Greater Downtown Miami

Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

Downtown Miami
Neighborhood
Downtown Miami in 2013
Downtown Miami in 2013
Nicknames: 
Downtown, Central Business District
Downtown neighborhoods within the City of Miami
Downtown neighborhoods within the City of Miami
Coordinates: 25°46′26″N 80°11′24″W / 25.774°N 80.190°W / 25.774; -80.190
CountryUnited States
StateFlorida
CountyMiami-Dade County
CityMiami
Settled1830s
Incorporated into the City of Miami1896
Subdistricts of Downtown
Neighborhoods
  • Wynwood
Government
 • City of Miami CommissionerKen Russell (D)
 • Miami-Dade CommissionersVacant
 • 
305, 786
Websitewww.miamidda.com

Downtown Miami is the urban city center of Miami, Florida, United States. The city's greater downtown region consists of the Central Business District, Brickell, the Historic District, Government Center, the Arts & Entertainment District, and Park West. It is divided by the Miami River and is bordered by Midtown Miami's Edgewater, and Wynwood sections to its north, Biscayne Bay to its east, the Health District and Overtown to its west, and Coconut Grove to its south.

Downtown Miami is the core of the Miami metropolitan area, the nation's ninth-largest and world's 34th-largest metropolitan area with a population of 6.158 million people.

Within Downtown Miami, Brickell Avenue and Biscayne Boulevard are the main north–south roads, and Flagler Street is the main east–west road. The Downtown Miami perimeters are defined by the Miami Downtown Development Authority as the 3.8-square-mile (9.8 km2) area east of Interstate 95 between Rickenbacker Causeway to the south and the Julia Tuttle Causeway, which connects Miami and Miami Beach, to the north.

The area is a cultural, financial, and commercial center of the Miami metropolitan area, tracing its present-day history back to the 19th century. In recent years, Downtown Miami has the

high-rises
in the United States and is home to many major museums, parks, education centers, banks, company headquarters, courthouses, government offices, theaters, shops and many of the oldest buildings in the city.

History

The skyline of Downtown Miami with the Florida East Coast Railway passenger train station and the Dade County Courthouse in the foreground, c. 1930s

Downtown Miami is the historic heart of

Julia Tuttle Causeway, crossing Biscayne Bay just north of Downtown in Edgewater
, is named in honor of Tuttle.

As of 2009, there are approximately 71,000 year-round residents in Greater Downtown (including Downtown's Brickell, Park West, and Arts & Entertainment District neighborhoods), with close to 200,000 populating the Downtown area during the daytime, making Downtown Miami one of the most populous downtowns in the U.S. after New York City and Chicago.[4] With recent mass construction of high-rise residential buildings and office towers, Downtown has experienced large growth, with new shops, bars, parks, and restaurants opening up, attracting many new residents.

Along with Brickell, Downtown has grown from 40,000 residents in 2000, to over 70,000 in 2009, making it one of the fastest-growing areas in Florida. It was estimated in February 2010, that about 550 new residents move to the Downtown area every month.[5] As of 2009, over 190,000 office employees work in Downtown and Brickell.[6]

Downtown is served by the

Tri-Rail transfer station. The Metro connects to the Downtown Metromover, which encompasses 22 stations on the clockwise Inner (or Downtown) loop and counterclockwise Brickell and Omni branch loops. Government Center station is Downtown's main station and allows for transfers to all Metromover loops, Metrorail trains, and Metrobus lines at the Stephen P. Clark Government Center
.

Neighborhoods

Downtown Miami is centered on the

umbrella term
of "Downtown Miami":

Central business district ("downtown")

Downtown's Miami as seen from Biscayne Bay in April 2013

The

Central Business District (CBD), often referred to locally as simply "Downtown", is the historic center of Miami. The CBD is bound by Northeast Sixth Street to the north, Biscayne Bay to the east, and the Miami River to the west and south. The majority of Miami's historic buildings are located in this district, including Flagler Street, museums, libraries, offices, schools, the vast majority of local, county, state and federal government offices and courthouses, and Miami's Historic District and Government Center
.

