vol. xxi no. 3 newsletter of the brickell homeowners...
TRANSCRIPT
While neighbors watchthe transformation of1814 Brickell Avenue
into a public park, more publicgreenspace is coming online,thanks to some of Commission-er Sarnoff’s ingenious initia-tives.
Unlike ever before in its 21-year histo-ry, Brickell Homeowners Associationhas had the ongoing, active support
and involvement of its Miami Commission-er Marc Sarnoff.
Also unprecedented, BHA endorsed thecandidacy of Commis-sioner Sarnoff for re-election to his District 2seat on November 1st.BHA has a history ofencouraging participa-tion in the electionprocess, hosting Candi-dates Forums every yearand covering the races of
impor-tance totheBrickellcom-munity. There is even a PAC when hotly con-tested political issues arise. This is the firsttime, however, that BHA endorsed a candi-date, testament to the board’s recognitionof the leadership role CommissionerSarnoff has played, and a desire to see hisinitiatives continue.
BHA President Ernesto Cuesta explained“Commissioner Sarnoff has paid attentionto the concerns of Brickell, advocated and
VOL. XXI NO. 3 NEWSLETTER OF THE BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION, INC. Fall 2011
BHA Endorses Marc Sarnoff for District 2Miami Commissioner
Continued on page 5
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION is comprisedof condominium associationmembers and associatemembers representing some25,000 residential unitsalong the Brickell corridorand on Brickell Key from theMiami River to the Ricken-backer Causeway and fromBiscayne Bay to I-95. Found-ed in 1990, the purpose ofBHA is to communicate com-mon interests more effectivelyand mobilize support onimportant issues relating tothe quality of life in our neighborhood.
www.brickellhomeowners.com
contents
3President’s Column: Strength in Numbers
3Early Voting andPrecinct Locations
4BHA LegislativeAgenda
9Cornerstones of Faith:Crossbridge Church
11Taste of BrickellGearing up for 2012
Commissioner Marc Sarnoff
Safeguarding quality of life for the Brickell community
Continued on page 6
More parks, play space coming to Brickell
In late September Brickell residents celebratedthe groundbreaking for Flatiron Park (renderingabove), followed by the groundbreaking for a play-ground installation at Brickell Park a week later(left). All three park projects are slated to be com-pleted in this calendar year.
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make your building a great place to live. That’s why we’re extremely proud to support the BHA and their continued efforts to improve the Brickell area.
We help out by hosting seminars, courses, best-practice roundtables and other events that are free of charge and open to anyone interested in gaining insight from experts on a variety of topics.
For the buildings we serve, our commitment means delivering savings and resources no other company can match. We do it through programs like Continental Value Engineering™,
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Last year alone Continental Value Engineering™ saved our communities in South Florida over
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HAPPINESS IS SERIOUS BUSINESSTM
“In unity there is strength.” This proverb, often repeated by
BHA’s founder Troy Jacobs, has servedas the guiding principle behind ourBHA organization.
I believe in it as well, but wouldalso like to add my own interpretation:
“There is strength in numbers.”Brickell residents and our adjacent
Downtown neighbors are part of what
has become a true metropolitan com-munity where people live, work andplay 24/7. There is a new energy inour area, and people are excited to bepart of Brickell.
We need to reflect this vitality andthe strength we have in our numbers...an estimated 65,000 residential unitsin Brickell and Downtown.
Thus, the theme of my message forthis issue isparticipa-tion.
VOTEThere is
no betterway to par-t i c i p a t ethan byg e t t i n g
involved in the democratic process.And the most fundamental way to dothat is getting to the polls to vote. TheCity of Miami District 2 election is veryimportant to Brickell, and the BHA hasmade its top choice known. But whetheryou agree with us or not, the mostimportant thing is that you cast a vote. There are also other ways to par-
ticipate in building our community:
Tuesday, November 1st Election • Precinct Locations
BHA Board of Directors
FALL 2011 3
From the President Ernesto CuestaParticipation key to effectiveness, success
Continued on next page
Ernesto Cuesta, from The Metropolitan
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BHA OFFICERSPRESIDENT Ernesto CuestaTHE METROPOLITAN
VP/TREASURER Eduardo del RioBRICKELL TOWNHOUSE
VP/GENERAL COUNSEL SantiagoEchemendiaTWO TEQUESTA POINT
SECRETARY Gail FeldmanBRISTOL TOWER
MEMBER AT LARGE Larry ImberTHE PALACE
MEMBER AT LARGE David LucterhandTHE ATLANTIS ON BRICKELL
DIRECTORSGuillermo Undiano Aguilar BRICKELL PARK
Astrid Annexy BRICKELL BAY CLUB
Blanche P. Back BRICKELL BISCAYNE
Herbert Bailey BRICKELL FOREST
Gio BarbarenaONE BROADWAY
Michael Basanta THE EMERALD AT BRICKELL
Marguerite Beaty THE PALACE
Enrique CordobaBRICKELL SHORES
Jose Maria Carneiro da Cunha SANTA MARIA
Timothy Czerniec TWO TEQUESTA POINT
Fred Drasner FOUR SEASONS RESIDENCES
Lourdes Figueroa THE IMPERIAL AT BRICKELL
William Fitch BRICKELL ON THE RIVER
Luis GonzalezST. LOUIS
Sergio Garcia Granada BRICKELL EAST
Steve Greenberg BRICKELL HARBOUR
Bruce Higley 2000 BRICKELL
Carl Hochheiser25 BAY TOWER
Greg KarasikSOLARIS AT BRICKELL BAY
Reed Khan500 BRICKELL (EAST BLDG.)
