Editors Note: The Barbara Baer Capitman archives “Historic Threads” project is partly sponsored by the Department of State, Division of Historical Resources and the State of Florida.
Nancy Liebman, a passionate advocate for historic preservation and the arts, describes a firsthand experience at the Cafe Cardozo in Miami Beach that illustrates the cultural and economic value of preserving Art Deco architecture. She directly challenged the idea that Miami Beach’s Art Deco district was declining or unviable, empahzizing the success of the Cafe Cardozo which was achieved without demolition, large-scale redevelopment, or flashy modernization. Instead, that it ultimately thrived by making use of the existing gorgeous Art Deco environment.
Excerpts and quotes from the article are highlighted below in blue.
Here we were sitting in the tranquil setting of Ocean Drive, in a crowd of a young avant-gard and professional persons from throughout Dade County, enjoying the mellow music of talented musicians, safely overlooking the shimmering lights reflecting upon the ocean, and wondering how many residents of Miami Beach have witnessed the impact of this jewel in the midst of what is considered by some to be barren, decaying area.
The crowds of people at the Cafe Cardozo happily acquiesced to overflow space on the sidewalks and steps from the outdoor porch of the hotel. Our amazement never diminished as we realized that this bustling business evolved without redevelopment, costly renovation, demolition for garish new giant concrete structures, gambling or loud publicity. The Cafe has bounded to success because in Miami Beach’s Art Deco District.