European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 9, 1988, Darmstadt, Hesse I s new Union station restoration which now fell under 1he jurisdiction of the department of transportation rather than Iho department of Interior. The Union station Fie development corporation handling the project Lor Tho Dot selected a commercial Developer real is Lac firm and general contractor. Tho corporation also chose Archil ocl Benjamin Thompson associates inc. Of Chicago designer of Faneuil Hall in Boston Harbor race in Baltimore and South is rent seaport in new Yorito City the bulk of the project s financing comes from am rat. Which put up s70 million the private sector has added $30 million while the District of Columbia provided &10 million in Federal Highway funds to build a 1,200-car, 80 bus parking garage the Federal Railroad administration supplied additional funds to operate Tho station during Iho redevelopment today work cars Ore restoring Iho Gold loaf coders in the barrel vaulted ceilings and cleaning the 32 roman Soldier statues which were Oul Lilloyd Vilh Shields at the turn of the Century to appease Railroad of Licals shocked by their nakedness a few slops away in a trailer housing temporary of ficus the Developer is socking specially shops trendy restaurants and Asl Lood operations to lit some of the Sta lion s 215,000-Sqiiare foot of retail space. The future Union station scheduled to open in september 1968, will be divided into three Levels a Melra concourse on the Tower level the head House station concourse on the Street level and a newly created shopping concourse on the upper level. A nine screen movie theater a connecting station to Washington s metro subway system and rail Lood outlets will fill the new lower level while the likes of banana Republic. The limited and Benetton will occupy the upper level. Amtrak. Who cry has shunted passengers off to a makeshift Stalion nearby will Lake up 60,000 Square feet of tha Lalion. Including a Section of Cha head House and the Stalion concourse. Jonathan Borloz vice president of Lasalle partners the Developer said recently the project is on Lime and on budget to Servo the approximately six million annual Iran and subway travellers As Well As the More than 230,000 people who live and work will a 15 minute walk of the station. On a daily basis some 6,400 people use Amtrak while about 15.000 tide the metro subway ram Union Stalion and 7.000 take the Marc system to Points in Maryland the number of visitors is a Lar cry Horn what the referred Loas he station s human swarm during the world War i 35,000 to 42,000 daily passengers and 229 trains. They poured through Tho three mahogany doors of Tho huge head House 220 feel Tang and 120 Leol wide with its Var Mon Marble floor with red diamonds brass lamp fixtures and mahogany benches Lor waiting travellers. They pushed through the Arches of the head House to the cavernous concourse behind and the Gates to arriving and departing trains the concourse Al 760 Leol Tang and 130 eel wide exceeded by nearly nine eel the length of the Capitol. Critics said Iho Stalion was so big Hal Spring met you at the Entrance and Winter greeted you when you walked out. Charles Van morn who worked for the to and co railroads Lor 49 years remembers the hundreds of firs families foreign dignitaries and wartime heroes who packed Iho station he Calls a great old ii was always packed Well maintained Tho service was always Good says Van Horn. The station part of Burnham s beaut ideation movement for the Nalion s capital opened on oct. 27, 1907 on a site formerly known As swamp Oslo once a settlement of Irish immigrants. The stale a Parlman located on the right Side of the head House As you entered tha building served As a private Suile Tor presidents and foreign dignitaries. President William Howard tall was the first to use the suite which had a specially made chair Lor his hefty Frame. Do revival in popular basemen a azi club Lor �1.6 million in 1986. People irom of of town they Ihrk we re the greatest bargain in inc said Murray Gold executive director of the Miami Beach resort Hole association this is All Oul Sido Money coming into this area people who realize Iho value of the real estate while to who live Here Are going by what it was 20 years ago " about the same time the elderly stopped settling on Iho Beach an Art Deco revival swept Iho Nalion. Tho Alurac Ion is As much historic As it in form. Deco do become contemporary again. It s probably Yuppie said architect John Fullerton whose company is renovating Iho old bankroll hotel on Collins Avenue and building a compatible now add Ilion for the Day s inn Chain Back when it was first being done it was a very Radical mov Omone now the language of Deco is very contemporary bpm out of the Post modern movement preservationists rediscovered the old holds. Led by Deco doyenne Barbara Capelman an crusader with a Knack Lor publicity they were initially resented As outsiders trying to impede new development. They succeeded in 1979 in placing the online neighbourhood on the National Register of historic places making it the youngest architecture District to earn Hal Dis Linclon. Slowly. The movement gained respect and Deco came to to regarded As the Savior of South Beach. Local ordinances now protect demo buildings wifi a six month waiting period Lor demolition permits giving preservationists a Chance to buy the property assuming the owner will sell there is widespread backing Lor an even stronger ordinance that would ban demolition in Urey Lor designated Art Deco buildings. Zoning Rulo also impose strict guidelines Lor renovation and new construction ensuring continuity in the District s Skyline. The beaut Futy restored Beach is also a considerable part of the ambiance. Eaten away by decades of erosion the White Sand Bench was expanded 300 feel Seaward during a ssi million reclamation project completed in 1984, and a wide wooden Boardwalk now runs irom the Southern lip of the Beach io44lh so Eccl. A variety of financial Breaks have also provided incentive to b up the properties. Federal income lax Art Dew a Type hotel in historic Jon of Miami touch Lave i ome new dirt Longn of the Wndy. Iry 9. 1988 credits Are available Lor up to 20 percent of the Cost of rehabilitating historic buildings. Local programs Rango from Grants that cover up to one third of the Cost of rehabilitating commercial properly to subsidies thai bring interest rates Down to 6 percent on Loans for lining up residential buildings. The Rogull has been an overnight Boom in renovation permits Lor $11.2 million in commercial construction were issued for South Miami Beach in 1987. Twee inc 1986 total and two limes As much As in 1935, another $10,6 minion in residential construction permits Scro issued last year up 125 percent irom 1986. Most of those were Lor apartment renovations there is a synergy working. Once you have a Lew it will attract More said Hoberman. As More and More places open in reaches critical night club and restaurants have sprung up in the refurbished holds Hal line Ocean drive attracting Chic Young crowds from All Over South Florida and of Duel Young tourists irom new York. The newest an Art gallery and lounge called Woody s on the Beach is owned by Rolsing Stone guitarist Ron Wood and built in the old Arlington hotel. Ii Drew so Many revellers when it opened new year s eve that police had to barricade the Street because Eft he crowds Tho nightlife is phenomenal. The whole wild is coming said Gold. You land on Ocean drive and you see the limousines and tha expensive sports cars. There Aie lines for every restaurant and lounge you gel a chill Down your the nightlife and the proximity to the Mainland an 8 minute drive across the causeway have made the area increasingly Altra Clevs As a Reid Colial District thirty holds have already undergone the transformation to apartments with the help of the City s Low interest Ioan program adding 800 apartment units said Stuart Vogel. Miami Beach s director of economic and co Morical development. The Oris have also gained a Siringer foothold. Tho Miami City ballot Pul ils Headquarters on Lincoln Road mall a foundering pedestrian mall now dotted Wilh galleries and studios. The Alexander hotel serves As production Headquarters for Miami vice. Members of Miami s new world symphony Are taking up residence Al the renova Lod Plymouth hotel figuring Hal by occupying Tho entire building the musicians can play Lale into the nigh without annoying the neighbors. Yel Lor All the Bac Palling and Boom own talk the transformation is far irom Complete and there have been several Steps backward service at some of the hotels and restaurants is abominable. Boas Dod up buildings still abound and those scheduled for Reng Valion have been chronically under capitalized. The stars and stripes Page 15