Susan KingBRICKELL WOODS
Joaquin Mayoral-Parracia THE METROPOLITAN
Diana OspinaTHE CLUB AT BRICKELL BAY PLAZA
Stephen OwensTHREE TEQUESTA POINT
Juan Carlos Pulido500 BRICKELL (WEST BLDG.)
Juan Carlos Sagreda BRICKELL PLACE PHASE I
Mac SeligmanBRICKELL TOWNHOUSE
Xavier SuarezBRICKELL 25
Scott Wizner VILLA REGINA
Yvonne Yeomanson HOUSES OF BRICKELL
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSMarta ArmasBANKATLANTIC
Scott BuserBROWN & BROWN OF FLORIDA
Donna CandrevaHOTEL URBANO ON BRICKELL
Joseph L. CombsIMMANUEL LUTHERAN CHURCH
Cesar Garcia-PonsDOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENTAUTHORITY
Robert B. Green1550 BRICKELL APARTMENTS
Tibor HolloFLORIDA EAST COAST REALTY
Jeffrey HooperFIRST PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
Rabbi Chaim LipskarTHE SHUL OF DOWNTOWN/THE SHUL OF BRICKELL
Greg MangramCITY NATIONAL BANK
Regan MarockKW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT
Eugene MichelleST. JUDE CATHOLIC CHURCH
Arthur MurphyCMC MANAGEMENT
Alan OjedaRILEA GROUPRandy OlenBRICKELL AREA ASSOCIATION
Fernando PerezBRICKELL MAIN STREET, LLLP(MARY BRICKELL VILLAGE)
Millie RaphaelBETH DAVID CONGREGATION
Jeff SamasWELLS FARGO INSURANCE SERVICES OF FLORIDA
Javier SardinasTHE CONTINENTAL GROUP, INC.
Maria TabladaMIAMI MANAGEMENT, INC.
Phillip YaffaENGEL & VOELKERS__________________
Ron SmithBHA DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL
Natalie BrownCOMMUNICATIONS DIRECTORJosie GulliksenASST. COMMUNICATIONS DIR.Cindy BettnerADVERTISING & MEMBERSHIPSALES MANAGER
Precincts 541 & 984Miami Fire Station #41105 SW 2nd Ave.
Precincts 569 & 995UTD Towers1809 Brickell Avenue
Precincts 568 & 996Simpson Park Rec. Bldg. 55 SW 17 Road
Early Voting: Sat., Oct. 22 – Sat. Oct. 29, 7 AM-7 PM dailyClosest to Brickell: City of Miami City Hall 3500 Pan American Drive 33133 (Entrance on northeast side of building; ADA Entrance @ the front door)Also: Allapattah Branch Library, 1799 NW 35 St. 33142 • Lemon City Branch Library, 430 NE 61 St. 33137Stephen P. Clark Center Lobby, 111 NW 1st St. 33128 • West Flagler Branch Library, 5050 W Flagler St. 33134
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION4
JOINIf you live in a condo in our area
and your association is not an activemember, we urge you to convinceyour board to take their place at thetable. Your participation enablesBHA to continue its advocacy andwatchdog role for our overall safety,harmony, property values and quali-ty of life.
SUPPORTIf you’re a business in the area or
a company with interests in the areawe invite you to join BHA as an Asso-ciate Member of our organization.We welcome business members whosupport our mission and our work onbehalf of the interconnected residen-tial and commercial communities.Advertising in the BHA News with itsdirect distribution to condominiumresidents and area businesses is agreat way to reach an exclusive tar-get market and support the missionof BHA at the same time.
And I would be remiss if I didn’tencourage all restaurant owners andmanagers in the area to participatein the Taste of Brickell in March2012. It’s a wonderful event for ourcommunity.
Our News staff has includeddetails on all of the above PARTICI-PATION opportunities in this editionof BHA News on pages 12-13. I urgeyou to check it out, get involved andadd to the strength and vitality ofBrickell.
See you at the polls! •
President’s Columncontinued from previous page
BHA Legislative Agenda
Impact Fees• Ensure the proper and legal
use of fees to be invested ininfrastructure that will mitigateimpacts in the area affected bydevelopment, and not to bediverted to the general fund.
Brickell Avenue• Keep speed limit at 30 mph
for all of Brickell Avenue afterroad resurfacingproject is com-plete.
• Remove the dan-gerous, ineffectiveflashing beaconat the 1800 blockand replace with a traf-fic signal.
• Replace all light poles from theMiami River south to SE 26thRoad so there is cohesionalong the entire BrickellAvenue.
• Don’t allow FDOT to close theleft turn from Brickell Avenueto Southeast Sixth Street.
Parks & Greenspace• Ensure the timely completion
of the development of 1814Brickell Avenue Park.
• Continue to seek additionalgreenspace for the growingBrickell residential and busi-ness community.
Median Landscaping &Beautification • Regular maintenance of
median landscaping,sidewalks and utility hard-ware on Brickell Avenue.
• Enact effective rules andoversight for the utilities andother companies that defaceour pavements with theirmarkings and do not properlyremove them when work is fin-ished.
