Downtown Doral: A New "Heart" for the City of Doral

It will have 2,840 residential units. There will be 580,000 square feet of commercial and retail space. Civic space, not available for private development, will amount to 100,000 square feet. It will be a 120 acre site where people can live, work, shop, eat and even play. The city of Doral is set to have a new downtown and the town is just 30,000 residents strong.

The city of Doral and the Flagler Development Group has spent two years planning its future downtown area and has spent several million dollars. Downtown Doral will be the largest mixed-use development is South Florida history. It will be twice the size of Midtown Miami and far larger than City Place in West Palm Beach and Mizner Park in Boca Raton.

“We envision that Downtown Doral will not only become the heart of the city of Doral, but the epicenter for many of Miami-Dade’s western communities,” said Armando Codina, president and CEO of the Flagler Development Group, in a statement.

Downtown Doral is to be on both sides of Northwest 53rd Street between Northwest 87th Avenue and Northwest 79th Avenue. What is now sleepy office space is set to be developed in a series of phases over a seven to 10 year period. All existing buildings will be demolished.

“It was a conscious decision to create a downtown area, a more urban area to the eastern part of the city,” said Nathan Kogan, director of planning and zoning for the city of Doral.

Phase one will consist of residencies such as Vista Blanca Tower, a 16-story luxury building that will feature apartments ranging in size from 640 square feet to 2,900 square feet. Phase one will also consist of commercial offerings such as the Professional Center, a 70,000 square-feet, fully-renovated office condominium.

The first building set to be part of Downtown Doral is due to begin construction in February or March of 2008 said Kogan. He also affirms that this first project is moving forward quickly, with this first building set to be one of the condo towers.

What has yet to be stressed residents is how Downtown Doral will be unique to other planned mixed-use developments. The young city, incorporated in the summer of 2003, already has residential, commercial, and industrial land use the just 15 square miles that is Doral.

“I have mixed feelings about the new downtown,” said Manuel De La Fuente, six year resident of the city. “It will be nice to have a real urban center in Doral with nice walkways and sidewalk restaurants. But on the other side, we have a horrendous traffic problem that will only increase with high density living.”

Traffic, one of the chief concerns in the area, is on resident’s minds. “Other than them saying that they are working on a few minor fixes, I have not seen a real solution put forth to residents,” said De La Fuente on the traffic issue.

It’s both the Flagler development team and the city of Doral that assure the traffic problem has been addressed. According to Kogan, despite the fact that roads are going to be narrowed internally in Downtown Doral, traffic will lessen because if it.

“When it comes to traffic you think ‘Oh, my God’ there’s going to be this massive downtown area. There’s going to be 2,800 residential units, we’re adding retail,” Kogan said. “We’re improving the traffic situation.”

“The amount of trips that are created by the existing offices equals the trips that will be provided by the new development,” Kogan continues. “So we’re taking down and putting up so it equalizes.”

It’s the mixed-use aspect of the downtown that Kogan explains will help relieve congestion from traffic. “When you mix residential and commercial people can live and work in the same place,” Kogan said.

Elizabeth Plater-Zyberk, urban land planner and Dean of the University Of Miami School Of Architecture, adds that downtowns can actually alleviate traffic woes.

“Urban centers like Downtown Doral can relieve some of the single-direction commuting that causes the worse congestions,” said Plater-Zyberk. “Today, everything we do in South Florida has to be part of a long-term solution.”

Kogan adds that extensive traffic reports were conducted and that the city council did informal workshops that the public was invited to. It was after this planning that council approved the project about a year and a half ago.

Despite the fact that traffic is a major concern for residents, developers and the city want to stress the planned aesthetics of Downtown Doral.

“This is a unique large-scale redevelopment,” said Chris Cobb, vice president of residential development for Flagler. “It is a complex task transforming a million square feet of existing space.

Paseo Doral, a 150-foot wide by 1,600-foot long residential boulevard, is set to be Downtown Doral’s main street. The Paseo, which will be lined with townhouses, retail and restaurants, will also include extensive landscaping and green areas. Plans are so detailed that the Paseo will include two green areas and several landscaped courts.

