Submitted .into the PUbliC~E \\ th record firrteo(S) . REll on May 26 , 2016 on 6 ~ ~ . City Clerk Talking Points: This is a nuanced issue.
This same item carne up in October 2013 as a Discussion Item, with no resolution.
It is apparent that stakeholders were not provided any notice and it was only an accident that the African-American and Bahamian community found out.
We need to hear from historians and from more members of the community. We should hear from Marvin Dunn, Paul George, A vra Moore Parks, Enid Pinkney ...the Dade Heritage Trust and perhaps many other experts.
The borders in this item seem very haphazard. Obviously, a cartographer was not involved. It appears our Preservation Office was not involved?
We know from Thelma Peters book, "Lemon City - Pioneering on Biscayne Bay 1850-1925" that our history and the history of this area is extensive. Obviously, we owe respect to our early pioneers who included "blacks" and "Bahamians".
We now know that local property owners who own 55-65 acres to be designated strongly support Lemon City and Little River and they strongly oppose the designation.
Property owners who oppose the designation:
1 Submitted ,into the publi{) E \ record fr lerr.r; f\, \ Tony Cho - 15 acres and 200,000 sq ft for space. on 6 Z" City Clerk
A vra Jain and Matt Vender W orff - 12+ acres and 60 properties in Little River
Bennett Pumo - 200 buildings and 500 tenants in the area. 60 years in Little River.
Mallory Kauderer - 8-12 buildings in Lemon City and Little River
Peter Ehrlich - 4 acres and 100,000 sq ft in 5 buildings and 18 tenants in Lemon City. 18 years in the area.
Alberto Sbarra - Recently built 12-13 buildings in Lemon City and Little River. The first new construction in 30 years.
Frank Rudman - 3 acres and 100,000 sq ft in Little River. 43 years in Little River.
Silvia Wong - 3 acres and 60,000 sq ft in Little River. 25 years in Little River.
List in formation ...
These property owners and others pay millions in property taxes. This issue needs more study. We need to hear from African-Americans, Bahamians and we need to hear from affected property owners.
*' ) We should defer this issue and bring it back as a Discussion Item first. ..
2
th Re: RE 11 on May 26 , 2016 Submitted into the public () ,.... record fr Herr \') (j, " From: Robert A Burr
To: [email protected]; Wgort@ miamigov.com; [email protected]; [email protected]; Krussell @miamigov.com; Tregalado@ miamigov.com
Sent: Monday, May 23, 2016 2:55 PM
th Subject: Lemon City / Little Haiti name designation HE 11 on May 26 .
Distinguished Miami Mayor and Commissioners,
It has come to my attention that there is an effort to rename one of Miami's historic neighborhoods, Lemon City.
As a family member of early pioneers of Lemon City, Little River, Arch Creek and the Redland region, I'm concerned that the loss of a name place -- made all the more famous by my friend Thelma Peters in her iconic pioneer history book of the same name -- could be a short-sighted error in judgment by some that might not appreciate our recent past.
Lemon City, Arch Creek, Little River, Buena Vista ... these place names are the last lingering remainders of our short history in South Dade. They are associated with the bold and proud early pioneers that forged this territory.
My great grandfather Edward DeVere Burr was chairman of the Dade Country Commission during the formative years of 1915 to 1921. His older brother was state railroad commissioner for 25 years. His younger brother established Burr's Berry Farm back in 1919. The brothers are buried in the first plot of Miami's pioneer cemetery.
1 Submitted .into the public(\ E" record ~iU f\, on S fr7_ . City Clerk
My hope and prayer is that as today's leaders, as stewards of our founders' legacy, you will make every effort to respect, protect and admire such small but signi,ficant vestiges of these living remainders. The erasure of such an iconic place name is a travesty that deprives all who follow from some significant clues to our past.
Every noteworthy group that contributes to the success and legacy of our communities deserves some respect and admiration for their efforts, but not at the expense of those that came before them, who forged a pioneer wilderness into this world renowned bustling metropoliS that we share - and strive to protect.