The CBD is directly served by the

stations on the Downtown, Brickell, and Omni Loops.

Miami Jewelry District

The Miami Jewelry District is a sub-neighborhood within the Central Business District historically known for its numerous jewelry stores,

precious stones, and gold and silver items at street level in various retail jewelry stores. The Jewelry District can be accessed by public transportation through the Metromover and Metrorail
.

Brickell

Brickell Station, and by five Metromover
stations on the Brickell Loop.

Arts and Entertainment District

The

Government Center Station, and by two Metromover
stations on the Omni Loop.

Park West

Park West is the neighborhood just west of

Miami World Center.[8]
Park West is directly served by the stations on the Omni Loop.

Demographics

Brickell, the fastest-growing neighborhood in Miami, has one of the highest population densities in the United States outside of New York City.[9]
Historical population
CensusPop.Note
199036,140
200040,55612.2%
201066,76964.6%
2018 (est.)92,23538.1%
source:[10]

As of 2010, the population of Downtown Miami was 65,696 people, with a population density of 27,487 per square mile. In the 2010 US Census, the racial makeup of Downtown was 57.6%

Asian.[9]
The zip codes for Brickell include 33129, 33130, and 33131. The area covers 1.084 square miles (2.81 km2).

In 2000, Downtown had a population of 39,176 residents, with 15,333 households in 1990 with an average of 2.2 residents per household, 17,130 households in 2000 with a household average of 2.1, and 33,600 households in 2009 with a household average of 2.0 residents. By 2014, the population of Downtown is expected to grow to 85,000 with 42,400 households. The median household income was $29,396 in 2000 and $40,180 in 2009.[11]

The zip codes for Downtown include 33128, 33130, 33131, and 33132. The area covers 2.117 square miles (5.48 km2). As of 2000, there were 6,451 males and 4,792 females. The median age for males were 34.5 years old, while the median age for females were 35.8 years old. The average household size had 1.9 people, while the average family size had 2.8 members. The percentage of married-couple families among all households was 25.5%, while the percentage of married-couple families with children (among all households) was 8.5%, and the percentage of single-mother households among all households was 5.8%. 15.3% of the population was in correctional institutions. 1.6% of the population was in other group homes. The percentage of never-married males 15 years old and over was 27.6%, while the percentage of never-married females 15 years old and over was 13.9%.[12]

As of 2000, the percentage of people that speak English not well or not at all made up 23.1% of the population. The percentage of residents born in Florida was 26.9%, the percentage of people born in another U.S. state was 25.0%, and the percentage of native residents but born outside the U.S. was 6.4%, while the percentage of foreign born residents was 41.7%.[12]

2009 Census projections indicate that the area's residential base has increased from 40,000 to 71,000 since 2000, with an expected Downtown population of 85,000 by 2014. As of 2006, 189,164 residents live in the immediate Downtown/Brickell area.[5][13]

Transportation

Metrorail (top) and Metromover are elevated modes of public transportation in Downtown Miami.

Public transportation in the Downtown area is used more than in any other part of Miami and is a vital part of Downtown life.

Brickell Station. In addition to Metrorail, the automated Metromover
train system runs three lines (the Downtown Loop, the Omni Loop, and the Brickell Loop) with 22 stations throughout Downtown. The Metromover is a free service and stations can be found at roughly every two blocks in Downtown and Brickell.

Downtown Miami is served by

:

Metrorail:

  •          
    Government Center
    (NW 1st Street and 1st Avenue)
  •          
    Brickell
    (SW 11th Street and 1st Avenue)
  •          
    Historic Overtown/Lyric Theatre
    (NW 8th Street and 1st Avenue)

Metromover:

  •      Downtown/Inner Loop
  •      Omni Loop
  •      Brickell Loop

Metrorail has stops throughout Miami with connections to

Adrienne Arsht Center Station
.