School for Brickell • Revisit the Mater Academy
Proposal for Charter School inthe Brickell area as the needremains acute and is criticalfor the area’s success as anurban neighborhood thataccommodates people of allages including families.
Garbage & Waste Hauling• Provide condominium owners
refunds or garbage service.Condo homeowners have his-torically been assessed inproperty taxes for garbagecollection but don’t get theservice; high-rise buildings —whether commercial or resi-dential—must pay a privatewaste hauler for service.
Police Coverage of theBrickell area• A dedicated patrol unit is
sought for the Brickell Avenueneighborhood.
Other Major Issues • The City should terminate its
contracts for Red Light cam-eras citywide as they are a nui-sance and hazardous.
• Extend the DDA catchmentarea to include Point View andSoutheast 15th Road to South-east 26 Road.
• Trolley service – should be freefor all districts.
On the Web:Latest news, advisories and calendar news:
www.brickellhomeowners.com
BHA welcomes input from memberson these and other neighborhoodissues. Send email with your ideas [email protected].
FALL 2011 5
fought on behalf of our interests, andhas succeeded in bringing aboutquality-of-life improvements to theBrickell area.”
Commissioner Sarnoff was cho-sen among a field of five contenders,each of whom participated in the BHACandidates Forum in September. Theyeach presented their platforms andanswered questions on a range ofissues. The packed-house crowd wasparticularly attentive to candidates’responses to questions relating to theBrickell area.
BHA made its endorsement ofCommissioner Sarnoff because of his
u n d e r -standingof theissues ofi m p o r -tance tothe Brick-ell com-m u n i t y(see Leg-i s l a t i v eA g e ndaon theopposite
page), and the tangible progress hehas made in several key areas.
These successes are detailedbelow, along with the next steps BHAlooks forward to continuing with theCommissioner.
Impact FeesThe proper and legal use of devel-
opment impact fees has been an issuefor BHA for many years. Commission-er Sarnoff has pushed to rectify yearsof fees paid by Brickell developers thatshould have benefited Brickell andinstead were used elsewhere in theCity’s general fund.
“Sixty-five percent of developmentin the City of Miami has been in theBrickell area,” Commissioner Sarnoffrecently stated.“ But the correspon-ding impact fees have not been usedin the area.
Going forward, with significantdevelopment continuing in the area,BHA looks to Commissioner Sarnoffto ensure that these fees help to ben-efit the impacted area.
GreenspaceCommissioner Sarnoff has
worked to find greenspace and createparks in theBrickellarea, aswell asotherparts ofMiami. Herecog-nizes thatthese ele-ments areimpera-tive forsustaining
a vibrant urban community. Residentsand those working in Brickell will ben-efit from a park being constructed at1814 Brickell Avenue, as well as oth-er smaller parks and playgrounds theCommissioner has conceived and isseeing happen through public-privatepartnerships. (See article on page 1.)BHA is hoping for timely completionof these important greenspaces andrealization of the Commissioner’svision for “a Brickell Avenue park thatyou will be really proud of.”
Garbage FeesFor many years Brickell residents
living in high rises have been assessedproperty taxes for garbage collectionto supplement the service provided tosingle-family homeowners, but with-out getting the service. Brickell home-owners are tired of paying forgarbage collection in their taxes aswell as paying private waste haulersat their condos. Commissioner Sarnoffhas sought to remedy the disparity.
Going forward, BHA hopes tocontinue to work with the Commis-sioner to change this inequity.
Traffic SafetyCommissioner Sarnoff has also
worked with BHA on issues relating tothe safety of Brickell Avenue for thegrowing pedestrian community,including the lowering of the speedlimit along the entire stretch of Brickellfrom SE 26th Road north to the River.
Going forward, BHA is seeking,with Commissioner Sarnoff’s support,to convince the Florida Department ofTransportation to maintain 30 mphlimits after the road reconstructionproject is complete, among otherFDOT issues.•
BHA Endorses Sarnoff continued from front page
BHA News is published by the Brickell Homeowners Association to keep neighbors, public officials and others in thecommunity informed of the activities and concerns of its residents. Advertising is accepted on a space-available basis,and BHA reserves the right to accept or reject all advertising. For advertising information or other details, reserve yourspace at the BHA website (www.brickellhomeowners.com) or send an email message to Communications Director NatalieBrown at [email protected]. Editorial suggestions are also welcome for consideration.Editor: Natalie Brown • Assistant Editors: Josie Gulliksen, Carlos Plaza• Advertising & Member Sales: Cindy Bettner
BHA’s mailing address: P.O. Box 45-2403 • Miami, FL 33245-2403
Bill Mathisen of KW Property Manage-ment, sponsors of the Candidates Forum.
Four candidates are running against Commissioner Sarnoff for the City of Miami District 2seat. Seated at the Candidates Forum on September 14, on the left Kate Callahan andMichelle Niemeyer, Commissioner Sarnoff in the center with Donna Milo and Williams Arm-brister on the far right.
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION6
1221 Brickell Avenue, Suite 800 • Miami, Florida 33131Phone: (305) 789-7900www.kanecpas.com
Flatiron Park sits on the triangularslice of land sandwiched betweenSouth Miami Avenue and Southeast1st Avenue, and between Southeast9th and 11th Streets just south ofMary Brickell Village. (Old-time Brick-ell folks will remember it as the site onwhich the Brickell Emporium once sat,an authentic deli-restaurant great forbusiness breakfasts and lunches, andone of a very limited number of eatingestablishments around at the time.)
