PROPOSAL FOR DESIGNATION

77 SE 5TH ST
444 BRICKELL AVE

City of Miami
Historic and Environmental Preservation Board
April 4, 2023
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April 4, 2023
1. Introduction to Historic and Environmental Preservation Procedures
Anna Pernas, Preservation Officer
City of Miami

2. Presentation by The Related Group

3. 77 SE 5th Street and 444 Brickell Avenue in Context:
Adrian Espinosa, Preservation Planner
City of Miami
4. Significance of 77 SE 5th and 444 Brickell Ave:
Dr. Traci Ardren and Dr. William J. Pestle,
University of Miami
5. Potential Preservation Steps and Mitigation Measures:
Sara Ayers-Rigby and Malachi Fenn,
Florida Public Archaeology Network
6. Proposal for Designation:
Anna Pernas, Preservation Officer
City of Miami 2
HISTORIC AND ENVIRONMENTAL
PRESERVATION (HEP)
(a) The intent of this chapter is to preserve and protect the heritage
of the city through the identification, evaluation, rehabilitation,
adaptive use, restoration, and public awareness of Miami's historic,
architectural, and archaeological resources.

HEP JURISDICTION
• Archaeological Conservation Areas
• Archaeological Sites
• Archaeological Zones
• Environmental Preservation Districts
• Historic Districts
• Historic Sites
• Scenic Transportation Corridors

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Archaeological conservation area. A
geographically defined area delineated in the Miami comprehensive
neighborhood plan on the future land use plan map series entitled
"Historic District Boundaries and Historically Significant Properties
Meriting Protection" where the probability of sub-surface artifacts is
considered likely.

Archaeological site . A single specific location which

has yielded or is likely to yield information on local history,
prehistory, or paleontology, and which has been designated as such
through the provisions of this chapter.

Archaeological zone . A geographically defined area

which may reasonably be expected to yield information on local
history, prehistory, or paleontology based upon broad prehistoric or
historic settlement patterns, and which has been designated as
such through the provisions of this chapter.

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Sec. 23-6.2. - Certificates of
appropriateness.
(a) Certificates of appropriateness, when required.
A certificate of appropriateness shall be required for any
new construction, alteration, relocation, or demolition
within a designated historic site or historic district or for
thematically-related historic resources within a multiple
property designation. A certificate of appropriateness
shall also be required for exceptions, or waivers or
exclusion from the provisions of the zoning code, or any
successor zoning code. A certificate to dig shall be
required for any ground disturbing activity within a
designated archaeological site or archaeological zone
or within an archaeological conservation area. All
certificates of appropriateness and certificates to dig
shall be subject to the applicable criteria in this section
and any other applicable criteria specified in this
chapter, as amended. No permits shall be issued by the
building department for any work requiring a certificate
of appropriateness unless such work is in conformance
with such certificate.

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Sec. 23-6.2(h)(4) - Certificates of appropriateness.
(4) Ground disturbing activity in archeological zones, archeological sites, or archeological conservation areas.
a. No certificate of appropriateness shall be issued for new construction, excavation, tree removal, or any other
ground disturbing activity until the city's archeologist has reviewed the application and made his/her
recommendation concerning the required scope of archeological work. The board may require any or all of the
following:

1. Scientific excavation and evaluation of the site at the applicant's expense by an archeologist approved by
the board.
2. An archeological survey at the applicant's expense conducted by an archeologist approved by the board
containing an assessment of the significance of the archeological site and an analysis of the impact of the
proposed activity on the archeological site.
3. Proposal for mitigation measures.
4. Protection or preservation of all or part of the archaeological site for green space, if the site is of
exceptional importance and such denial would not unreasonably restrict the primary use of the property.

a. The board may issue a certificate to dig with a delayed effective date of up to 45 calendar days to allow any
necessary site excavation or assessment.
CRITERIA FOR DESIGNATION
Criteria for designation. Properties may be designated as historic resources, historic districts, multiple property designations,
or archaeological sites and zones only if they have significance in the historical, cultural, archaeological, paleontological,
aesthetic, or architectural heritage of the city, state, or nation; possess integrity of design, setting, materials, workmanship,
feeling, and association; and meet one or more of the following criteria:

(1) Are associated in a significant way with the life of a person important in the past;
(2) Are the site of a historic event with significant effect upon the community, city, state, or nation;
(3) Exemplify the historical, cultural, political, economic, or social trends of the community;
(4) Portray the environment in an era of history characterized by one or more distinctive architectural styles;
(5) Embody those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or method of construction;
(6) Are an outstanding work of a prominent designer or builder;
(7) Contain elements of design, detail, materials, or work of outstanding quality or which represent a significant innovation or
adaptation to the South Florida environment; or
(8) Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in prehistory or history.

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WHO CAN PROPOSE DESIGNATION?
• The HEP Board by a supermajority vote of its members present after one or more members of the
board request it to be placed on a board agenda
• The Mayor
• The City Manager
• The Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board (PZAB) by resolution approved by a supermajority vote of the
members present
• the City of Miami Commission by resolution approved by a supermajority vote of the members present
• The Property Owner
• Miami-Dade County Historic Preservation Board by resolution approved by a supermajority vote of the
members present
• Any organization that has been a registered non-profit corporation in the state for at least five years with
a recognized interest in historic preservation by resolution approved by a supermajority vote of the
members present
• Preservation Officer

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DESIGNATION
REQUEST FOR PROPOSAL
PROCEDURES FOR DESIGNATION

PROPOSAL FOR
DESIGNATION

PRELIMINARY EVALUATION

DESIGNATION

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77 SE 5th St and 444 Brickell Ave
in Context:
Regional
Trade Networks
Significance of Tequesta site writ large
“Sites of the Tequesta and their ancestors were recognized as regionally and nationally
significant for several reasons… The first reason is the association between the
Tequesta and the Everglades… Secondly, some sites of the Tequesta and their ancestors
exhibit considerable engineering accomplishments related to the construction of long-
distance canoe canals… Thirdly, the Tequesta were one of the first American Indian
groups encountered by Ponce de Leon in the early sixteenth century.”

