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Preservation Today News Volume 2, Issue 4
Fall 2003
Endangered 1920s Bungalow Saved from Demolition by Dade Heritage Trust A house in Little Havana, considered by many to be the "best example of a Belvedere Bungalow in the City of Miami" has been saved from the bulldozer by Dade Heritage Trust (DHT), which used its Preservation Revolving Fund to purchase the structure. Located near the Orange Bowl, at 138 NW 16th Avenue, t he J. Jacob Hubbard house had been bu ilt circa 1921 in the Lawrence Estate Land Company Subdivision. It was home to Rolando and Mercedes Alvarez for the last 40 years. They had raised their family there, and still enjoyed sitting in the rocking chairs on the breezy front porch with its oolitic limestone piers. Health problems and a desire to live near their daughter in Orlando, however, made a developer's offer to buy the property, demolish the house and construct an apartment building sound attractive. Bungalows, a common architectural style from 1914 through 1920, are now
fast vanish ing in Miami , with DHT listing them on its "Most Endangered Historic Sites List." This particular bungalow, with its wood shingles, intersecting gabled roof planes, wide overhanging eaves, decorative timbers, Prairie style casement windows, and a second-story belvedere, is extraordinary in that it has been changed so little. When DHT Executive Director Becky Roper Matkov learned that it was imperiled at a City Historic and Environmental Preservation Board meeting, DHT's Board decided to act. Empowered with the Preservation Revolving Fund, established with support from Miami-Dade County, DHT was able to purchase the house and save it from destruction . DHT plans to preserve the property as a model of "green restoration, " using energy efficient and water-conserving building and landscaping practices. Executive Direqor Becky Roper Mat-
Photo courtesy of Arva Parks & Co.
kov explains, "We want this to be a demonstration of 'sustainability,' showing how environmental conservation and historic preservation not only save resources, but improve the livability of a neighborhood." DHT President Bill Murphy emphasizes, "DHT doesn't just want to save this particular historic house; we want to inspire others to treasure and preserve their historic buildings and neighborhoods as well."
"'" All DHT Members and the public are invited to
a DHT AND uBefore" House Tour at the Bungalow
138 NW 16 th Avenue on Saturday, September 20, 2003
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from 9:00 a.m. to I:00 p.m . Volunteers and Donations of "Treasures" and Baked Goods would be greatly appreciated!
~~Call Dolly Macintyre (305-856-9533) or DHT (305-358-9572) to help