As an urban and

public transit network, Downtown (along with Brickell, the Arts & Entertainment District, and South Beach) is one of the areas in Miami where a car-free lifestyle is commonplace. Many Downtown residents get around by foot, bicycle, Metromover
or by taxi. The Metromover is a popular alternative to walking in the area, especially on rainy, hot or cold days, as the Metromover is free, and stations are located roughly every two blocks throughout the area.

Recently, the City of Miami, along with the Downtown Development Authority, has begun bicycle initiatives promoting citywide bike parking and

Bike lanes and bike sharrows are currently planned for the majority of Downtown streets to be painted by the end of 2010. Venetian Causeway is a popular bicycle commuter route that connects South Beach to Downtown. The Rickenbacker Causeway is very popular on weekends for recreational bicyclists, and often, bicycles can outnumber cars on the causeway.[14]

Tri-Rail expansion

In the 2025 and 2030 long range transportation plans, Miami's

Biscayne Boulevard
in Miami, and Federal Highway in Broward and Palm Beach counties.

Tri-Rail service on the FEC line would bring Tri-Rail to Downtown's transit hub,

Metrorail in Hialeah to get to Downtown. Miami's Downtown Development Authority along with Miami-area politicians are actively lobbying to bring Tri-Rail to the city core.[15]

Taxis

Taxis are popular in Downtown, especially from Downtown to South Beach, Design District or to Coconut Grove. Since many Downtown residents choose to not have cars, taxis are also popular for rides within Downtown neighborhoods, especially after midnight when the Metromover stops running. Taxis can be hailed on the street, or phoned.

Economy

Brickell Avenue has the largest concentration of international banks in the United States.

Downtown is home to many companies, corporations and organizations. Downtown has about 20 million square feet (1,900,000 m2) of office space, and is the central financial and business hub of

Macy's Florida, Miami Herald, Miami Today, Shutts & Bowen, Terremark Worldwide, Vector Group, World Property Channel, and Zyscovich Architects.[17] Sanford Group Company and Sanford Fiduciary Investor Services, Inc., and LTU International had headquarters in Downtown.[18][19]

Public organizations with their main offices in Downtown include, the central offices of the Beacon Council, the Downtown Development Authority,

city hall's location in Coconut Grove
.

Consulates

Several countries have

. These include:

Japan first opened its consulate in Miami in 1992. As of 1992 this consulate gives logistical support to Japanese embassies in the Caribbean and Latin America. Japan opened a consulate in Miami after Japanese investors purchased several major real estate properties in Florida.[39]

Chambers of commerce

Downtown is also home to many international chambers of commerce, these include:

  • British American Business Council
  • Italy-America Chamber of Commerce
  • Spain-United States Chamber of Commerce
  • German American Business Chamber
  • Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce
  • French American Chamber of Commerce.

Historic districts

The Downtown Miami Historic District has over 60 buildings built between and 1896 and 1939 in the heart of the Central Business District

Downtown has three

historic districts. The Downtown Miami Commercial Historic District, the Downtown Miami Historic District, and the Lummus Park Historic District.[40]

The

Classical Revival
style with uses for government, residential, and commercial. Periods of significance within this area are from 1900 to 1924, 1925 to 1949, and 1950 to 1974. The Downtown Miami Commercial Historic District was designated a historic district in 1988 and comprises 20 buildings on the east side of Downtown with 19th and early 20th-century revival styles.

The Lummus Park Historic District is west of Downtown in the neighborhood of Lummus Park. It is west of I-95 surrounding Lummus Park along the Miami River. The historic district was designated historic in 1988 and then expanded in 2006. The area is 260 acres (1.1 km2) large with 43 different buildings mostly owned by private entities and the local government. Prominent styles include late 19th and early 20th-century revival styles, Art Deco, and Bungalow style, with prominent periods of 1900–1924 and 1925–1949.

Parks

Bayfront Park, Downtown's Miami's largest and most visited park

Downtown's largest and most popular parks are

Miami Science Museum
.