Robert A. Burr [email protected] 305-443-7973 office 305-439-1376 cell http://www.robertburr.com/BunBurr.html
2 l I
Submitted into the PUbIiC~ t' From: Bea Hines
Somebody informed me of this. We need to pack the commission chambers to let our voices be heard. Lemon City is a big part of our history. This has to be stopped.
On Mon, May 23,2016 at 12:20 AM, Penny Lambeth
This was sent to me by Enid Pinkney Penny Lambeth
Dear Friends:
The attached resolution asking for the historical I name of communities in Miami (lemon City) be changed to Little Haiti will be presented to the Miami City Commission on Thursday, May 26,2016. We do not know the time. You will have to call City Hall to get the time. This agenda item has not been publicized so few people in the community :know about it. Please do what you can to get the word out. Please e-mail or write commissioners about your feeling on the matter and please attend the Commission Meeting to express your views at City Hall, 3500 Pan American Drive. Names and numbers at end.
Another bit off our history may be removed. Penny Lambeth
"Lemon City is an old neighborhood by Miami standards. Named after the unusually sweet lemon trees that grew in the area, Lemon City was the home to one of the county's oldest schools, the Lemon City School, and first library, the Lemon City Library. One of its early markets, Rockmoor Grocery, would go on to become the first Winn Dixie store.
A year before Miami,' s incorporation, the 1895 population of Lemon City was 300. The area consisted of a second hotel, three general stores, a barbershop, a real estate office, bakery, sponge warehouse, two or more saloons, a restaurant, blacksmith, livery stable, separate post office, sawmill and photo studio. Being the bayside's 15-building metropolis in 1895 the area attracted famous visitors -like Henry Flagler- and became the commercial trading center of Biscayne Bay. There were 13 ships moored there in 1891, including the Emily B, a 3-ton, three-masted schooner that brought Julia Tuttle and her family - including their cow Daisy - to Miami that same year. This is one of our first cities." · Submitted .into the public 0 C \\ record (fr Itqrt'l{S) \'\ ~ I __ on 51 ~bub . City Clerk May 26, 2016 - RE 11 Formally naming historic neighborhoods "Little Haiti" is opposed by many:
Many people like and respect the history of the City of Miami.
Over the past 4-5 years we heard rumors that several residents of the City of North Miami and several residents of Miami Shores were interfering in the politics and the history of the City of Miami. In September-October of 2013 these out-of-town activists even prevailed upon a City Commissioner to propose legislation, which failed to pass.
The City of Miami consists of many historic neighborhoods. As Miami's population ebbs and flows Miami's historic names survive, and in many cases prosper. Little River, Edison, Brentwood, West Little River, Liberty City, Buena Vista, Spring Garden, Lemon City, Oakland Grove, Brownsville, Railroad Shoppes Colored Division, Riverside, Bellaire, Bayside, Elmira, Shenandoah and many others all survive.
We know that many Haitians have vacated the City of Miami over the past 15-20 years. In fact, the Federal Census states that from 2000 to 2010 12,800 residents vacated District 5. We know from interviewing teachers and principals in the Lemon City and surrounding neighborhoods that the enrollment in local elementary schools has declined 50% to 60% over the past 15-20 years. That is a decline of about 2% per year over the past 20 years. Children, and of course their families, have left. Acknowledging the mass exodus, the City of Miami recently completed voter Re-Districting and expanded the geographic area of District 5 into District 2 to take into account residents who left District 5. Schools that were formerly so overcrowded that they were forced to use mobile containers for classrooms in the 1980's now struggle to fill traditional classrooms in 2013 2016.
