolition of the existing structure takes place.
No matter how “carbon neutral” a new building is promoted to be, it will NOT reduce embodied carbon [the greenhouse gases generated during the extraction, manufacture, and transportation of building materials, and during construction and disposal]. Embodied carbon is expected to account for over half of total greenhouse gases from all new construction according to a recent report from the World Green Building Council.
Concrete and steel are the major repositories of embodied carbon in the built environment (cement manufacturing alone accounts for 8 percent of global CO emissions). “I want architects to understand how critically important this is. If there’s existing building infrastructure on-site, we need to consider whether there’s something we can do with it,” says Andrew Rastetter, an architecturally trained structural engineer.
For a building to be truly environmentally friendly, let’s adapt what is already here. Adaptive reuse is the process of reusing an existing building and adapting it to meet new needs. A demolition of a present structure to make way for new construction is proven to hurt the environment now.
An excerpt from the National Trust for Historic Preservation puts in context how new construction adversely affects our planet:
“Arguments that promote a practice of disposable real estate are unsustainable at best and at worst environmentally catastrophic. [There is…] embodied carbon within existing structures, [and] the fact that it can take up to 80 years to offset the carbon debt that is incurred when an existing structure is replaced, even if the new building is highly energy efficient. New buildings…will likely never offset the carbon cost of their construction. We don’t have time to simply build our way to a sustainable future.”
Whether the new project’s architectural style fits in or not, our focus as a community may best be served as protectors of our environment. 93 Miracle Mile should be adapted to its new use and highlighted as a true “sustainable design” encompassing carbon neutral features. Terranova has some of it right.
Navarro’s….yes, isn’t this the place in front of the loading dock of that big condo bldg where 2 young blacks killed a Colombian worker who was there to work on a kitchen remodeling job? Doesn’t sound very safe to me!
To those folks that always criticize anything new in downtown gables please note you are a big minority way over represented. You see, I’m Spanish myself (have loved in Spain for 30y before moving to Gables) and I can tell you that we also have more modern looking buildings anywhere in Barcelona, Valencia, etc…you guys are stuck in the past and are not allowing progress in this city!!! I use to hang out with my wife and kids in Gables downtown and now I mainly go to the Grove Downtown (they did a good job there and it’s rejuvenated). Miracle mile is slowly dying – only Hillstone works (funny enough not a Mediterranean looking building).
Residential CG areas should be kept sacred as they are, but allow for CG Downtown to flourish again. Nowadays the real social downtown in Gables is transitioning south to Shops at Merrick Park (shame!).
Nothing wrong with this building but I am not an architect. With most of the comments, it sounds like people just wan to vent – no matter the topic. Time to do something else.
Developers put in an arch or turret and call their design Mediterranean. It is a way to get more density. By the way the flower sculptures on Biltmore Way or Segovia have nothing Mediterranean about them. I say kudos for a climate change design. Better than Navarro, Ross for less or even the former Sun Trust building or the monstrosity of Ponce Park whose “Mediterranean “ architecture must have Europeans who visit our city laughing.
The architect copied a toddler’s toy at Toy’s R Us.
The rendering looks too “modern,” cold, and sterile.
The rendering looks too “modern,” cold, and sterile. Its contrast with the nearby Mediterranean is jarring evidence that developers control the CG politicians.
My toddler has a game that looks just like it. She has to fit different shapes in the holes. This Modern Cube isn’t Mediterranean so it shouldn’t get any bonuses for that. Other than that, at least it’s not as bad as a hotel without parking.
Hillstone is arguably the busiest restaurant in Coral Gables. It does not have a single parking space. For that matter, neither do Cristy’s, John Marten’s or the Globe. Additionally, neither do any of the restaurants on Giralda. There is plenty of parking in Downtown Coral Gables, people just do not want to be mildly inconvenienced and walk half a block in any direction from the garages. And to the woman who said women do not park in garages, please do not speak for all women. If you are nervous about garages, I understand. But, you always have the option to valet. Any parking for this property would have to have been a garage anyway.