Other parks in the Downtown area include:

  • Fort Dallas Park, Central Business District
  • Lummus Park, Central Business District
  • Paul S. Walker Park, Central Business District
  • Joan Lehman Sculpture Plaza, Central Business District
  • Robert F. Clark Plaza, Central Business District
  • Southside Park, Brickell
  • Simpson Park, Brickell
  • Alice Wainwright Park, Brickell
  • Brickell Park, Brickell
  • Miami Circle, Brickell
  • Brickell Key Park, Brickell
  • Brickell Plaza Mini Park, Brickell

Government and infrastructure

Dade County Courthouse, built in 1925, is one of many local, state and federal courthouses in Downtown Miami, including the Stephen P. Clark Government Center

As the

Government Center area. The Stephen P. Clark Government Center is the central headquarters of Miami-Dade government with the offices of the Miami-Dade Mayor. Although city hall for the City of Miami is in Coconut Grove, many offices of Miami's city government are in Downtown, including the city's Planning Department. The Miami Police Department also has its central offices in Downtown.[41]

Downtown is home to many city, county, state, and federal courthouses, jails, judge offices, and law firms. Some of the courthouses in Downtown are the Dade County Family Court, U.S. Court of Appeals Judge, U.S. District Court Clerk,

Miami-Dade County Courthouse,[43] Federal Courthouse, U.S. Magistrate Judge, City of Miami courthouses and many others.[44]

The United States Postal Service operates two post offices in Downtown. They are the Brickell Post Office and the Flagler Miami Post Office.[45][46] The Federal Detention Center, Miami, operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, is located in Downtown.[47]

Fire stations

The

City of Miami Fire and Rescue Department
operates 4 of its 14 fire stations within the Downtown area. Each are listed below.

  • Fire Station # 1 – 144 NE 5th Street – Midtown/Overtown (Downtown)
  • Fire Station # 2 – 1901 N Miami Avenue – Wynwood/Edgewater
  • Fire Station # 3 – 1103 NW 7th Street – Little Havana/Overtown
  • Fire Station # 4 – 1105 SW 2nd Avenue – Brickell/The Roads (Downtown)

Cost of living

The average apartment sale price was $347,729 in 2010, up 15% from 2009, with the average apartment price at $300 per square foot. During the

condominium and apartments were built[48] in numerous high-rise towers that quickly transformed the city. Over 85% of these apartments are now occupied as of early 2011. It is estimated that about 550 new residents move to Downtown every month.[49] Renters make up 56% of the residents in Downtown.[50]

In July 2011, Downtown's office vacancy rate was reported at 21% dropping from a high of 26% in mid-2010. Downtown also reported an average commercial asking rate of $36.33, making it the eighth-highest in the nation after

Downtown has over 6,000 hotel rooms in numerous hotels. Downtown has Miami's largest concentration of hotel rooms, and is the city's hub for business travellers. Many of these hotels are geared for business travellers, mostly along Brickell Avenue, some for luxury leisure stays, and others as bargain tourist hotels.

Retail

La Época, a local Miami store, is one of the department stores on Flagler Street, Downtown's main shopping street since the 1800s

Historically,

Miami Jewelry District
and comprises four Downtown blocks from Miami Avenue to SE 2nd Av on Flagler Street and NE 1st St.

After many years of decay, recently, much focus has been placed on revitalizing Flagler Street to its former grandeur. In recent years, a renewed investment interest has been placed on Flagler Street, and many new restaurants and stores have opened up, new landscaping and pavers have been placed, as well as enforced security and tourist guides. Three new pocket parks opened on Flagler St in 2009, Paul S. Walker Park, Robert F. Clark Plaza, and the Joan Lehman Sculpture Plaza. These new parks have brought more green space, benches, art, and rest areas to the street.