The Court of Oranges will be retail oriented, bold, artful and fun in design and become lively at night, with tons of light and color. On the other hand, the Water Court will feature a “dancing” water fountain, moveable seating and an interactive sculpture for child’s play.

“There are no elevations...all there is are you general building placements,” said Kogan on the plans. “It does not show how the towers are going to look. It only gives you a general box. We’re building a city. We’re not building a project.”

It’s an urban yet cozy feel that Doral is striving for. Kogan cites Mizner Park as the quintessential planned mixed-use area in South Florida. “It’s very nice but it’s a little bit sterile,” Kogan said.

Kogan added that those who choose to live, work and build in the area will be able to add their own flair to the Downtown.

“A lot of time with conventional development now they will come in with just a site plan,” said Kogan. “The site plan will show the exact locations of the building and everything is master planned and everything is completely laid out. There’s no room for variation.”

Flagler Development says that the amount of flexibility granted in Downtown Doral will be integral. “You can work and live in your own space or you can own it and rent it out,” said Cobb. “This flexible approach appeals to creative professionals and entrepreneurs, as well as the growing number of people who work from home. Downtown Doral will serve them well.”

Despite its flexibility and plan to be a lively center for Doral, the development will take billions of dollars to execute and won’t be finished for a decade. Furthermore, residencies at Downtown Doral will begin in the $200’s. Larger spaces, such as town homes, will range from the $300’s to over a million.

The planning may be extensive but residents still remain somewhat hesitant and in the dark. “There is no communication system, that I know about, that updates us as to what the plans are,” said De La Fuente. “Nevertheless, I am proud to live in Doral.”

Residents and developers alike are hoping that the urban upgrade, which will also include parks, schools, and civic spaces, will firmly establish the young city.

Said Codina in a statement, “We believe that it takes a defined downtown to create a true city, and now Doral will have one of Florida’s most exciting downtown environments.”

For more information on Downtown Doral please visit www.downtowndoral.com

By Lalinda De La Fuente

Second-Generation Latinos

If you hang around Jennifer Alvarado you may be in for a treat. She drives her Toyota Prius around the city always with a smile on her face and nodding her head to whatever music she is playing. The sounds flowing from her speakers can be anything from hip-hop, pop rock or even Cumbia, which goes hand-in-hand with the Colombian flag hanging from her mirror. Her Blackberry rings and we are treated with a Cumbia she loves and says, “this one is for my family.” She answers with a Colombian accent but can easily switch to any other Hispanic accent she can think of or at least depending on whom she is talking to. Actually, she switches from flawless English to very fluent Spanish easily.

Alvarado is just another young adult growing as a second-generation Latina in the U.S.

“I feel Colombian. It’s weird to say that I am American,” said Jennifer Alvarado, 25.

Alvarado was born in Greenwich, Conn. to Colombian parents who migrated to the US in the 1970s. She grew up in Greenwich and moved to Miami when she was 11 years old.

“It hasn’t been difficult living in America with Colombian parents. It’s been very interesting and I feel blessed to have both cultures,” said Alvarado.

She tells that her parents practice some aspects of the Colombian culture, such as language, religion, superstitious beliefs, moral values, and family togetherness.

Alvarado is not the only one that feels more identified with her parent’s culture rather than feeling American. Actually, most young Hispanic- American feel privileged to have been born in this country.

“I was born in the U.S. and I feel privileged to be here,” said Rudy Briceno, who was born in Miami from Nicaraguan parents.

Unlike Alvarado, Briceno is unsure of where he stands in the two cultures.

“I really don’t know about Nicaraguan culture. I really don’t know what it’s like to live over there [Nicaragua] and living in this diverse city [Miami], I truly don’t know the background of true American culture. I guess I’m an American in my own way,” he said.

For Briceno, being an America with Nicaraguan parents has not been a difficult task.

“My parents are strange. It’s a common thing for Nicas to party a lot and my parents don’t live that lifestyle,” he said.

Nonetheless, many Hispanics born in the U.S. feel really closed to the values and traditions from their culture even if their parents have adapted the U.S. culture.

“I have my Nicaraguan values,” said Briceno, “this is especially when it comes to family. But living in this city I feel I relate more to them because when I speak to someone from over there [Nicaragua] I feel an outcast.”

