"Mini Times Square" Coming to Downtown Miami
500-foot tall towers will illuminate downtown
It's beginning to feel a lot like New York in Miami.
Despite resident disapproval, the Miami City Commission went after the big bucks and approved a plan to allow two 500-foot tall advertising towers to be erected in the heart of downtown.
The "Mini Times Square," as developers have sold it, would net $2 million in fees for the city and another $800,000 for an amusement park.
Those are big chunks of cash too good to pass up, commissioners said, especially since the city is on the verge of going belly up.
Residents angry that the lights will keep them awake at night can look on the bright side (no pun intended): Now we have a place to put some LeBron James and D-Wade digital statues.
Mark Siffin, the brain trust behind the gawdy idea, thinks the towers will attract advertisers the way the illuminated neon lights in Times Square do.
They could also serve as night time tanning options for club goers and a viable reason to wear sunglasses at night (we hate that trend so).
The commission also approved the construction of a parking garage and a retail center near the Adrienne Arsht Center.
Posted Thursday, Jul 29, 2010 - 4:07 PM EST