Besides Flagler Street, Downtown has two other major shopping areas, Bayside Marketplace and Mary Brickell Village in Brickell. Bayside Marketplace was built in 1987, and is one of Miami's most visited tourist attractions averaging over 15 million visitors a year. It is an outdoor shopping mall overlooking Biscayne Bay at Bayfront Park. Bayside Marketplace has many national retail chains, as well as local Miami stores. Mary Brickell Village is on Miami Avenue and SE 10th Street in Brickell. Mary Brickell Village is a major nightlife area and has many of Miami's upscale bars and restaurants that stretch along Miami Avenue from around SE 6th Street to Broadway (SE 15th Road).

Education

Public schools

Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, the second-largest performing arts center in the U.S.
Freedom Tower, built in 1925, a local historic landmark and a symbol of the city[52]

Miami-Dade County Public Schools operates Downtown Miami's public schools, which include:

Elementary schools

  • Downtown Miami Charter School
  • Southside Elementary School
  • Miami Children's Museum School
  • Bridgepoint Academy of Greater Miami (Charter)

High schools

Public school zoning

Downtown children are zoned based on the neighborhood they live in within Downtown, roughly split into Brickell, Central Business District (CBD), and Arts & Entertainment District/Edgewater.[53]

  • Elementary schools:
    • Southside Elementary School, for Brickell children
    • Riverside Elementary School, for CBD children
    • Frederick Douglass Elementary School, for CBD children
    • Phillis Wheatley Elementary School, for Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater children
  • Middle schools:
    • Shenandoah Middle School, for Brickell children
    • José de Diego Middle School, for CBD, Arts & Entertainment District and Edgewater children
  • High schools (open to all Downtown residents):
    • Young Women's Preparatory School, all-girls
    • Young Men's Preparatory School, all-boys
    • Booker T. Washington High School

Private schools

Plans are currently underway for a 1,700-student

preparatory school
in Brickell at 1742 SW 2nd Avenue, named "Brickell Preparatory Academy". Other private schools in Downtown are:

  • First Presbyterian International Christian School
  • Gordon Day School (Jewish)
  • Prima Casa Montessori School

Colleges and universities

Cultural institutions

Museum Park in Downtown's Park West
neighborhood
Olympia Theater is one of the last remaining theaters from the many that once existed on Flagler Street in the 1920s
Gesu Church, built in 1896, is the oldest Catholic church in Miami and one of many central churches and synagogues in Downtown
Miami-Dade Arena, home of the Miami Heat

Museums and historic sites

Theatres and performance arts

Libraries

  • Miami Main Library

Places of worship

Temple Israel of Greater Miami

Bookstores

Festivals and events

Sports facilities

Downtown skyscrapers

Downtown skyscrapers as seen from across Biscayne Bay in May 2011
The skyline of Brickell Avenue in April 2012