Flatiron Park will be constructed atno cost to the City of Miami by Brick-ell Flatiron LLC and its principal, real
estate developer Mallory Kauderer,who has promised to keep the parkintact for the foreseeable future.Kauderer will eventually move for-ward with plans to erect a building onthe site between Southeast 10th and11th Streets, but a substantial portionwill remain a permanent, publiclyaccessible park for area residents.
“The Open Space parks initiativecreated and sponsored by Commis-sioner Sarnoff and his staff is nothingshort of brilliant,” Kauderer said.“With municipalities throughout thecountry battling budget shortfalls,
Commissioner Sarnoff has come upwith a plan that has the potential tosignificantly increase the amount ofpark space in the City of Miami withalmost no cost to taxpayers.”
World-renowned landscape archi-tect Raymond Jungles donated histime and expertise to design the park.Jungles, whose outdoor designs canbe seen throughout South Florida,said his company “is thrilled to be cre-ating another urban space that willreintroduce nature into the built envi-ronment.”
The site plan features the additionof Silk Floss trees, character SabalPalms, and a Madagascar Kapok treewhile preserving existing Thatch Palm,Live Oak and Royal Poinciana trees.Large oolite boulders will form a plat-form and benches. Moveable furni-ture and stainless steel vine cables arealso features of the Raymond Junglesdesign.
Commissioner Sarnoff beganworking on the idea of public-privatepartnerships for greenspace begin-ning in 2008, he said, but ran into
Groundbreaking of Flatiron Park at South Miami Avenue at 9th Street.
“some impediments that werepretty severe.” Not everythingcould be worked out, like withthe site on Brickell Bay Drivethat was going to be a tempo-rary park for a few years. TheCommissioner credits MalloryKauderer for his perseveranceto get it done and work throughall the city and legal channels.
“Creating public green-space is the perfect use for landthat would otherwise be emptyand barren,” said Commission-er Sarnoff. “We hope that Flat-iron Park will be an example ofwhat can be done with vacantland to make it more accessibleto the public and raise the qual-ity of life for our city’s neighbor-hoods.”
“We now have a businessmodel and we can move upBiscayne Boulevard,” Commis-sioner Sarnoff said. “I'm reallyproud of this initiative. Thispark is a beacon for Brickel-lites.”
Welcome newsBHA has been advocating
for more parks for much of itstwo-decade existence. Com-missioner Sarnoff has becomea chief advocate for the cause,vowing early in his term ascommissioner to BHA andmoms with strollers that hewould find greenspace.
FALL 2011 7
Children’s playgroundgoing in at Brickell Park
The new children’s playground atBrickell Park (between ICON at Brick-ell and the First Presbyterian Church),was developed in response to thegrowing number of families who havemoved to the Brickell area in recentyears.
“Families are the bedrock ofgrowth for our city,” said Commission-er Sarnoff. “The pioneering Brickellfamily who settled this area knew that,and this playground is just anotherwonderful addition for the families ofMiami to enjoy the outdoors.”
The Brickell Park playground, justsouth of the ICON building, should becompleted within 70 days from thetime of the groundbreaking, accord-ing to the City of Miami CapitalImprovements Program. The cost ofthe playground equipment and con-struction is roughly $88,000 and willbe paid for from the HomelandDefense Bond (Series 3).
“Parks are not for me,” Commis-sioner Sarnoff said, “but for everyonein Miami. More couples will be havingchildren and raising them here, andas city stewards we need to createparks for them. Parents will bring theirchildren here and grandparents canbring their grandchildren here.” •
Commissioner Sarnoff at the Flatiron Park groundbreaking in frontof one of the boulders that will be shaped into seating in the park.
Real estate developer Mallory Kauderer talks about the site plan for his land where Flatiron Park will be built.
Raymond Jungles, “I love to work on public spaces. We’re all kicking in and doing what we can to make great space here.”
At the groundbreaking for the children’s playground atBrickell Park Mayor Regalado thanked neighbors fortheir enthusiasm for greenspace and push to make this
much-needed facility a reality.
In recent times, the Miami PoliceDepartment has been receivingseveral complaints of bicycle thefts
from the management companies ofhigh rise buildings. Although this is abig problem, the Brickell arearemains one of the safest and low
crime areas within Cityof Miami limits.
One problemwe encounter isthat residents do
not alwaysreportbicy-clethefts
right away, sometimes waitingweeks after it has been stolen. Attimes, residents may be traveling ornot use bicycles on a regular basisso they don’t notice the disappear-ance right away.
We kindly ask that all propertymanagers keep a list of bicycles reg-istered in the office. This will assistthe police if we stop a suspicioussubject leaving a building with abike. Identifying an owner (victim) ofthe bicycle is paramount. A goodsuggestion is that roving guardsmake periodic visual checks on bicy-cles that are registered in the officeat its location.