All this Mediterranean talk and yet the first thing you see upon entering Miracle Mile is a Denny’s in your right and a Ross Dress for Less on your left.
Please stop comparing to Palm Beach and Rodeo drive. It’s embarrassing in it’s current state.
This building causes badly, blurred vision. Needs to be corrected with Medeterranean eye glasses.
I like the architecture design of the proposed project on 93 Miracle Mile, as well as the sustainability features. What I’m totally opposed to is that there isn’t any space dedicated for parking for the restaurant or the retail spaces that will be included in this building. What are the plans for parking ???
To the people opposed to this and anything involved with change or improvements, ask yourself and be honest (you’re only lying to yourselves if not being honest), ‘when was the last time you actually spent money on Miracle Mile?’
The current state is sad and depressing. Even that ugly corner on the entrance with a Ross store is out of place. Contrast this to the revitalization of Coconut Grove and how they got rid of all the franchise stores and did their makeover. Looks beautiful, alive, and inviting unlike Miracle Mile being held back by people who are insufferable and stuck in the past.
Regarding the fact that it isn’t a Mediterranean look. That argument is sad and pathetic if you ever witnessed true Mediterranean architecture in Europe. Ask any true Italian, Spanish, European citizen if they are impressed with what we have. It’s fake wannabe Mediterranean. So please be real with yourselves and honest. It’s faux Mediterranean. Nothing wrong with that but true Mediterranean it is not.
Hoping this building is built sooner than later. The Mile desperately needs a jump start.
To the people opposed to this and anything involved with change or improvements, ask yourself and be honest (you’re only lying to yourselves if not being honest), ‘when was the last time you actually spent money on Miracle Mile?’
The current state is sad and depressing. Even that ugly corner on the entrance with a Ross store is out of place. Contrast this to the revitalization of Coconut Grove and how they got rid of all the franchise stores and did their makeover. Looks beautiful, alive, and inviting unlike Miracle Mile being held back by people who are insufferable and stuck in the past.
Regarding the fact that it isn’t a Mediterranean look. That argument is sad and pathetic if you ever witnessed true Mediterranean architecture in Europe. Ask any true Italian, Spanish, European citizen if they are impressed with what we have. It’s fake wannabe Mediterranean. So please be real with yourselves and honest. It’s faux Mediterranean. Nothing wrong with that but true Mediterranean it is not.
Don’t bother to make construction plans. This monster building will not get off the ground.
Another square glass box in the Gables, Why? The design needs to be changed, all other features to protect our fragile environment are good, but where is the Mediterranean design of this building? Too futuristic looking for Coral Gables, Please, no more Glass Boxes in our City Beautiful!!!!
Half the stores on Miracle Mile are empty anyway. Developers put in the “mix use” designation to get what they want from our concrete loving leaders. Then they walk away with their pockets full of money. Miracle Mile should be kept in its charmed state, just fixed up and rents lowered by tax credits, to entice businesses. More parking congestion with this no parking spaces building, more empty space on the street level and more concrete. Enough !!! We are Coral Gables with a small town charm. We are not Brickell and other over built areas. And PS, women by a majority will not use a garage to park. We are not comfortable with the safety issue and cameras just capture the incident, they do not stop it.
Where is the Mediterranean Look/feel on this design. Is it int he cross street name only???
Excellent, modernizes the mike without looking like a concrete jungle. Looking forward to visiting.
Once upon a time, not long ago, Coral Gables was more beautiful than Palm Beach. Now, the big developers are turning Coral Gables in Clown’s Corner.
Developers keep chipping away at the charm of Coral Gables, and apparently, the people making the decisions to allow this think it’s just fine. Well, it’s not. One day, we will all look back and realize the “value” of Coral Gables is to keep Coral Gables “small” rather than “large”. The saying “less is more” is so very true here. The majority of residents don’t want CG to look like Doral or Brickell. Why can’t our elected officials understand this and reject these projects? Why is this so difficult to comprehend? Why do we ALWAYS have to fight so hard to keep things “small”!!!
NO MORE MODERN MONSTER BUILDINGS. REMEMBER THE MOBILITY HUB.
Love it – the Mile is antiquated –