Office towers

Residential towers

Hotel towers

See also

References

  1. ^ "2016; Greater Downtown Miami Demographics" (PDF). miamidda.com. Applied Research and Analytics. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  2. ^ "2016; Greater Downtown Miami Demographics" (PDF). miamidda.com. Applied Research and Analytics. Retrieved March 12, 2020.
  3. ^ a b "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 24, 2018.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  4. ^ "Miami Downtown". Archived from the original on December 15, 2014. Retrieved November 28, 2014.
  5. ^ a b http://www.cpnfromtheinside.com/2009/07/study-confirms-downtown-miami-is-coming-to-life.html. Retrieved July 27, 2009. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  6. ^ Miami Herald http://www.miamiherald.com/103/story/1030124.html. Retrieved May 4, 2009. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  7. ^ "Biscayne Boulevard Improvements". Archived from the original on August 9, 2014. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
  8. ^ "Miami Worldcenter". miamiworldcenter.com.
  9. ^ a b "Mapping the 2010 U.S. Census". The New York Times. December 13, 2010.
  10. ^ "Population and Demographics Profile" (PDF). Miami DDA. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 24, 2018. Retrieved October 23, 2018.
  11. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on March 20, 2012. Retrieved July 15, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  12. ^
    city-data
    . Retrieved August 31, 2009.
  13. ^ http://www.miamidda.com/business-demographics.html. Retrieved June 13, 2008. {{cite web}}: Missing or empty |title= (help)[dead link]
  14. ^ Do bicyclists and pedestrians outnumber cars on the Rickenbacker Causeway on weekend mornings? | Transit Miami Archived January 6, 2011, at the Wayback Machine
  15. ^ Miami Downtown Development Authority hashing out plans to bring Tri-Rail downtown
  16. ^ Miami Downtown Development Authority Archived July 13, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Miamidda.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  17. ^ "Vector Group Ltd". www.vectorgroupltd.com.
  18. ^ "Contact Us." LTU International. March 3, 2000. Retrieved on June 21, 2009.
  19. ^ "Company Directory." Stanford Financial Group. July 8, 2000. Retrieved on June 21, 2009.
  20. Consulate-General of Argentina in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  21. ^ "Contact & Overseas Missions Archived 2009-02-16 at the Wayback Machine." Ministry of Foreign Affairs (The Bahamas). Retrieved on January 31, 2009.
  22. Consulate-General of Brazil in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  23. ^ "Oficinas Consulares en Estados Unidos."
  24. ^ "- Consulado de Colombia en Miami". miami.consulado.gov.co.
  25. Consulate-General of the Dominican Republic in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 31, 2009.
  26. Embassy of Ecuador in Washington, DC
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  27. Consulate-General of France in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  28. Consulate-General of Germany in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  29. Consulate-General of Guatemala in Denver
    . Retrieved on January 31, 2009.
  30. Embassy of Haiti in Washington, DC
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  31. ^ "Consulate-General of Israel to Florida & Puerto Rico."
    Israel Diplomatic Network
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  32. ^ "Contact."
    Consulate-General of Jamaica in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  33. ^ "Contact."
    Consulate-General of Japan in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  34. ^ Home page.
    Consulate-General of Netherlands in Miami
    . Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  35. ^ "El Consulado Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  36. ^ "Datos Generales Archived January 10, 2009, at the Wayback Machine
  37. ^ "Consulate General of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago Miami Archived 2011-05-12 at the Wayback Machine." Retrieved on May 18, 2011
  38. ^ "Miami Archived 2009-02-21 at the Wayback Machine." UK in USA. Retrieved on January 30, 2009.
  39. ^ "JAPAN OPENS CONSULATE TO SERVE SOUTH FLORIDA." Miami Herald. January 10, 1992. 1C Business. Retrieved on January 17, 2012.
  40. ^ "National Register of Historical Places - FLORIDA (FL), Dade County". www.nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com.
  41. ^ Miami Police Department. Miami-police.org. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  42. ^ Miami-Dade County - Clerk of Courts. Miami-dadeclerk.com (May 29, 2013). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  43. Miami-Dade County
    . Retrieved on March 12, 2010.
  44. ^ U.S. Marshals Service, Courthouse Locations. Usmarshals.gov (June 3, 2004). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  45. U.S. Postal Service
    . Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  46. U.S. Postal Service
    . Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  47. ^ "FDC Miami Contact Information." Federal Bureau of Prisons. Retrieved on December 30, 2009.
  48. ^ "DDA Report: Downtown Miami Condos Rise in Sales, Price and Absorption". Pordes Residential. March 2, 2011. Retrieved November 20, 2015.
  49. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on May 16, 2011. Retrieved February 26, 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  50. ^ Patel, Julie. "An insurance option worth considering".
  51. ^ U.S. Office Market Records Largest Quarterly Decline in Vacancy Rates Since Mid-2007; Miami Posts Strongest Vacancy Drop - WORLD PROPERTY CHANNEL Global News Center Archived March 18, 2012, at the Wayback Machine. Worldpropertychannel.com. Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  52. ^ Freedom Tower in Miami - Guide to Miami's Freedom Tower Archived October 1, 2011, at the Wayback Machine. Miami.travelape.com (April 24, 2009). Retrieved on 2013-08-16.
  53. ^ Services Near You Archived July 19, 2011, at the Wayback Machine

External links