Downtown, Miami, where are you headed?

Miami is known for its increasingly big projects and fast changing colors.

However, how fast is too fast and how fast is too slow? When every project starts at the same time - and the infrastructure set in place can’t hold saturation. The Independent agency in charge being The Miami Downtown Development Authority (Miami DDA) is at the forefront of what changes the city receives - being held accountable for what Downtown Miami once was.

When thinking about what Downtown Miami has to offer, big name stores come to mind with Miami’s Luxurious background, setting the standard for tourism in the US. With Miami DDA being in charge of bringing the big name stores, it begs the question on where those stores are? And why aren’t they interested in Miami’s Downtown?

The hiked prices of business rents have forever changed how interested businesses tackle setting a home base in the area. Factors that are separate from development include but are not limited to parking, transportation, and enough vibrance across neighboring businesses to have visitors say “I enjoyed coming to downtown Miami - because it offers a lot as a consumer”.

Sure enough the core of this downtown makes progress day by day - and the plan is highly feasible due to Manolo Reyes - Miami city commissioner representing District 4. Who in an article for The Miami Herald stated, “This includes expanding our Downtown Enhancement Team, which is comprised of formerly homeless individuals, to keep downtown clean and beautiful through power washing, graffiti clean-up and garbage removal.”

Homelessness being a value that was deeply affecting the area. Became a crisis that makes creating jobs out of the streets that were once slept on a strong boost for downtown to clean it’s image.That is one problem solved, and walking in the area details that it has worked - so it’s not a value that is at high priority for the city in its current state.

It is the Flager Beautification project which is currently leading the race for Miami’s downtown expansion, compared to the downtowns in other cities. It is stated by Miami DDA that the area will not allow vehicle usage on newly built roads until the entirety of the project is completed, which creates a ticking time frame for the area to reach its full potential. 

If you’re in the area - do not fear travel was in vain - at this time of the year for a different form of consumption other than filling the wardrobes. Gastronomy is currently leading the businesses in the area becoming a hub for restaurants to receive the majority of the foot traffic and vehicle drop offs due to intense popularity. 

Julia & Henry’s Eatery - on East Flagler and 2 SE  - is a hub for content creators - and tourists that are looking to have diversity in one building. This one building which was the biggest walgreens in the country when opened in 1936, was a La Epoca for department store for many years, caught the eye for a dish that decided that the restructuring of the area will not affect what it has to offer. Opening on June 3rd of 2023, the Eatery is currently sitting on 1,500+ reviews on google - making its one year and months of aperture extremely relevant to a success story.

At walking distance stands, CVI.CHE 105 - 105 NE 3rd Ave - a notable Peruvian cuisine restaurant near Avenue 3, owned by Juan Chipoco Peruvian chef who came to the United States and has created a stamp of continuous quality with his line of restaurants CVI.CHE 105. Adding color to a corner in “Avenue 3”, a project which repurposed streets to create vibrance in a small attraction to the city. 

With perseverance and some patience, business owners in the area wait to see light at the end of the tunnel with a unique central location that promises a bigger outreach to communities. As Miami DDA pushes boundaries to open to traffic, the 2025 Downtown Miami Master Plan is underway slowly but surely. 

Until 2025, there are many changes to expect in the robust period Downtown Miami is currently facing.