Little Havana on list of endangered historic places

The National Trust for Historic Preservation included the Little Havana section of Miami on its 2015 list of the 11 most endangered historic places.

The National Trust, the primary U.S. preservation group, reported that two threats imperil the traditional scale and character of Little Havana: a proposal to up-zone the east side of Little Havana and an absence of legal means to preserve of the area’s homes, apartments and commercial buildings constructed in the early years and the middle of the 20^th century.

The city of Miami has designated a three-block historic district in East Little Havana, but the city also is considering zoning changes in a 32-block section of the area that would allow taller, denser development of residential and commercial real estate, the Miami Herald reported.

The National Trust last year put another Miami-Dade County community, Bay Harbor Islands, on its annual list of the 11 most endangered historic places amid increased condominium development and resistance to preservation among city officials, which has led to the elimination of structures designed in the Modern Miami style of architecture.

Miami Mayor Tomás Regalado welcomed the National Trust designation and said architecturally significant buildings in Little Havana should be identified and protected prior to a rezoning that would increase the allowable height and density of developments in the area. [Miami Herald] — Mike Seemuth