On September 26th, 2013 City of Miami Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones brought a Discussion Item in front of the City Commission (Dl. 4). Titled "Little Haiti". Spence Jones stated she wanted to install an umbrella name over 4-5 historic neighborhoods within the City of Miami. (Back-Up Document for D1.4 Oct 24 Agenda shows up to 14 historic neighborhoods were threatened). West Little River, Little River, Lemon City, Oakland Grove, Edison, Oakland Grove, Bellaire, etc ... Over the objections of many, Spence desired to call this new large area "Little Haiti".
th On September 26 , 2013 Commissioner Spence-Jones would not allow anyone from the public to speak. She did have five (5) hand picked speakers lined up to praise her scheme. At least three of whom lived outside the City of Miami. (N. Miami, Miami Shores, Miami Beach). Spence-Jones stated that she wanted the City to formally and legally name a large area of this northern section of the City of Miami as "Little Haiti". She mentioned borders such as NE 36th Street or NE 47th Street on the south, Biscayne Blvd or the FEC RR tracks on the east and the City borders on the north. We have been unable to determine the proposed west border, perhaps 1-95. We were unable to receive Spence-Jones's proposed map for what she determined to be "Little Haiti".
1 Submitted !nto the public ~C' \\ record fr Itef1(S) \.J. on 6 tb \1 . City Clerk
Spence-Jones had NOT asked the City to hire a historian or a map expert (cartographer) to help determine if this scheme would be a good idea. or not. No independent historian or map expert was hired to help detennine proper borders. (A historian might very well advise against formally branding an overly large area with an inappropriate name?)
Many people know and love Lemon City. Many people were born in Lemon City or they had relatives who were born in Lemon City. Lemon City'S history goes back to 1850 and Lemon City features prominently in the history of the City of Miami. Lemon City has what is considered the oldest library in Miami-Dade County. Lemon City had a post office, a train depot (built in 1896), docks on Biscayne Bay, a Lemon City Market etc. Lemon City had a very successful sawmill on NE 61 Sl Street. then called Lemon Avenue, that provided lumber for all of what is now Downtown Miami. "Lemon City, Pioneering on Biscayne Bay 1850-1925" by Thelma Peters is an excellent 300 page research book on Lemon City. Everyone should read it.
There is even a Plat Map called, "Plat of Town of Lemon City", dated 1890.
We would like your help. We would like to see Miami's historic names remembered and respected. We feel people can use whatever names make them feel comfortable. We do not think the City Commission should vote to approve a formal name change that would interfere with 100 to 150 years of history. At least have a public hearing and invite Bahamian and African-Americans and other groups to participate.
Thank you,
Peter R. Ehrlich, Jr. Lemon City
301-395 NE 59th Street 300-390 NE 59th Terrace 241 NE 59th Terrace 5935 NE 2nd Avenue
305798 1200
2 Submitted into the public \\E .. ' , . record fr iten(S) • \\ on S lib b . City Clerk Lemon City Cemetery Community Corporation RE lIon May 26, 2016 Agenda
May 23, 2016
To: Mayor Tomas P. Regalado Commissioner Wilfredo Gort, District 1 Commissioner Kenneth Russell, District 2 Commissioner Frank Carollo, District 3 Commissioner Francis Suarez, District 4 Commissioner Keon Hardemon, District 5 City Manager Daniel Alfonso
The Lemon City Cemetery Community Corporation is concerned about the pending legislation (RE lion May 26, 2016) that the City of Miami proposes to change the name of Lemon City, Little River and some other historical areas of Miami to "Little Haiti." We believe to do so will desecrate the history and legacies of those communities.
On September 17, 1883 John Saunders, the jailer homesteaded 148 acres of bay front from which Lemon City was developed. He was born in the Bahamas about 1837. The first mention of Lemon City in public records was Eugene C. Harrington's sale of the bay front to Charles S. B. Moffat, December 28, 1889. The history of Lemon City is graphically described in Dr. Thelma Peter's book, Lemon City, Pioneering on Biscayne Bay, 1850 1925. The name Lemon City is purported to have come from the fact that there were lemon trees on John Saunders' property and they were less sour than other lemons especially when eaten with salt.
