Fillmore (Jackie Gleason Theater) May Be Demolished!

[Maria de los Angeles]

Yet another boneheaded anti-conservation move by City of Miami Beach! They want to tear down this historic theater and build a hotel. Miami Beach needs another hotel like it needs a hole in the head but what it does need is great culture. The Fillmore, currently operated by Live Nation, puts on great shows and is a beautiful space. Plus, it's the former home of one of the things that made Miami Beach famous -- the Jackie Gleason Show.

Miami Beach needs a collection of buildings that represents its history; this collection creates an architecturally diversified urban environment which contributes to good urbanism. The Fillmore is a building we should keep, its part of our history and should not be demolished.

via Transit Miami RIP Fillmore Miami Beach? | Transit Miami

And the Herald:

Planners hired to draft a renovation and expansion plan for the convention center have proposed demolishing The Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater in order to construct a convention center hotel on the site.


The north end of the convention center has also been discussed as a potential hotel site, but city leaders and members on the steering committee overseeing the master plan process say they believe the southern location would be more attractive.

Read more: Convention Center revamp could mean Fillmore demolition - Miami Beach - MiamiHerald.com

[MichaelD]

Yet another boneheaded anti-conservation move by City of Miami Beach! They want to tear down this historic theater and build a hotel. Miami Beach needs another hotel like it needs a hole in the head but what it does need is great culture. The Fillmore, currently operated by Live Nation, puts on great shows and is a beautiful space. Plus, it's the former home of one of the things that made Miami Beach famous -- the Jackie Gleason Show.


via Transit Miami RIP Fillmore Miami Beach? | Transit Miami

And the Herald:

Read more: Convention Center revamp could mean Fillmore demolition - Miami Beach - MiamiHerald.com

The reasoning behind a convention center hotel is that few of the largers hotels are willing to discount large blocks of rooms for a convention like they used to. The City is looking to do a large renovation to the convention center and being discussed is a convention center hotel in order to compete with other convention center cities.

The demolishing of the Fillmore will be discussed by the city commission ad nauseum. In the end, I don't think it will happen. They will most likely go with an alternate site like behind the convention center. Just my two cents.

[Jess]

That's terrible news! I love that theater!

Why on earth do we need another hotel, are they kidding??

[fredgarvin]

Is the greatest audience in the world!

.................................J. Gleason

I would hate to have the theater go; but, I DO understand the necessity of a hotel adjoining a world class convention center. In my work, I have to go to some convention center meetings. The adjoining hotels are always the first to sell out and are quite convenient. I suspect this plays a role with convention planners and perhaps will draw more convention business.

Hopefully, a better hotel site could be found because I would hate to hear those other immortal words of 'great one' now in regards to the theater......"and away we go!"


Remember........"How Sweet It Is!"

[Todd Packer]

There is a lack of convention type hotels near the convention center, particularly at decent prices. The nearest is the Loews, and its quiet a long walk - particularly in the summer, with a full suit, briefcase, and dress shoes. You're drenched in sweat before you walk there.

As for the Gleason, they've tried and tried to make that place work but the demand isn't there. They dropped the ball by not letting Cirque du Soleil take it over. That would have been magnificent.

[fredgarvin]

There is a lack of convention type hotels near the convention center, particularly at decent prices. The nearest is the Loews, and its quiet a long walk - particularly in the summer, with a full suit, briefcase, and dress shoes. You're drenched in sweat before you walk there.

As for the Gleason, they've tried and tried to make that place work but the demand isn't there. They dropped the ball by not letting Cirque du Soleil take it over. That would have been magnificent.

I dont know about the demand, it does seem GROSSLY underused and staying classy, I bet Cirque would have been very popular. Look at all the Cirque shows in Vegas!

Bottom line, a successful convention center needs close by, convenient hotels!

[Jess]

Nope, sorry, don't agree at ALL. I have seen numerous shows at the Fillmore. It is notunderused, it has concerts, broadway shows, bands, plays... Chelsea handler was just performing there and we recently had Rent here as two big examples. Tickets are sold at the huge outlets such as wantickets and ticketmaster... so to say it is not being used is just not accurate.

We have very big hotels only two blocks away from the Con Center. The W and Ganservoort are to name a few, so there is no need to walk as far as the Lowes. They also have a huge parking lot behind the center. So Fred, I totally disagree that to be successful it needs a closer hotel. It has 10 hotels on the doorstep.

I hope there is a chance for residents to object cos I for sure will be.

[rk]

I hope there is a chance for residents to object cos I for sure will be.

Yes, there will be many chances to object, but in these cases the fix is always in, whether it is built or not will have nothing to do with anyone's objections, for or against.

For Fred: "Alice, I am the king, THE KING."

[Blackford Oakes]

Remember vividly my parents watching the jackie gleason show from miami. I have yet to enter that venue and I do check our their schedule of performances at least bi-weekly in hopes of finding something that would interest me. To date, the performers slated to appear don't move me. That's been one disappiontment of my move to FL. Ya, , but I miised a few acts like Bocelli and McCartney recenty, they are few and far in between. Having said that, I'd like to maintain the venue.

The idea of bringing Cirque de Soliel is ridiiolus. This model prospers in Las Vegas and Orlando ( the largest convetion towns in the country ) but it won't fly in Miami. The night life and demographics of the inbound traffic will ignore it.

The Fillmore seems to have a busy schedule, so it's being used. Artist of my interest have performed there in the past, so I'm just waiting for them to eventually return. Diana Krall do you hear me ?

