Schwartz Media Strategies

I was reading the other day that as the Florida Chapter of The American Institute of Architects celebrates its centennial, it will also recognize the 100 most noteworthy buildings across the state. What I found most interesting is that Miami – a city once criticized for a lack of art and culture – is home to more than 20% of the organization’s selections – 22 buildings that have captivated and encapsulated our region through the years.

Kudos to the City of Miami and some forward-thinking residents and stakeholders for converting a pedestrian-unfriendly median/parking lot in downtown Miami into a temporary park (read the Miami Herald's coverage of the park here). Don't blink or you'll miss it; the park will only be intact for five days (thru Sunday). But its very existence is sparking some very healthy discourse about how we use public spaces and how we can further evolve Miami into a more livable, walkable, sustainable city.

Developing our firm's new logo over the last three months has been a labor of love. Between the brainstorming, the designing, the opining and the integration, we've vetted our new brand mark to the nth degree.

Great read from Forbes exploring the role that foreign buyers are playing in Miami's real estate comeback. One of the new residential towers rising, the 374-unit BrickellHouse (@BrickellHouse), has already seen 50% of its condo product fly off the shelves. The activity is being fueled primarily by buyers from Brazil, Venezuela, Mexico, Russia, and Asia.

Does a sudden flurry of activity signal brighter days ahead in Miami’s real estate market? A recent post on GlobeSt.com’s popular “In the Know” blog pointed to the growth of our firm’s real estate practice as a surefire sign that the Miami is on the rebound following one of the most historic market collapses in recent memory.

I'm the first one to discredit 'top 10' lists. Maybe it's because Miami, my hometown, is a perennial fixture atop rankings of the 'most dangerous,' 'most expensive,' and 'most superficial' cities.

Finally, there's a list that Miamians can take some pride in: The Chronicle of Philanthropy has released its annual Philanthropy "Top 50" and the Magic City is well represented.

NY Times media beat reporter David Carr nails it with this profile on Esquire Magazine's harrowing tale of what it's like to be relevant, then irrelevant, then relevant again.

With Tallahassee debating the prospects of bringing destination resorts to Florida, supporters of the legislation are making their case with a strong economic/jobs message at the core. Below, noted economist Tony Villamil offers his projections of the economic impact of destination resorts while small business owners sound-off on how an influx of new tourists (and their dollars) will provide much needed relief to their bottom line. Read on...