If the bicycle is missing, theyshould contact the owner and havethe owner notify police. Together,we can make a bicycle-theft-freeBrickell! •
–Ofc. Jeffrey Giordano(305) 710-5222
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION8
WWW.CROSSBRIDGEMIAMI.COM
WORSHIP | Sundays 6PM1770 Brickell Avenue
*CHILDCARE PROVIDED
GRACECHANGES·EVERYTHING
Member NewsBHA is pleased to welcome One Broadway as a
new member to the Brickell Homeowners Association.Located at 1451 South Miami Avenue, the 35-story tow-
er features 371 spacious residencesranging from studios to one-, two-and three-bedroom units. Located inthe heart of South Miami Avenue, it isnear all the best-known restaurantsand services in the area. PropertyManager Gio Barbarena is serving asBHA board representative.•
City National Bank on Brickell showcased itsbeautiful new space at 1450 Brickell Avenue to BHABoard members at their September meeting. Specialthanks to Vice President Greg Mangram and his associ-ates for theirgenerous hospi-tality. BHAextends a heart-felt Brickell wel-come.•
City National’s Greg Mangram withLenya Suarez and Isabel Fernandez
BRICKELL AREA SAFETYSafety Tips from Jeffrey Giordano, NET Resource Officer, City of Miami Police
CORNERSTONES OF FAITHCrossbridge Church in Brickell is all about communityCrossbridge Church is a relative newcomer to the Brickell area and the spiritual land-scape. Their tagline of “incarnating the Gospel in the city,” intrigued us. And their web-site made us want to learn more: “Our goal is to make Miami a great city….we believethat no particular church will accomplish this task. Only a movement will.” We askedConnection Pastor Sam Miranda to tell us about the focus of Crossbridge’s ministry. Hehas served in full-time ministry since 2001 and his current focus is on community life.He joined the staff of Crossbridge in 2009 to oversee the growing number of groupsand the connecting ministries of the church. Miranda assists Lead Pastor Felipe Assisand Creative Pastor Marcus Assis who head up the church in Miami.
FALL 2011 9
Q: Give us some background on thechurch. When was it founded?
A: Crossbridge Church was estab-lished in the fall of 2008 inresponse to the needs of an exist-ing congregation namedImmanuel Presbyterian that waswaning in attendance and growth.Members from Immanuel wereexperiencing some difficulty dur-ing the last decade and werefaced with some hard decisions,one of which was to sell theirproperty and land in Pinecrest. Ina final attempt to save the proper-ty, they reached out to a globalchurch planting network calledRedeemer City to City based outof New York. Redeemer then sentdown some folks to evaluate thesituation and report on the bestway to move forward. Throughmuch discovery and prayer theconsensus was to transition thechurch in terms of focus, vision,pastor & church name fromImmanuel to Crossbridge.
Q: Is this a national church? Is theMiami church one of many?
A: Crossbridge is part of the Presby-terian Church of America whichwas first known nationally in1973. There are many PCAchurches across the country with acombined communicant member-ship of over 40,000. Here in Mia-
mi we have about 20 or sochurches involved in the SouthFlorida Presbytery, which is anadministrative body representingthe local congregations of a dis-trict.
Q: Why did you decide to beginCrossbridge in Miami?
A: Here at Crossbridge we believethat the city of Miami isn’t primari-ly a vacation destination but a pic-ture of what the future of thiscountry will look like. It is a citywith a melting pot of cultural fla-vors and a wide range of ethnicbackgrounds. If Crossbridge canin any way influence this city withthe gospel of Christ, it will serve asa model for other churches tolearn how to navigate throughcultural terrain.
Q: Where and when are your servic-es held?
A: We have two Sunday morningservices at 10 a.m. and 11:30a.m. in Pinecrest at 6605 SW 88St. and one evening service at 6p.m. in Brickell. The Brickell sitewas launched on Easter of 2010and is growing steadily. We arelocated at 1770 Brickell Avenueinside of Immanuel LutheranChurch.
Q: What do you want to tell the read-
ers of our newsletter about Cross-bridge? Why should they attend?
A: Here at Crossbridge we want thecommunity to know that we arenot about the church in and ofitself, but about the city of Miami.Most churches seek to resembletheir place of residence while los-ing their spiritual identity, or disen-gage and remove themselvesentirely from their place of resi-dence to preserve their spiritualidentity. Crossbridge strikes a bal-ance by looking after the welfareof our city and bringing it joy byliving out lives of love and service.To show in words and deeds thatwe want to serve our neighbor-hoods so that people around uswill see our spirit and our motivewhile at the same time preservingour spiritual identity and distinc-tiveness. At Crossbridge we wantthe individual to know that whatwe’re seeking is to allow God’sstory of grace through Christ tobecome our story and shape ourlives. Sometimes that will come inthe form of an offer and some-times that will come in the form ofa challenge but one thing is cer-tain; grace changes everything. Soif you’re seeking real life transfor-mation, not just entertainment,then Crossbridge is the place foryou.
Connection Pastor Sam Miranda
Continued on next page
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION10
Q: What are the services like? A: At Crossbridge we understand that
visiting a church for the first timecan often be intimidating. Wewant people to experience greatcontemporary worship that isfocused on Christ, transformation-al messages and a dynamicatmosphere. We encourage you tocome as you are whether that’s athree piece suit or cargo shortsand a pair of flip flops. We havean excellent children’s ministry atboth services in Pinecrest as wellas at our Brickell service, provid-
ing a safe, fun and caring learn-ing environment.
Q: You seem to be very involved inthe community and there is a lotgoing on at Crossbridge. Tell us alittle about your programs.