Paola Capellan was also born in Miami but to Dominican parents. She coincides with the others saying she feels more Dominican than American.

“I feel more Dominican because my mother always speaks Spanish and I always go to the Dominican Republic to visit my father,” she said.

Capellan has lived with her mother most of her life in Miami but has also lived in New York and in Oregon.

“Living with a Hispanic mother has not made it difficult for me to live in this country. It doesn’t make it harder, we just mix Dominican with American,” said Capellan.

Alejandro Obregon was also born in Miami to a Guatemalan mother and to an Afghan father. Obregon spent most of his adolescence traveling back and forth from Miami to Guatemala because of his mother’s work situation. Today he resides in Miami and has it more difficult than others living with three cultures on his back.

“I have three cultures and my friends always remind me of it. With my cousin I was like the little terrorist and when I went back to Guatemala I was the gringo. So, I really don’t know what I am. I mean none of the cultures ever made me feel like one of them,” said Obregon.

Although, Obregon says that he was always conscious that he was born in the U.S. and was “going to take advantage of all the benefits that America could give me.”

Traveling back and forth did not allow Obregon to make one culture his own, but he definitely knows which food is his favorite.

“I love Guatemalan food; I love it so much,” he said.

Obregon loves tortillas, refried beans and tamales. His favorite plate though is called pepian, which is a Mayan chicken fricassee.

Food

Second generation Latinos can’t seem to get away from the food and the music of their parents homeland. These things are actually what hold them closer to it.

“I love American and Colombian food. I love hotdogs, hamburgers, pizza, and all the food associated with the American culture. I also love empanadas, arepas, chorizo, arroz y frijoles, and all typical Colombian food,” said Alvarado.

Briceno can say the same thing. “I have been exposed to many different dishes, but I really like Hispanic food that is spicier and tastier. My mom can make Nica food as well as something Cuban and even Italian,” he said.


Pedro Yeira, who doesn’t speak much Spanish and was born to Cuban parents in Miami, prefers Cuban food as well. Yeira likes ropa vieja (shredded meet) and moro.

Entertainment

The music second-generation Latinos prefer ranges from merengue to cumbia to hip-hop and pop rock. Some of their tastes are simply defined by their roots and what their parents played at home while they were growing up.

At least this is the case of Alvarado, who recalls the Cumbia and Vallenato her parents played in her house. Some of these she actually remembers today. For example her ringtone “La Canoa Ranchaa” a Cumbia her mother played a lot.

“I listen to all types of music, except country. My favorite types are rock and hip-hop. I also love vallenato and cumbia, which are folkloric genres of music from Colombia,” said Alvarado.

On the other hand, Briceno listens to hip-hop, rock and pop music. Nothing from Nicaragua.

Obregon feels he doesn’t have a favorite from any specific culture. He plays the guitar and remembers that his cousins would call him a rocker.

“I didn’t like that they called me a rocker because I enjoy jazz and I feel that there could be something cool in salsa to put in one of my metal songs,” he said.

Although he didn’t specify that Guatemalan music is his favorite, Obregon feels that music from Guatemala is beautiful. Music in Guatemala is mainly played with an instrument called Marimba.

To provide Latinos with music they can relate too, many artists are merging their music with the English language. Two examples are Daddy Yankee with reggeaton and Texas group Kumbia All Stars (formely known as Kumbia Kings), whose sound includes Cumbia, Hip-Hop and R&B.

On television some, shows are targeted specifically to second-generation Latinos. Channels like Mun2 and MTV Tr3s have programming in Spanglish. On a music show, viewers can wacth a Juanes video as well as U2.

“The media has stereotyped us a Mexicans. They think we are part of Mexico. What I see in Mun2 and MTV Tr3s is stuff they get from Los Angeles and they are not the same as Miami or even New York,” said Briceno.

Briceno feels that in order to achieve more general Hispanic shows the media needs to learn more about the culture.

“We are still a minority in order for the country to move that way we need more Hispanics to come,” he said.

Actually, the Hispanic population is booming and will continue to boom. According to a survey done by the Pew Hispanic Institute in October of 2003, by the year 2020 second-generation Latinos will be 36% percent of the population. This will put them higher than first and third generations.

