Lincoln Road Apple Store spurs political controversy
updated 02:45 pm EST, Tue December 27, 2011
City official accused of exploiting power
A political row has surfaced over plans to build a larger Lincoln Road Apple Store in Miami Beach, Florida, notes the Miami Herald. Earlier in the year Apple proposed demolishing a structure at 1001 Lincoln Road, about a thousand feet from the current store, in order to create a bigger outlet (seen in images) featuring a predominantly glass design with a tall stone sidewall. Heritage organizations protested, given that the target building dates back to 1926. Apple withdrew its proposal, but business leaders are said to be worried that Apple might simply move to a different city and take heavy shopping traffic with it.
The political conflict revolves around city planning board member Jonathan Fryd, who has proposed cutting two seats on the historic preservation board. Both of the seats are occupied by preservationist groups, and Fryd is a partner in the development company that owns the space where the Apple would be constructing a larger store.
Beyond leaving shopping traffic unchanged, another pro-demolition argument is said to be state of 1001 Lincoln Road. Despite its age, the building is said to be an unremarkable cinder block structure, already changed many times since 1926. Apple could potentially double its space on Lincoln Road if a replacement store follows company trends.
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Heritage People?
Apparently not business people, apparently not unemployed. Have you ever seen some of the buildings these people with too much time on their hands want to save? Some look like broken down shacks. My house was built in 1922 or so, a Dutch colonial. There's one right next to it. A cool fireplace inside, woodwork, but it isn't really anything special and yet I've been contacted in the past about preservation. If I want to, I can BUILD preservation. Let Apple create the jobs and let these people go suck on the tail pipe of a running car in a locked garage.