The collapse of the Champlain Towers South made international news for months. Now a new, ultra luxurious oceanfront condo is being built on the site.  I love The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater, and it may get a new look. Anything is possible in the magic city, so imagine being transported around the city in an aircraft, which just might become a reality. If you want to do something very unusual this Friday night and/or Saturday afternoon join me at the 12th Edition of the Miami Performance International Festival.

 Champlain Towers South Will Soon Be Forgotten 

I’m not sure I would want to live in a new, ultra luxurious oceanfront condo in the same location where 98 people died on June 24, 2021. That’s exactly what potential buyers are going to have to decide when they consider becoming a resident in the new extravagant structure being built by Hussain Sajwani, a Dubai developer. The buildings, designed by Zaha Hadid Architects, will be situated on the same 1.8-acre property that used to be the home of Champlain Towers South.

The sudden collapse of the 40-year-old building happened at 8777 Collins Avenue in Surfside made made international news for months. Almost two years later, the vacant lot still draws hundreds of people every month who want to stop by to pay their respects to those who perished in that tragic accident.

I just can’t imagine living comfortably in the new condo knowing that so many people’s lives were cut short in that same spot because their building was not properly maintained. I don’t even know how folks in the very high-end building directly to the south of Champlain Towers can endure looking down at that eerie lot. I know that this sounds silly, but if I lived there, I would see ghosts dancing around in the middle of the night. No way could I enjoy a happy life living next door to such devastation.

By the way, the new building is going to be 12 stories, the same height as Champlain Towers. I wonder why that decision was made. I can just imagine looking at the new condo and seeing the same outline as the former one. That gives me the chills too.

I know just like everything else in life, the world moves on. As far as I know, Damac Properties, led by Sajwani, envisions 57 units in the two slightly different building designs he is showing around. They both reflect Surfside town code interpretations. One of a staircase-like design of a wedding cake. The second design is a building without the stepped-back approach.

The units could range from 4,000 square feet to 15,000 square feet, according to the press release. Amenities will include a 100-foot-long rooftop pool. Sajwani paid $120 million for the site. He was the only one to bid on it.

Judge Michael Hanzman, who oversaw the class action case, approved the $1.02 billion settlement for the families who lost loved ones. The proceeds from the sale are being held in a trust, according to the notice of sale filed by the Champlain condo association’s court-appointed receiver, attorney Michael Goldberg. “The funds will go toward a $96 million settlement for the unit owners who survived the collapse but lost their homes. Insurance proceeds also will fund a portion of the unit owners’ settlement.”

The Fillmore Miami Beach May Get A New Look 

There is so much construction and renovation going on in Miami and Miami Beach that it will be a challenge to recognize this area in a few years.  That’s why I love The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater on Washington Avenue at 17th Street. It reminds everyone of the good old days when life was simpler, and everyone watched The Honeymooners religiously. I can hear Jackie Gleason saying “One of these days, Alice – Pow! Right in the kisser.” Not politically correct today but Jackie is not around to scold.

The big news is that Live Nation Entertainment company has presented a new venue concept to Miami Beach’s finance committee. One of the first things they want to do is make the entertainment center closer to Washington Avenue in order to take advantage of unused land. Everything is still under consideration.

Live Nation Entertainment said their new concept would complement the newly remodeled Miami Beach Convention Center and its new Grand Hyatt 800-room headquarters hotel. If Live Nation gets approval, they would like to have the project completed by 2026, the same time the hotel opens.

This project would cost about $70 million. It is reported that Live Nation would contribute $10 million, with annual rent of $1.5 million. In order to make that work, Live Nation would need a 20-year agreement.

Best wishes everyone!

Coming to Miami: Autonomous Aircrafts

Anything is possible in the magic city. Miami is surely becoming a big tech city. We are also the land “and sky” of big dreamers. You are not going to believe this but the news media here is reporting that local aviation experts are seriously discussing “the future of urban air mobility” in Miami. The roads are so crowded now that something has to be done to alleviate congestion. What used to take 20 minutes to drive to can now take an hour. So many more people are moving here now that Miami has become a big tech community.

Aviation experts along with local politicians are predicting that Miami will be operating  autonomous aircrafts within five years. I can guarantee you one thing, I will be one of the first “not” to try it. Just the thought of me being lifted into the air makes me dizzy.

Miami Today News said, “The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce annual members meeting featured a presentation on smart cities and advance air mobility (AAM), an emerging field of transportation that uses electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft to transport passengers.” The meeting included Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Oliver Gilbert III, Miami-Dade Aviation Department Director and CEO Ralph Cutié, University of Miami Dean of Engineering Pratim Biswas, and US Chamber of Commerce Senior Director for Transportation, Infrastructure and Supply Chain Sterling Wiggins.

The officials said this technology offers a more sustainable and efficient alternative to traditional air travel and could serve as a solution to traffic congestion in urban areas like Miami.” The discussion consisted of “regulatory issues plus the  concept of operations and how these things will function… where are they landing? Where are they taking off from?” Other cities like Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach will have to be involved as well for safety purposes.”

The team also pointed out that  autonomous aircrafts are less expensive to operate than traditional airplanes or helicopters, which need a pilot on board. However, they do realize that this poses a problem for people who may fear flying in an unmanned craft.

Gilbert was quoted saying, “People are going to see these flying cars, over their houses, over their parks over and their kids’ schools. So, we’re going to need time to actually build the confidence in the community that that this can happen.”

I will keep reporting on this development because it also falls in my daily routine as a tech blogger, www.DigiDame.com.  This story only confirms my belief that it’s one thing to report on technology advancements and another to actually use them. I’m staying on the ground for a while.

June 16-17.  Miami Performance International Festival

If you want to do something very unusual this Friday night and/or Saturday afternoon join me at the 12th Edition of the Miami Performance International Festival ‘23 (M/P ’23). Edge Zones Center for Contemporary Art. Charo Oquet is the Founding Director, Curator, and Publisher since 1996. She curated and produced this year’s performance which will focus on the impacts of social tension and unrest. The performances are free flowing all around you. You interpret them anyway you want. It’s wonderful to watch creative people speak to you in the form of dance. The performers represent counties all over the globe. It’s going to be an international sensation.

Charo is one of the most successful artists I know. As of a few months ago, she became a grandmother. She has two very accomplished and very attractive adult children.  The reason why I am telling you all this is because she really lets loose when she creates paintings, photography, performance and installations. Her imagination is explosive.  She has been extensively exhibited all over the world in museums, galleries and events and has been well reviewed by art critics and recognized by scholars in books and other publications.

Charo will not be performing this weekend, but she has lined up the best of the best. She is a native of Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic and now lives in Miami. All performances will be a hybrid production, combining in-person and online film screenings and events. You can find them on Facebook and YouTube.

Get the details. edgezones@gmail.com    www.edgezones.org