PRESERVATION TODAY NEWS Fall 2004
From the President of the Board
Preserving Miami's Endangered Architectural Heritage Since taking the oath of office on April 29, 2004, I have come to understand in a more profound way what initially drew me to support the Dade Heritage Trust so many years ago : the energy, dedication and spirit of the Board and its members towards one goal- historic preservation. Dade Heritage Trust has come a long way since it was founded in 1972, and I am very proud and honored to be heading up such a fine organization. My goal as I took office has been to build upon the many fine accomplishments of my predecessors, and in just these few short months of my presidency, I am pleased to be able to report that we are well underway towards a very successful year. Presently, at the top of our list ofDHT successes is placing historic preservation projects on the County General Obligation Bond referendum. If the GOB passes, Dade Heritage Trust will administer a $10 million preservation fund for endangered historic sites. We are very excited about this opportunity and urge you to support the GOB initiative when you vote on November 2, 2004. Our partnership with the County does not end there, however. We have diligently pursued the salvation and restoration of the 1917 Dice House in southwest Miami-Dade County and our efforts have paid off. The Dice House, the oldest house in the Kendall area, is one of the last remnants of Miami's pioneer heritage. It was constructed of Dade County Pine by
David Brantly Dice, who was a storekeeper and the unofficial mayor of Kendall. The cottage was located near Flagler's Kendall railroad station and was just a block away from Dice' s Kendall Feed and Supply Store, which then had the only telephone in the area. Although demolition of the house appeared inevitable a few months ago following a request from the owner for a Certificate of Appropriateness for Demolition, we succeeded in locating a new site for the bouse. DHT stepped in at
The 1917 Dice House, the oldest house in Kendall, awaits relocation and restoration.
this crucial juncture and negotiated a plan to relocate the Dice House to Continental Park, a short distance away. Under an agreement between DHT, Miami-Dade County and Bernardo Junco and Beatriz Gutierrez, the owners of the Dice House, the house will be relocated and restored and will serve as a mUltipurpose meeting facility for community programs. DHT has already contracted with a preservation architect and engineer to prepare construction documents and oversee the work. DHT is using its revolving fund to expeditiously fund the
restoration plans and building relocation and to obtain all necessary permits by December 2004. The final approval of the County' s financial commitment of $450,000 is expected to occur at the September 2004 County commission meeting. The owner has also committed $45,000 toward the restoration. On other fronts, DHT continues fundraising efforts to complete the restoration of the Old Miami High School. We are also seeking funds to restore the Hubbard/Alvarez Bungalow in Little Havana. We have received a State grant to showcase its restoration as a demonstration project and are pursuing funding from the City of Miami, the Kiwanis Club of Little Havana, the Latin Builder's Association and the City of Miami Home Ownership Board. We are also approaching foundations and have submitted a grant application to the Home Depot Foundation. We thank all those corporations, foundations and individuals who have supported us this past year, and we solicit your support again this year. Your sponsorships, grants, dues, gifts and bequests make possible DHT's important work. This is an exciting and fruitful time for the Trust, and we look forward to your continuing support, hard work and energy so that we can all make DHT an even stronger, more powerful voice for preservation.
Richard J. Heisenbottle, AlA