WCOM NEWS

8-25-04

Miramar approves face lift for commercial building

MIRAMAR--Curb appeal continues to grow in Miramar as city officials recently agreed to pay for a ninth face lift for a building in the "overlay district," deemed by the city as needing enhancements to commercial structures.

The property, formerly known as the JoBanks Building at 2208 SW 60th Way, has been approved for up to $50,000 for beautification through the city's Commercial Façade Rehabilitation Program, which is financed by federal Community Development Block Grant money.

Owner John Ebanks said he is pleased with the way the property will be transformed.

"It's going to be night and day. It will be completely different with palm trees, a new fence, and new frontage," he said. "We're going to raise the roof in the back. A lot of good things are going to be happening."

New designs for the property include renovating the two existing one-story buildings to enhance the building occupied by H & H Automotive Repair.

Work will include connecting the buildings by raising a roof, providing a covered decorative roof slab to the front building, and new tile-mansard roofs.

Brick pavers will be installed at the front of the property, and landscaping, irrigation and upgraded fencing also are planned.

Michael Alpert, senior planner in the city's Community Development Department, said the city wanted to make the property more appealing even though a number of cars are often parked there.

"When we reviewed it, it was to provide good visual screening of the cars, overall making the property more visually appealing," he said.

Ebanks said he initially applied for the funding to bring the property up to code, but he later became aware of the renovation program. "I'm enthused about the whole program," Ebanks said. "It's going to enhance the building and the complete area."

Gus Zambrano, the city's economic development and revitalization manager, said many of the properties in the overlay district are not up to code because the sites are often too small and overbuilt. With the renovations, he said, the city tries to balance parking and landscaping.

Any commercial property owner or long-term tenant in the overlay district is eligible to receive funding to improve the exterior facade and landscaping, Zambrano said.

By city ordinance, all structures within the district's boundaries -- Southwest 62nd Avenue, Pembroke Road, State Road 7 and County Line Road -- must be rehabilitated by 2011, Zambrano said.

"Little by little, the area's being beautified," he said. "You will see streets uplifted as more and more building facades and parking areas are renovated."

(source) Sun Sentinel (Laura Burdick-Sherman) 8-25-04