Purchased and restored three of the West Grove's historic wood-frame homes. Preserving and restoring this local architectural inventory ensures the safekeeping of the neighborhood's original fabric for generations to come. Historic Preservation Policy: Thematic Designation of the West Grove’s Shotgun Homes In 2017, I advocated for a new historic preservation ordinance to protect the West Grove’s remaining shotgun homes with District 2 Commissioner Ken Russell. At the time, only about 20 of these iconic wood-frame houses still stood, a direct link to the Bahamian and African American pioneers who built the neighborhood. The city’s existing rules allowed historic designation of only a single property or an entire district. Neither option fit a neighborhood where these homes were scattered among other buildings. The amendment created a streamlined alternative called thematic designation. It allowed a group of related historic properties to be protected together while leaving unrelated properties unregulated. Progress is a shared responsibility, and those of us who build, invest, and do business here owe it to the community to make sure growth honors and protects the legacy that came before us. Environmental Back2earth Compost Station: 3536 William Avenue, Coconut Grove Sustainability starts at the neighborhood level. I hosted the land at 3536 William Avenue for Back2earth’s Coconut Grove compost station, giving the community a central place to drop off food scraps and keep them out of landfills. Back2earth is a Miami nonprofit founded by Ugo Angeletti and his siblings. Its work is driven by a simple mission: grow gardens, not landfills. The organization turns food waste into nutrient-rich compost for local gardens and farms, and the produce grown with it goes to families in need. The 3536 Williams Avenue station became part of a network that diverted more than 40,000 pounds of food waste from Miami landfills. In 2019, Ugo’s work earned national recognition with a $50,000 grant from General Mills through its Feeding Better Futures Scholars Program, which helped fund composting workshops and education throughout South Florida. Opening the land to this project reflects my belief that a vacant lot can become a living part of the neighborhood. Small, grassroots acts of stewardship help build a healthier, more connected community. Community Collaborations: Preservation goes beyond buildings. It means caring for the people who call this home. I partnered with neighbors and local institutions: Buddy System Miami and Trader Joe's for the Community Fridge at 3600 Grand Avenue, with the City of Miami and the Miami Grand Opera on holiday music and Christmas tree giveaways, and with the Miami Book Fair to put summer reading books in the hands of West Grove's young readers. The best design begins with one’s neighbors, respect for history and a shared optimism for the future.
