Miami Marine Stadium Gets $45M For Renovation

November 23, 2016 in Abandoned, Graffiti, Miami Marine Stadium, Miami, Key Biscayne, Virginia Key

On Thursday, November 17th, Miami City Commissioners voted to borrow $45 million to restore the Miami Marine Stadium using special obligation bonds, according to The Miami Herald. The $45 million will include restoration of the Stadium, plus building a 35,000 square foot maritime center.

City officials are still negotiating a contract with architect Richard Heisenbottle to design the renovation of the stadium.

The Miami Marine Stadium has been abandoned since 1992 after Hurricane Andrew when the City of Miami deemed the stadium to be unsafe. The stadium was used for boat races and for concerts on a floating barge. Since that time, the Miami Marine Stadium has sat empty for over 20 years and has been a haven for graffiti artists.

The International Miami Boat Show used the Stadium grounds and basin this year and will set up again soon for the 2017 show.

Miami Preservation Architect To Design Miami Marine Stadium Renovation

May 12, 2016 in Architecture, Abandoned, Golden Dusk Photography, Graffiti, Miami, Miami Marine Stadium, Key Biscayne, Virginia Key

Preservation architect Richard Heisenbottle has been chosen by Miami city officials to design the renovation of the abandoned Miami Marine Stadium, according to The Miami Herald.

Heisenbottle and his team have restored Miami City Hall and the Olympia Theater.

Part of the renovation design will include structural repairs with lighting, sound and seating repairs. The original architect, Hilario Candela will be a special consultant on the project.

The city has not developed financing or operating plans for the $37 million renovation.

The Miami International Boat Show recently used the grounds and basin of the stadium for their event in February. After the show was completed the grounds were supposed to be used as a "flex park", but that has not happened. The grounds of the stadium have been paved over and is currently empty.

Below are recent photos of the abandoned Miami Marine Stadium.

Parkway West Medical Center Goes To Foreclosure Auction

May 04, 2016 in Abandoned, Graffiti, Miami

The abandoned Parkway West Medical Center located at 17300 NW 7th Avenue is heading to foreclosure auction, according to SFBJ.

The auction for the 136,190 square foot building on 3.6 acres is May 13th.

Abandoned Florida has photos from the inside of the graffiti and mold filled building.

Aerial Over The Abandoned Miami Marine Stadium

December 01, 2015 in Aerial, Abandoned, Golden Dusk Photography, Graffiti, Miami, Miami Marine Stadium, Virginia Key, Video

Earlier this year the City of Miami agreed to pay $16 million to improve the grounds outside the Miami Marine Stadium, which will include an event space and park. These improvements will allow the Miami International Boat Show to host their event on the stadium grounds starting in 2016.

Despite renovations to the grounds of the Stadium, nothing is happening with the actual Miami Marine Stadium itself. It still remains covered in graffiti and patrolled by a guard 24/7 to prevent people from trespassing. Millions of funding is still needed to renovate the stadium.

Below is a video of the Miami Marine Stadium.

An Aerial Tour Of The Abandoned Miami Marine Stadium

September 12, 2014 in Brickell, Abandoned, Golden Dusk Photography, Graffiti, Historical, Key Biscayne, Miami, Miami Marine Stadium, Virginia Key

The Miami Marine Stadium has been abandoned since 1992 after Hurricane Andrew. City officials deemed the building to be structurally unsafe and ordered it closed. The stadium was used for boat races and concerts such as Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett.

While the stadium has sat abandoned for twenty two years, it has become a haven for graffiti artists who have used the stadium walls as a canvas to display their work.

Friends of Miami Marine Stadium are working towards raising money and restoring the stadium for future use. They can be contacted at their website.

National Trust For Historic Preservation Event at Miami Marine Stadium

June 29, 2014 in Abandoned, Golden Dusk Photography, Graffiti, Miami, Virginia Key, Miami Marine Stadium

Gloria Estefan Attends the Miami Marine Stadium Event

On Saturday morning the National Trust For Historic Preservation held an event at the Miami Marine Stadium to help create awareness about the building and to help with the stadium restoration.

The stadium has been abandoned since 1992 after Hurricane Andrew. City officials deemed the building to be structurally unsafe and ordered it closed. The stadium was used for boat races and concerts such as Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett.

While the stadium has sat abandoned for twenty two years, it has become a haven for graffiti artists who have used the stadium walls as a canvas to display their work.

The Saturday event gave nine street artists the chance to create live work for the people attending.

The event was attended by Gloria and Emilio Estefan who announced that they were donating $500,000 to help in the restoration of the building. They were gracious enough to meet and greet with everyone who was at the event. Also on hand was stadium architect Hilario Candela, who was mingling with guests throughout the day.

The Friends of Miami Marine Stadium are trying to preserve and restore the stadium and are looking to raise $30 million by January.

If you would like to make a donation, you can visit http://www.marinestadium.org for more information.

Below are photos from the event.

Jimbo's Place - Before & After

May 30, 2014 in Graffiti, Golden Dusk Photography, Miami, Virginia Key, Jimbo's Place, Before and After

Jimbo's Place was a famous open air beer and fish bar that was located on Virginia Key. It was an eclectic place with colorful shacks and where locals could relax to get away from the pretentious South Beach vibe.

It's previous place had been on the waterfront in Miami where the Miami Herald Building is being torn down.

After being kicked out of his Miami waterfront spot where Jimbo has a shrimp operation, he relocated to Virginia Key in 1954 where the City of Miami gave him land, lease free.

Many TV shows and movies have been filmed there including Miami Vice, Dexter, Flipper, 2 Fast 2 Furious and Wild Things. Esquire Magazine even voted it one of the best bars in America.

Jimbo's owner, Jim Luznar, allegedly sent a letter to Mayor Tomas Regalado saying he was giving the land back to the City of Miami in April 2012. Since then, family squabbling between the siblings threatened to close the place for good, which eventually happened in May 2012.

The City of Miami kicked out the remaining people living there. The City of Miami demolished all of the shacks and towed away the buses and cars left behind.

Now the place is completely covered with new grass with a no trespassing sign in front.

Nothing remains and looks as if nobody had been there for the over half a century.

Before Photos - March 2012