In 2006 the U.S. reached 300 million people. Another report conducted by the Pew Hispanic Institute found that of the 100 million growth in population from 1966 to 2006, 36 percent is Hispanic, which is the highest percentage.

Sounds like Latinos and their future generations are here to stay.

Video of Kumbia All Starz




Links to check out:
http://http://holamun2.com/

http://http://www.mtvtr3s.com/

Off-roading culture brought to Doral

Mudding and Rock crawling are variations of off-roading, a hobby enjoyed by many in non-urban areas around the country. There are magazines, clubs, and shops dedicated to this sport, but when it comes to off-roading hot spots, South Florida rarely comes mind. Mainly because of the lack of mountains, the only place to go off-roading in Miami is in the Everglades. But that didn’t stop Ricardo Olavarrieta from turning his passion into a club, a shop, and an upcoming reality TV show – all in South Florida.

Olavarrieta and his friends are from Venezuela, where modifying cars is a popular hobby. So, they decided to try to do it in South Florida.

“In 2003, a bunch of friends got together to modify our own cars and felt identified by this type of hobby.” Olavarrieta said.

Olavarrieta rented a small auto shop in Kendall, just to modify his car and his friends’ cars. As the demand grew, there wasn’t enough space or mechanics to do the jobs. “It became a business because there were no good shops for this type of modification in South Florida,” Olavarrieta said.

Anything from bigger tires, lifting the cars to make them taller and adding parts to the vehicles are needed in order to prepare vehicles for off-roading.

Now, Olvarrieta owns ROCO 4X4, a modification shop specializing in suspension and drive training, located on 7448 NW 55 St, in the area of Doral.

“When you work in something you love, it can be 9:00 p.m. and you’ll want to keep working,” Olvarrieta said.

In 2004, Olavarrieta and his friends started an off-roading club called Miami Crawlers. They are no longer just a club but also an off-roading team that competes. They go to three competitions and six trips a year.

“Rock crawling in Florida is impossible so we travel around the U.S. to do it,” Olvavarrieta said.

In a trip to River Rock Park, a private, invitation-only, off-roading campground, Mariana Guerrero got over her fear and went rock crawling with Miami Crawlers on her Nissan X-terra. It was her first time as a driver.

“We took my truck and I thought, it’s mine and I’m going to drive it,” said Guerrero about losing her fear of driving through rocks and hills. “It’s pretty dangerous, trucks can flip and roll down the hill,” Guerrero added.

In order to ensure safety while rock crawling, vehicle modification is a must. On the Miami Crawlers website there are videos of vehicles that have flipped over.

“You have to know the limits of your vehicle because you and your vehicle become one when you are rock crawling,” said Daniel Rodriguez, Miami Crawler team member.

Recently, FOX contacted Olvarrieta about filming a reality TV show at ROCO 4X4. The show is called Jeep Editions and the first episode has already been filmed. On every episode of Jeep Editions, they bring in a different Jeep to modify it so it can be used for rock crawling or mudding.

“We installed full suspension, gears and axel on our friend Alex’s jeep,” said Nivardo Beaton Vice president of Miami Crawlers about the first episode. “The crew filmed 6 to 8 hours of work which will be played back fast resulting in 30 seconds of the show,” he added.

Modifying vehicles for off-roading can be expensive; the work put in to the jeep for the first episode had a $10,000 bill.

“We have a love-hate relationships with our vehicles,” Beaton said. “We love building and enjoying them but we hate the money pit we get in to by rebuilding them after we finish tearing them apart.”

All they are waiting for in order to film the second episode of Jeep Editions is for parts that are being shipped in order to modify the next jeep. In the mean time, they all share the excitement together.

“I still don’t know how we made it to T.V. and I’m so proud it was held in my best friend’s shop,” Beaton said.

For off-roading lovers, Miami Crawlers and ROCO 4x4 might be good resources to check out if you live in the South Florida area. But for those that have never rock crawled before, Beaton tells them, “It’s like being in on the scariest, fastest roller coaster and having the same adrenalin rush in less than 5 miles per hour,” Beaton.



Links to check out:

www.miamicrawlers.com

www.roco4x4.com



Photo credits:

Miami Crawlers website