MDPL’s Advocacy Committee has reviewed the following project on the upcoming Historic Preservation Board agenda and offers our positions below.
Please note: the lack of a position on a project does not indicate support for or opposition to that project. Have a comment about a project you would like to share with our committee? Contact us.
To review the Historic Preservation Board Agenda, including public participation information: Click Here
CONTINUED ITEMS
HPB23-0590, Citywide Digital Information Kiosks
Current Site
Proposed Structures
Click to view the full City of Miami Beach Staff Report
An application has been filed requesting a Certificate of Appropriateness for the design of Digital Information Kiosks to be installed within the right-of-way.
MDPL Position: We are thankful to the applicant for retaining local architect William Lane to further customize the kiosks to fit the “Miami Beach” aesthetic, based on feedback from the community and HPB members. We believe with the refined design alternatives, the kiosks will have a unique aesthetic different from other municipalities.
We are also excited to partner with Ike on the Miami Beach tours app, which will showcase historic landmarks nearby, based on the location of the kiosk, and help educate locals and visitors alike about the architectural history of Miami Beach.
The applicants have reached out to adjacent property owners and have adjusted locations based upon their feedback. We are appreciate of the continued outreach and support the application subject to staff conditions.
Previous MDPL Position [From December 12, 2023]: MDPL has previously held a position in opposition to digital kiosks similar to those in the application. However, understanding that the kiosk contract has been approved by the City of Miami Beach, we are focusing our position on the appearance and impact of the structures on the adjacent historic surroundings.
We appreciate the reduction in size of the kiosk by the applicant, and that they have proposed to highlight local businesses and cultural programming as part of the kiosks. With many of our existing wayfinding in a state of deterioration, we look forward to better maintained and more informative wayfinding than currently exists on our city streets.
We do have some concerns regarding the siting of some of the kiosk locations – in particular to ensure that kiosks are not placed in close proximity to historic structures. We shared this feedback with the applicants during their presentation to the advocacy committee. Aside from that, we are generally supportive of the proposal and look forward to the HPB members deliberations.
