Spring Garden Civic Association

Persons Upstairs Chosen

Mar 01, 2002

by: Ernie Martin
Upstairs Studio, Inc. has been chosen to design the restoration of the Seybold Carriage House on the Seybold Canal. That historic structure, the last remaining part of John Seybold' s estate, was purchased by the SGCA for the City and will become the headquarters for Point Park.

The six architectural firms that had expressed an interest in the project were at a meeting held on February 7 at the Miami River Inn. All had impressive credentials, and many demonstrated an admiration for our neighborhood's unprecedented commitment to historic preservation and our ambition in building a bold new Park on the Miami River. Architects ranged from the largest preservation firm in Miami-Dade to youthful newcomers anxious to take on a project of high merit and regional visibility.

In a marathon evening meeting, each of the six architectural firms gave presentations. Then the selection committee, made up of Spring Garden residents Jim Broton, Michael Cox, Ernie Martin, and Jo Winstead, as well as noted preservationist Randall Robinson of the Miami Beach Development Corporation and University of Miami architectural professor Frank Martinez, discussed the presentations and the architects well into the night.

Frank, a practicing architect who recently received a glowing write-up in the Miami Herald for his innovative redesign of Miami?’s Florida Memorial College campus, led the group. Michael tried to structure the discussion so that an objective decision could be made. The six presentations were all deemed outstanding, and eliminating any was difficult and at times painful.

In the end, the committee selected Upstairs Studio, Inc. of Coral Gables. Upstairs is a young firm with youthful enthusiasm. The seven member firm is headed by Maricarmen Martinez AIA.

A 1994 Cornell graduate, Upstairs Studio principal Maricarmen Martinez was in the inaugural class of the Miami Fellows Initiative, a Miami-based leadership program modeled after the Kellogg National Leadership Program. She is known to Spring Garden residents, having attended several SGCA-sponsored events. She said ?“This neighborhood and Point Park have always been special to me. I even helped you guys years ago when you had a cleanup.?”

Michael Cox, an experienced construction manager, will negotiate the contract. The contract will then go for approval, first to the SGCA Board of Directors, and then to the City of Miami, the funding source.

Maricarmen is not related to committee member Frank Martinez, nor was prior assistance to Spring Garden a factor in the decision-making process.