A: Crossbridge is not a program-driven church rather it is a com-munity-driven church. What thatmeans is that our desire to beauthentic with our relationships inour jobs, schools, homes, etc… iswhere the gospel is fully experi-enced and showcased for thosewho do not understand it. In lightof the value that we place on com-
munity, the main thing we high-light is our small groups that arespread throughout the city. Peoplemeet in homes and are chal-lenged to serve each other collec-tively as well as our city throughvarious non-profit organizationpartnerships. The small group isour unit of transformation. •
Cornerstones of Faith is an occa-sional series by BHA News aboutthe places and communities of wor-ship serving the Brickell area. Thisinterview was conducted by JosieGulliksen.
Adrienne Arsht Center offers BHA Member Deals
Cornerstones of Faith continued from previous page
Our friends at the Adrienne ArshtCenter in Downtown Miami are
offering BHA members some greatdeals on shows in November andDecember. Discounts are available forthe following performances for thedates and times listed:• The House of Bernarda Alba: Sat.,
Oct. 29 at 8 p.m.; Sun., Oct. 30at 2 p.m.
• Captiva: Sat., Nov. 5 at 2 p.m.;Sun., Nov. 6 at 4 p.m.
• Perlman & Proteges: Thur., Nov. 7at 8 p.m.
• The Santaland Diaries: Thur., Dec. 8at 7:30p.m.; Sun.,Dec.11 at 4 p.m.To get your discount tickets, visit
www.arshtcenter.org and enter promocode ARSHTDEAL in the promo codebox prior to selecting your seats.
These discounts are available withadvanced purchase only and notavailable through the box office orcall center. Tickets are limited andticket fees apply. Offer not valid onpreviously purchased tickets. If youhave trouble accessing the discountonline, please call Group Sales at786-468-2318. •
FALL 2011 11
The momentum is building for the2nd Annual Taste of Brickell Food& Wine Festival presented by The
Continental Group. Scheduled to takeplace March 24 and 25, Event direc-tor and organizer Cindy Bettner saysthe 2012 event promises to be biggerand better than last year.
“We are so thrilled and excited tohave Continental as our presentingsponsor, especially since their motto is‘Happiness is Serious Business’ andthat’s just what this event is all about,”Bettner said. Bettner, who heads upEvents Connection, a special eventsand promotions company, has a pas-sion for entertaining large crowds andcreating events and festivals for com-munities.
“Continental is proud to supportthe 2012 Taste of Brickell and we arecommitted to continuing our supportof all the area’s residents by investingin programming and organizationsthat enhance the lifestyle of the com-munities we serve,” said Tim O’Keefe,Continental’s CEO. “As the festival'sPresenting Sponsor, we are making along-term investment that will ensurethat this event continues to grow andthrive, while becoming a cornerstoneof the community.”
“I know how important the powerof celebration is and how significantthese events are at reflecting the sur-rounding community,” she said.
A VIP pre-party fundraiser is setfor Thursday, December 8 at MaryBrickell Village, 6 to 10 p.m. Theevent benefits Kristi House and is to
feature a silent auction, samplingsfrom the Village’s many restaurants,wine and fine spirits tasting as well aslive entertainment and a holiday fash-ion show.
In just one year, the event hasgrown from 15 local high-end restau-rants in 2011 to more than 40 sched-uled for 2012. Confirmed participantsinclude Edge Steak and Bar at theFour Seasons Hotel, Truluck’sSeafood, Dolores but you can call meLolita, El Carajo International Tapasand Wine Shop, The Trapiche Roomat JW Marriott, The Brickell Beer Gar-den, Akashi Sushi, OceanaireSeafood Room, Chinois-Chinois FineChinese and Sushi Bar, Atrio at theConrad Hotel, Tabu, Gordon Biersch,Casablanca Seafood Restaurant,Scalina Ristorante, Catering by Vito,Le Boudoir, Bon Frommage, CrazyAbout You, El Gran Inka PeruvianRestaurant, Greenspoon Healthbar &Grill, Planet Sushi, Piola’s Pizzeria,Fado Irish Pub & Restaurant and Mia-mi Chophouse.
The on-site VIP tent will featurevarious Consulates and Chambers ofCommerce touting their own signa-ture dishes and drinks. Taverna OpaRestaurant will be in the VIP tent serv-ing Greek fare. The InternationalWine Garden and Beer Tent will besponsored by Gordon Biersch andDolores but you can call me Lolita.
Families can enjoy a special areafor children up to 13 years old withgames, rides and Florida Marlins andMiami Dolphins players present. Fit-
ness enthusiasts will benefit from anew Health & Fitness area featuringarea yoga studios, health clubs,health product companies and cos-metic surgery offices.
Live music is set for both daysfrom noon to 10 p.m. headlined byLatin singer/musician Tito Puente, Jr.and his 10-piece band as well as R&B,Latin, jazz and rock artists.
The 2012 sponsors include Brick-ell Homeowners Association, FijiWater, Cigar Masters, Sam AdamsBrewery, Arki Construction, GulfLiquors, Florida Marlins, VerizonWireless, Whole Foods and CheneyBrothers. A portion of the proceedswill benefit the Kristi House.
“I thank our partners at BrickellHomeowners Association, as well asthe City of Miami and Miami-DadeCounty Mayor Carlos Gimenez andhis office who have helped make theevent such a success,” Bettner said.
Tickets will be available starting inDecember 2011. VIP Tickets are avail-able through the event website.Admission is $5 the day of the event.
