MDPL bases its entire program on the recognition that the Archi­tectural District – Old Miami Beach – is also a living neighborhood housing a unique population of elderly, poor, mainly Jewish and Cuban people. We are making strong efforts to use the Deco style as a catalyst in obtaining Federal and other public funding to revitalize this area – and yet maintain it for its present population, as well as the displaced elderly persons from the South Shore Redevelopment area. We have conducted research which bears out our belief that the low-scale buildings enhance health and happiness for the elderly.

Saving the neighborhood can be accomplished through rehabilitation and year round use of larger hotels – 70 to 150 rooms – and by persistent rehabilitation of smaller apartment houses and hotels. The Tax Act of 1976 and IRS rulinos on buildings 20 years old or older will be utilized as financial tools for rehabilitating builaings in the historic district. 

We have initiated discussion and involvement with a wide range of public groups whose purpose is housing for the elderly. This includes the HEV National Institute on Acing, the HUD office on Aging, national unions’ Miami Retirement Boards, the Conservation Foundation, the Heritage Conservation and Recreation Services of the Department of Interior, Jewish Federation’s Committee on Housing, state and federal legislators who have special interest in the area, and the academic community, particularly the Univer­sity of Miami Center for the Study of Aging and Duke University’s Institute on Aging and Human Development. Plans are being made for a conference here this summer on housing and aging, with special focus on the local area.