Sunny Isles Beach – Why Preservation is Important

Not many people are consciously aware that when a building is preserved, so is the scale. That very scale which makes Miami Beach a tropical urban oasis. Walkability is predominantly determined by the human scale of structures. And that's why people from all around the world are willing to make the trip and enjoy this urban fantasy world. This is what Miami Beach would look like today if there was no urban preservation – you are looking at the city 11 miles north of South Beach, called Sunny Isles Beach, with the tallest oceanfront condos in America – bleak condo canyon.

Such an environment silently but relentlessly imprints its qualities upon the human psyche. It shuts humans away from breeze, light, view of the ocean, and sky. There’s no coastal path, no-one walks, except for personnel, walking to and from bus stops. The sidewalk along Collins Ave is barely wide enough for 2 people to pass-by, the main road is at least 6 lanes wide. Since it looks like a highway, it feels like a highway, so drivers treat it like a highway. People do not drive by the posted speed limit; they drive at a speed which feels safe and comfortable. Therefore, they’re going much faster, which makes walking feel unpleasant and unsafe.

Even with a shopping plaza located just across the street, residents are unlikely to make the trip on foot, since this kind of environment is simply too uncomfortable/unpleasant for pedestrians. The result is: automobile commuting city.