-Wheeler 2004: E3
Significance of South Bank Site
“Site 8DA19238, 444 Brickell, is a component of the overall site 8DA12 first
recorded in the 1950s on the south bank of the Miami River. However,
modern development has destroyed and fragmented much of that site and
various components that occur west of Brickell Point have been
documented as newly recorded sites.”
-Carr, et al., 2021: 13

77 SE 5th and 444 Brickell are part of the same site as

the Miami Circle, which was recognized as having
national significance when it was placed on the
National Register of Historic Places in 2002, and named
a National Historic Landmark in 2009.
Significance of 77 SE 5th findings
1. Architecture: Postholes (350+) in bedrock (including 1 or possibly 2
circles) attest to cultural adaptations to life in coastal south Florida.
Each posthole represents a foundation of ancient homes and public
buildings.

Met Square
Significance of 77 SE 5th findings
2. Trade goods: Ceramics, hard stone, and decorative minerals from far-
flung locales show Tequesta people were linked via trading networks and
belief systems with many peoples from across prehistoric eastern U.S.

The abundance of these items supports an interpretation of this site as an

important political center where tribute was collected.
Significance of 77 SE 5th findings
3. Organic preservation: wood tools, cordage, fruit seeds provide
evidence of prehistoric life in the region unobtainable from other sites
Significance of 77 SE 5th findings
4. Feasting: the remains of large fauna (sea turtles, now-extinct seals, and
whales) provide evidence of advanced fishing technologies and the
gathering of multitudes of people for ceremonial/political feasts
Significance of 77 SE 5th findings
5. Antiquity: over a dozen Archaic style projectile points provide
evidence that the mouth of the river has long been Miami’s prime real
estate. The Archaic period dates to 8000-500 BC, and while these
points can’t be directly dated, they are like those found at sites as old
as the Middle Archaic (5000-3000 BC) elsewhere in Florida
Connection
Slab
between
77 SE 5th St.
-and-
444 Brickell Midden

Ave.

Bedrock
Potential significance and promise of 444 Brickell
Last remaining parcel of the village midden that once extended across both banks
of the river. Archaeological analysis improves every day with the refinement of
laboratory analyses and compositional studies–preservation in place of this last
remaining parcel preserves the opportunity for future discoveries unavailable now
Archaeology Matters

According to research by the Society

for American Archaeology, 93% of
Americans agree the work
archaeologists do is important
 Potential preservation steps/creative mitigation
1) Seek input from primary stakeholders
2) Update and expand interpretive signage
3) Creative solutions can include curricula, adding to existing historic trails
A slide projection shows a former Hebrew bookstore in
1930 in Berlin, 1992. On-location installation and
33″X40″ chromogenic photograph, Shimon Attie,
courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery, New York
Subway users walk near fortifications of
ancient Athens are showcased as discovered
during the construction of the Greek capital's
subway at the central Syntagma station.
The Heidentor, also known as Heathens' Gate or Pagans' Gate, is the
partially reconstructed ruin of a triumphal arch of the Roman Empire,
located in what was the fort-city of Carnuntum, in present-day Austria.
Originally tetrapylon in form, only one of its four arches remains.
Photos by Vasi Múzeumbarát Egylet @engineeringandarchitecture
Creative Mitigation Options in the US

Project Archaeology Lesson plans focus on archaeological investigation.

Investigating a Shotgun House was created as part of the Davis Bottom
History Preservation Project, which also included a documentary,
recording oral histories, developing a website and preserving archival
materials. This project was an alternative mitigation for the Newtown
Pike Extension in Kentucky.
 Creative Mitigation Options in the US
https://archaeology
.uiowa.edu/news/2
022/08/new-
interactive-
educational-
resource-and-
videos-lake-delhi-
area-alternative-
mitigation

Website involved
over 14 different
agencies following
Lake Delhi dam
disaster
Proposal for Designation:
77 SE 5th Street
Criteria for designation. Properties may be designated as historic resources,
historic districts, multiple property designations, or archaeological sites
and zones only if they have significance in the historical, cultural,
archaeological, paleontological, aesthetic, or architectural heritage of the
city, state, or nation; possess integrity of design, setting, materials,
workmanship, feeling, and association; and meet one or more of the
following criteria:

(3) Exemplify the historical, cultural, political, economic, or social trends

of the community;

(5) Embody those distinguishing characteristics of an architectural style,

or period, or method of construction;

(7) Contain elements of design, detail, materials, or work of outstanding

quality or which represent a significant innovation or adaptation to the
South Florida environment; or

(8) Have yielded, or may be likely to yield, information important in

prehistory or history.
Proposal for Designation:
444 Brickell Avenue
Criteria for designation. Properties
may be designated as historic
resources, historic districts,
multiple property designations, or
archaeological sites and zones
only if they have significance in the
historical, cultural, archaeological,
paleontological, aesthetic, or
architectural heritage of the city,
state, or nation; possess integrity
of design, setting, materials,
workmanship, feeling, and
association; and meet one or more
of the following criteria:

(8) Have yielded, or may be likely

to yield, information important in
prehistory or history.
Extension of midden below 444 Brickell Ave