In Chapter Thirteen of Dr. Peters book on Lemon City she states that blacks performed much of the hardest physical work that had to be done in the new country. They worked on the railroad, built roads, dug ditches, worked for lumber companies, in rock pits, and as laborers on construction. They also cleared the land for landholders with a machete and the strength of their backs. When the overseas extension of the railroad was announced there was a rush of blacks to get jobs clearing the right-of-way on the Florida Keys, blasting, loading and grading. A foreman of the Key Largo stretch of the railroad, John Hill was quoted in the News Leader, January 18, 1962 that he liked to hire Bahamian blacks because they were very good with a machete for brush whacking. George Submitted into the public (\E \\ record tijr iter(S) \~. on 5 Z,b lb . City Clerk Merrick, founder of Coral Gables said in his article "Pre-Flagler Influences on the Lower Florida East Coast in Tequesta, 1941" that some Bahamian blacks were living in Lemon City.
He paid tribute to these black Bahamians for changing the viewpoint of early white settlers who saw the rocky country as forbidding and desolate from a planting point of view. Bahamians knew how to plant on coral rock and how to use it. They introduced pigeon peas, sour soup, sour apple, caneps, sopotes and other fruits and vegetables. They knew how to build and were hired as masons. They knew how to make lime mortar from rock and how to use it in building. These pioneers did much to develop and cultivate the city.
The Lemon City Cemetery Corporation was incorporated in 2009 It was formed to preserve the history and legacy of the Lemon City Cemetery when there were plans to build affordable housing on the cemetery where 525 people, mostly Bahamians, had been buried. The Cemetery has local historic designation and is the resting place of veterans of World War 1, an African American incorporator of the City of Miami and many outstanding citizens.
We feel a great sense of responsibility to ourselves and the Lemon City Community to preserve the history, heritage and legacy of Lemon City. Changing the name from Lemon City to Little Haiti would further marginalize the presence of Lemon City as a part of Greater Miami. It will show disrespect for the existing name of Lemon City and its historical contribution to Greater Miami.
Therefore be it Resolved: That the Lemon City Cemetery Community Corporation respectfully request that the City of Miami NOT change the name(s) of the historical Miami Communities to Little Haiti.
Respectfully submitted,
Enid C. Pinkney, President Lemon City Cemetery Community Corporation
Media SPORTAILOR Submitted .into the public ~E l\ record ter May 24,2016 Mayor Tomas Regalado, Commissioners Wilfredo Gort, Kenneth Russell, Frank Carollo, Francis Suarez, Keon Hardemon , City Manager Daniel Alfonso RE: City of Miami Commission Meeting May 26, 2016 - RE 11 My name is Frank Rudman. I am the CEO for Sportailor, Inc., a garment manufacturer of sun protection clothing in the Little River Business District (FKA Little River Industrial Park) since 1963. I am writing to you to explain the reasons for denying the change of name of our area to Little Haiti as proposed in your Thursday May 26 agenda Item RE 11. The political immigrations that Miami has seen in the last 60 years, first the Cubans (I am Cuban born and came to the USA in 1961 escaping the communist government there), and then many other people came, including Haitians. None of these immigrants had any money. They went to housing in the cheapest and poorest sections of the City of Miami but as soon as they made some money the Cubans moved out to Westchester and other neighborhoods. It is hard to find a Cuban living in Little Havana this days, as you all know. The Haitians came to 62nd street and NE 2nd Avenue because of a church located there that was helping provide food and clothes. But as soon as they made some money, they moved out to North Miami Beach now 30% Haitians and North Miami 80% Haitians. If you check the school records of our area you can see the exodus of children leaving the area every year. Based on the evidence I do not believe you can call this area the heart of the Haitian