To get involved contact: Cindy Bettner786-355-4800 • [email protected]
www.tasteofbrickell.com
Taste of Brickell Food & Wine FestivalPlanning for 2012 event underway with major support from The Continental Group
PRESENTED BY THE CONTINENTAL GROUP
THE MIAMI
FOOD & WINE
TASTE OF
FE ST IVAL 2012W W W. T A S T E O F B R I C K E L L . C O M
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION12
Participate with Brickell Homeowners Association....
Mobilize for Action BHA facilitates neighbors joining forces with other
neighbors for more responsiveness and attention by Cityand County officials on matters impacting quality of life.BHA’s Legislative Agenda (reprinted in this publication onpage 4) represents the ongoing issues and advocacy BHAis working toward on behalf of neighbors.
Show of StrengthBecause our organization represents the condos and
surrounding community in Brickell from Miami River toRickenbacker Causeway, public officials consult with BHAon matters of importance to Brickell. They take notice,take our calls, and meet with us to partner on ways toimprove our community.
Keep InformedBHA helps its members stay abreast of government
actions that impact neighbors through regular meetings,educational forums, publications and website.
Historical Perspective• BHA was founded 21 years ago to mobilize neighbors
on noise and neighborhood quality of life matters• BHA started with 12 condo associations on Brickell
representing a total residential base of 3,091 condohouseholds. Today, there are 25,000 condo house-holds represented in the Brickell Homeowners area.
• Full Membership dues have been raised once by $1since the founding, now at $6 per unit or 50 cents amonth.
Participate by Joining
Full MemberOpen to condominium associations with residents or
residence-hotel properties• One voting member of the BHA Board of Directors• Invitation to all BHA meetings for Board member and
alternate(s)• BHA News delivered to your association quarterly, for
each resident• Email alerts on news impacting neighborhood safety,
traffic, improvements, parks and related issues• Dues: $6 per unit per year
Associate MemberOpen to businesses with operations or projects in
Brickell neighborhood and who are dedicated to the goalsof BHA for improving quality of life• One non-voting member of the BHA Board of Directors• Invitation to all BHA meetings for Board member and
alternate(s)• BHA News with extra copies available for your loca-
tion or stakeholders• Email invitations and alerts on news impacting neigh-
borhood safety, traffic, and related issues• One half-page BHA News advertisement or one 15-
minute educational program at a meeting• Dues: $2,500 per year
Associate Member Annual SponsorAll the conditions and benefits of above Associate lev-
el, plus the following:• Two educational presentations of 20 minutes each at
board meeting• Full page back or inside front cover advertisement in
BHA News for two issues• Sponsorship: $10,000 per year
Meeting SponsorOpen to businesses with an interest in the Brickell res-
idential community and its quality of life• Provides invitation to one BHA Board meeting and
opportunity to present a 10-minute educational ses-sion of interest to BHA condominium associationboard members and property managers.
• One business card advertisement per year• Sponsorship: $600
To learn more about Membership, please contact BHACommunications Director Natalie Brown [email protected] or (305) 725-0604.Or, contact BHA President Ernesto Cuesta at [email protected].
Categories of Membership
Brickell Homeowners Association, founded in 1990, isguided by the principle, “In unity there is strength.”BHA represents the Brickell community from the MiamiRiver to Rickenbacker Causeway, from Biscayne Bay onthe east to I-95 on the west…more than 25,000 condo-minium units and scores of businesses, corporations, pub-
lic associations, stores and restaurants. Below are detailson benefits and categories of membership. We invite allthose who share our quality of life mission, and whosecondominium association or business meets our Brickellmembership parameters, to contact us to learn moreabout getting involved.
Benefits of Association
FALL 2011 13
Participate by Partnering
Participate by Advertising
BHA News Advertising • Published Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall
Deadlines vary. Contact Josie Gulliksen at (305) 205-4653 for details and dates.
Brickell Homeowners Association accepts advertising inthis quarterly newsletter, BHA News, on a space-avail-able basis. BHA News is distributed directly to condomini-um residents on Brickell Avenue between Miami River andRickenbacker Causeway and on Brickell Key. In addition to8,000 printed copies, the News is distributed electronical-ly and also mailed to 300 local VIPs, elected officials andcommunity leaders.
We are told residents read BHA News because its edi-torial content is highly focused on issues and concerns ofinterest to the homeowners in this unique, luxury high-riseneighborhood. In publication now for 21 years, the Newsis highly regarded as an important source of informationfor Brickell residents. Ad sizes and rates follow in the chartbelow. For more information, please contact Josie Gullik-sen (305) 205-4653 or [email protected] •
Brickell Homeowners Association is dedicated toimproving the Brickell community in many ways. Edu-cational forums, networking and social events and specialtask forces to address specific problems are some of theactivities conducted by BHA on behalf of its members. Anumber of our events accept sponsorship, which helps tounderwrite operational costs and the advocacy and com-munications work of the organization.
We are currently looking for an annual sponsor whichis the premiere position and associates the company withall the programs and communications of BHA. We are
also seeking a sponsor for our Canine Courtesy program,an educational and enforcement effort for proper dogcurbing that many residents are asking we re-institute.