[Gus]

From Miami Herald.

Stuart Blumberg, who chairs the committee along with City Manager Jorge Gonzalez, said he proposed the southern site in January and planners presented the option during Monday's meeting. "Everybody left the meeting extremely excited,'' he said.

LOL. I wish we could have seen this brain storming session, with everyone leaving the meeting super excited about demolishing a historic theater.

I agree with Jess. There's a bunch of decent hotels, within a 10 block radius.

The City is having a community meeting about the project on May 13th at 6pm:

However, he said the plan, which needs approval from both the city commission and county commission, is still preliminary and has yet to be vetted to the community. A community workshop is planned for 6 p.m. May 13 at room C220 of the Convention Center, 1901 Convention Center Dr.

Wouldn't most convention goers prefer stay in an oceanfront hotel and cab it to the Convention Center for $5?

[fredgarvin]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for tearing it down and I'm glad it is being well used(i appreciate everyones opinions on this!), I'm just saying one thing in common of all world class convention centers in an adjacent or attached hotel. A busy convention center needs plenty of hotel rooms and one attached hotel does not provide enough rooms, but, to be world class, for the reasons Todd mentions you need one right there.

I don't know the area well enough, but there is likely another spot for structure.

[sungal]

That convention center is HUGE. I got lost and walked forever trying to find the job fair they did once. There can be a convention but in the other 1/2 of the building you could have a rock band playing without anyone knowing...maybe carve out some hotel rooms there.

Like Gus said, business people can simply call a taxi from their hotel to avoid arriving sweaty in the summer. If I were in town for a convention I'd want to stay somewhere with an ocean view! Who wants to roll out of bed and arrive for a stuffy 5 hr meeting without enjoying the great weather and maybe a Cuban coffee on the way?

[Blackford Oakes]

Don't get me wrong, I'm not for tearing it down and I'm glad it is being well used(i appreciate everyones opinions on this!), I'm just saying one thing in common of all world class convention centers in an adjacent or attached hotel. A busy convention center needs plenty of hotel rooms and one attached hotel does not provide enough rooms, but, to be world class, for the reasons Todd mentions you need one right there.

I don't know the area well enough, but there is likely another spot for structure.

I don't know they area as well as others myself, but I don't see Miami competing with Las Vegas or Orlando as a convention destination. Miami has it's unique offerings but you have a strong contender in the same state and then you have King Vegas. Both these cities can support eight conventions simulaneously and have the infrastructure. One hotel won't help. If I was attending a convention in Miami, I wouldn't factor a connecting hotel, as I'd prefer to be beachfront nearby.

[citizen477]

Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that with all the amazing architects in this country, not to mention world wide, we can't design and build hotel rooms atop the Convention Center? Come on, now.

[Gus]

Wait a minute. You mean to tell me that with all the amazing architects in this country, not to mention world wide, we can't design and build hotel rooms atop the Convention Center? Come on, now.

That's a brilliant idea! And you wouldn't have to go up that high to give people an ocean view. Not to mention, you wouldn't be obstructing anything else.

I vote for citizen477 as the new committee chair.

[Doug]

I agree that the Fillmore theatre should be preserved and even declared a historic landmark like the deco district itself. The idea of building a hotel on top of the present convention center sounds like a good one, if the present foundation will support it. My only question is where will they hold conventions while it's under construction? Would they be able to leave the convention center open while they were building on top of it?

[Jess]

The planners left the meeting excited?? Yeah, I'm sure, as they'll be making money out of this.

May 13, is it open to the public? I'm going to cause a scene.

[fredgarvin]

The planners left the meeting excited?? Yeah, I'm sure, as they'll be making money out of this.

May 13, is it open to the public? I'm going to cause a scene.

So I'm confused, I agree keeping the Fillmore is important--I'm all for it--wolfson bringing the jackie gleason show to the beach was awesome, too bad something like that still isn't going on.

But are you Jess, or other people opposed to an on site hotel if it would not involve razing the fillmore?

I am required to go to a convention ever other year or so. I'm one of the younger of about 1000 attendees. It is a chore! The more senior members would not go if there is not a hotel adjoining the center, you absolutely have to have that to be competetive--and I'm not talking about HUGE chicago/vegas size conventions like the consumer electronics show--I'm talking about professional organizations.

So, if the fillmore is untouched, would people still have an issue?

Thanks!

[Jess]

Oh, I don't care what they build if they don't tear it down. Right now the entire street by the CC is dug up and has been for months, the place is a mess. However, I do feel Miami Beach is small. We don't need a huge CC to compete with Vegas etc. Plus the CC is right next to Beach High School and the Botanical Gardens so why build a huge hotel for it? It is actually in a residential part of town.

The hotel is really a seperate issue for me but I am a full time, year round resident and just don't see how it's going to add to the beach to build something like that.

[fredgarvin]

I think we're all agreed that Miami Beach cannot (and should not) compete for the ultra large conventions that go to Vegas, Chicago, Orlando. But, there are a tremendous number of conventions that are large enough to be attractive to a community such as the beach, yet eschew our location because of perceived or real lack of facilities.

As a location that was built upon and thrives on tourists, if the Fillmore can be saved, if taxpayers won't be stuck with the bill, does not involve gambling (which is a whole other debate I know), and will bring high quality tourists (meaning likely to have spending money in their pockets)- how can it be bad? It will (potientially) support not only an on site hotel, but all the others, resturants, tour companys, clubs, and cultural events. This is a hot industry and towns are fiercly competing- but the beach clearly has a leg up on many.

What am I missing????