community anymore. In fact, several years ago the Miami Herald published a long piece describing 123 rd Street as the center of Haitian life in South Florida. Our Little River Business District and Lemon City warehousing and adaptive reuse district is the job creator in the NE City of Miami and Miami-Dade County. We have over 3,000 people that make a living here. Many of the businesses in this area cater to local trade and depends of visitors to do their business. Sportailor is a 53-year-old company located in Little River for 51 years with 100,000 square feet of property. We have a national business providing merchandise to 50 states. Many customers come to visit us because we are so 6501 N.E. 2nd Ct.• Miami, FL 33138 U .S.A .• T 305.754.3255 • F 305.754.6559 • W www.sporlailor.com Submitted .into the public l\ E,\ SpaRTA/LOR record fOr ItlI~Sl \\. Since 1963 on 51< . City Clerk near to the Miami International Airport. These customers, are of course, concerned with safety. I strongly believe that associating the name Haiti and!or Little Haiti, which represents one of the poorest and crime ridden countries in the western hemisphere, to our area will be in detrimental to our ability to do business and pay our Real Estate taxes which appear to increase every year. It is difficult enough to stay in business in this economy. We face enormous competition. We, the job creators, expect local government to help us grow. We hope local government will NOT create problems or pass laws that handicap us. I am respectfully requesting that you DENY the change of name to Little Haiti for Little River and Lemon City, names engraved in the history of the city of Miami since the 1800's. !:~r~ F ranR Rudman, CEO Sportailor Inc. 6501 NE 2nd court Miami, fl 33138 6501 N.E. 2nd Ct .• Miami, FL 33138 U.S.A . • T 305.754.3255 • F 305.754.6559 • W www.sportailor.com 'SPORTAILOR Submitted .into the public ~ E 1 record f May 24,2016 Mayor Tomas Regalado, Commissioners Wilfredo Gort, Kenneth Russell, Frank Carollo, Francis Suarez, Keon Hardemon , City Manager Daniel Alfonso RE: City of Miami Commission Meeting May 26, 2016 . RE 11 My name is Frank Rudman. I am the CEO for Sportailor, Inc., a garment manufacturer of sun protection clothing in the Little River Business District (FKA Little River Industrial Park) since 1963. I am writing to you to explain the reasons for denying the change of name of our area to Little Haiti as proposed in your Thursday May 26 agenda Item RE 11. The political immigrations that Miami has seen in the last 60 years, first the Cubans (I am Cuban born and came to the USA in 1961 escaping the communist government there), and then many other people came, including Haitians. None of these immigrants had any money. They went to housing in the cheapest and poorest sections of the City of Miami but as soon as they made some money the Cubans moved out to Westchester and other neighborhoods. It is hard to find a Cuban living in Little Havana this days, as you all know. The Haitians came to 62 nd street and NE 2nd Avenue because of a church located there that was helping provide food and clothes. But as soon as they made some money, they moved out to North Miami Beach now 30% Haitians and North Miami 80% Haitians. Ifyou check the school records of our area you can see the exodus of children leaving the area every year. Based on the evidence I do not believe you can call this area the heart of the Haitian community anymore. In fact, several years ago the Miami Herald published a long piece describing 12yd Street as the center of Haitian life in South Florida. Our Little River Business District and Lemon City warehousing and adaptive reuse district is the job creator in the NE City of Miami and Miami-Dade County. We have over 3,000 people that make a living here. Many of the businesses in this area cater to local trade and depends of visitors to do their business. Sportailor is a 53-year-old company located in Little River for 51 years with 100,000 square feet of property. We have a national business providing merchandise to 50 states. Many customers come to visit us because we are so f,S OJ \:.E '7 nd '"'to • ,'vllami, FL 3138 :~. A. ' T 305.754.3255 • F 305.754.6559 • W www.sportail or.col1l Submitted .into the public (l E \I :SPORTAILOR record fqr Itere) \'\ t .. S ince l 063 on 6 I L6 b . City Clerk near to the Miami International Airport. These customers, are of course, concerned with safety. I strongly believe that associating the pame Haiti and/or Little Haiti, which represents one of the poorest and crime ridden countries in the western hemisphere, to our area will be in detrimental to our ability to do business and pay our Real Estate taxes which appear to increase every year. It is difficult enough to stay in business in this economy . We face enormous competition. We, the job creators, expect local government to help us grow. We hope local government will NOT create problems or pass laws that handicap us. I am respectfully requesting that you DENY the change of name to Little Haiti for Little River and Lemon City, names engraved in the history of the city of Miami since the 1800's. ResP1ctfuHy, ~ <:::\ ·\~O~_ Frank Rudman, CEO Sportailor Inc. 6501 NE 2nd court Miami, fl' 33138 6501 I r. E. 2nJ U .• r.-\iarni, fL 331 38 1. ~ . A . · T 305.754.3255 • F 305.754.6559 • W www.sportailor. co Ill Submitted into the public ~ E\I record ~irJ\ei(~L I on S 7,b l.b.... City Clerk Gooe are the clays w~.n pinewoods stretched without end .....g Biscayne Bay, when layers 0/ newspapen protected 011." body from mosquitoes, when coontie Peters Thelma Peters starch was • staple,. when bikes were the beat mode 0/ transportation on sandy LEMON CITY City roads, and when Indians had • way ofcoming uninvited Cor dirmer. pres But to the early ..Iller ofLemon City, a thriving pioneer conununityin what is Pioneering on Biscayne In the now Miami, Florida, these were everyday occurrences. The spark6ng, willy spirit ![ 130 of the late 1800s and early 19001 fiIIa this book, and over one hundred iIlustralions Bay 1850-1925 make life then spring back to life t~y. iI$ "a LE:M'ON CITY CareNI research into unpublished diari•• and I\WIUscript., the area', earliest newspapen, pampb!eta, and periodicals, and CQWItIess interview. yielding oral History buffs, residents, II"nealoaists, reminiscences heve provided dehI1a about .C)~i1 pe"""", - their laves, hates, and aU those interested in the simpler-if tragedies, and succesies-in • unique oubt.ropicalse1tinl Pioneering on Biscayne Bay rougher-Me-styles of bygone days will Funny, factual, always fascinating, u- City is • model local history, of ni be fascinated by Thelma Peters'lively yet :each :r." As interest to biatory bufts. residen'-' B"neoIOabta...Jld aU those interested in the factual aCCOWIt of a once-thriving pioneer simpler (iftougher) &!e-styles o(~yaODe days. 1850-1925 noved ~~ community now part of Greater Miami. , Mis Gone are the days when pinewoods 1tly in stretched without end along Biscayne Barry 1-l"\J Bay, when layers of newspapers prcr 00 -. tected one's body from mosquitoes, when oland ~g coontie starch was a staple, and when .rgia), Indians had a way of coming uninvited for ~ Uni ~~ dinner. But the sparlding, witty spirit of ersity these times-the late 1SOOs and early ':dison ~ S· 19OOs-fiUs this book. ,.,.,.... CJ'ltQ Unpublished diaries and manusaipts ~ and and the area's earliest newspapers, pam !ison's o phlets, and periodicals were aU carefully diami :::s researcbed. Countless interviews yielded , Uni oral reminiscences and long-forgotten OJ photographs. Together these sources dyar ~. provide rich details about the era when .sively the focal point of the town was the bay d, Dl: with its docks and the sailing craft that family ~ carried passengers, mail, lumber, and in re· :::s ~ general merchandise in to the home ociate steaders. The changes that occurred with eHis OJ the coming of the railroad in 1896 are lorida, detailed-the advent of truckers, saw ofthe ~ mills, new residents, and tourists-that culminated in Lemon City being swal lowed up by the city of Miami in 1925. The settlers of Lemon City endured the hardships and loneliness of the fron tier as truly as any other pioneers in our American tradition. Though in a subtropi cal setting. their failures were no less bitter, their successes just as sweet as ~ those that other pioneers experienced in Banyan Books (COItlimudon back~) .!B.95 D ~ j J ~ ~ ~ co C") ..... ~ ~ :gcu 0 .u:_ ~ ~