We invite discussion with you and your company abouthow you might take advantage of the opportunity to pro-mote the work of BHA and your business at the same time.Contact BHA Communications Director Natalie Brown [email protected] or (305) 725-0604.Or, write to BHA President Ernesto Cuesta with your ideasat [email protected] •
Aficionado's Cigars &Liquors
Alliance CASAMBest RoofingAtlantic & Pacific ManagementAzul RestaurantBaccara Salon LLC
Best RoofingBeth David Gordon
SchoolsConrad Miami
Crossbridge MiamiEmpire SecurityEngel & VoelkersFabian Garcia-Diaz
Furry PawsHotel UrbanoKane & Co.
KW Property ManagementLatitudeLiftHelp1
Marcelo Solutions, Inc.Miami Management
Sports Club/LASpotless Venetian BlindThe Boutique PharmacyThe Continental Group Tony Chan's Waterclub Tutto Pasta/Tutto Pizza/
Zucchero
Special thanks to BHA advertiser-supporters:
...and Support the Brickell Community
BRICKELL HOMEOWNERS ASSOCIATION14
Important Community ContactsThe City of Miami NET office isgenerally residents’ first line ofcontact in resolving neighborhoodconcerns. The NET office will con-tact the appropriate City depart-ment on your behalf, if it is a Cityof Miami matter, or direct you tothe right resource to resolve yourissue.
Coral Way NET & Downtown NETAdministrator Haydee Wheeler
(305) [email protected]
City of Miami PoliceResource Officer Jeff Giordano
(305) [email protected]
Commander Ethyl [email protected]
City of Miami Commissioner District 2: Marc Sarnoff(305) 250-5333
Miami-Dade County CommissionerDistrict 7: Xavier Suarez(305) 375-5680
Miami-Dade County CommissionerDistrict 5: Bruno Barreiro
(305) [email protected]
Miami-Dade Public SchoolsBoard-Dist. 3: Dr. Martin Karp
(305) [email protected]
Florida SenateDist. 39: Sen. Larcenia J. BullardTallahassee (850) 487-5127Miami (305) 668-7344
Dist. 35: Senator Gwen MargolisTallahassee (850) 487-5121Miami (305) 571-5777
Florida House of Representatives Dist. 107: Rep. Luis Garcia, Jr.Tallahassee (850) 488-9930Miami (305) 325-2501
U.S. House of Representatives Dist. 18: Congresswoman Ileana Ros-LehtinenD.C. (202) 225-3931Miami (305) 688-2285
U.S. SenateSenator Bill NelsonD.C. (202) 224-5274
Coral Gables (305) 536-5999
Senator Marco RubioD.C. (202) 224-3041Miami: (305) 418-8553
How BHA WorksFounded in 1990, Brickell Homeowners AssociationMembership is open to condominium associations andbusinesses in the Brickell community. A representative fromeach of the member condominium associations sits on theBHA Board of Directors which meets monthly.
BHA organizes its Board meetings with speakers ofimmediate interest to the Brickell community. These forumshelp to inform and direct the work of BHA, which is accom-plished through a committee structure and through BHArepresentation on important governmental and communi-ty groups.
The advocacy work of BHA is carried out by volunteers,therefore participation of residents is important anddesired in BHA activities and programs. Residents interest-ed in attending a meeting or becoming involved in otherways are urged to be in contact with their condominium rep-resentative.
To directly communicate with residents, timely topicsare covered in this quarterly newsletter, which is distributedto each household in BHA. This issue is the 61st edition ofBHA News. Information of importance to Brickell neighborsis also covered on the BHA website, www.brickellhome-owners.com, which contains a comprehensive tracking oftopics over time. This serves to help hold public officialsaccountable for timetables and promises, and serves animportant watchdog function.
Contact Communications Director Natalie Brown [email protected] to learn more.•
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FALL 2011 15
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KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING specializes in high rise association management.We take pride in maintaining great looking communities and producing on time and error freefinancial statements; of which all are reviewed by one of our seven in-house CPA’s. Our licensedCommunity Association Managers are seasoned professionals with years of experience, whichenables them to efficiently manage the most difficult and complex communities.
Our professional team manages approximately 35,000 units throughout the state. These peoplerange from Certified Public Accountants (CPA), licensed Community Association Managers(CAM), Certified Manager of Community Associations (CMCA®), Association management Spe-cialist (AMS®), Professional Community Association Managers (PCAM®), Real Property Admin-istrator (RPA®) and certified maintenance personnel. Our corporate office is located in Miami.
We believe a successful customer service experience begins long before that first phone call isreceived. We have implemented an unrivaled customer service program that allows us to utilizetwo of our strongest tools – our people and technology. This combination provides our clientswith feedback as well as access to information 24 hours a day seven days a week.
KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING is a management company and it stops there.Unlike some of our competitors, we do not have a financial interest or affiliation in any of thevendors in our network. This is a growing problem in the market place today as many manage-ment companies find themselves not independent when making a decision that financiallyimpacts the association, rather making a decision that is in the best financial interest of theircompany.
KW PROPERTY MANAGEMENT & CONSULTING does not want to be the biggest management com-pany, only the best. We want to provide you with the quality service you expect and pay for.When we are hired, our management team develops a short term transition and long term oper-ational plan, specifically designed to meet your association needs.
Please feel free to contact Regan Marock, LCAM at 305-495-7409 in order to set up a time thatwe can meet with you at your community. After meeting, we will be able to send you a compre-hensive proposal on how we can best serve your association.
A professional and independent approach to management