The Mosaic Mural community project took more than two years to complete and involved more than 80 area children, whose drawings and paintings inspired the marine-themed mosaic mural, and the dedicated team of local artists, Cyndy Hill and Eileen Seitz, who, who along with more than 100 local volunteers, spent hundreds of hours constructing the mural panels.

Beset by many setbacks, the mural project almost didn’t happen. Commissioner Sarnoff and his District 2 staff worked diligently to find the necessary resources for the artists, from donated tile, stone and mortar to engineering expertise to the enormous work and storage spaces needed to complete the project. When the federal bureaucracy threatened to derail the project, Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen stepped in and the group was able to obtain permission from the U.S. Postal Service to erect the mural on the outside wall of the U.S. Post Office Coconut Grove Branch.

“The Children’s Mosaic Mural is truly about community, with people from throughout Coconut Grove contributing to the effort and pulling together as ‘One Grove’,” said Commissioner Sarnoff, whose district encompasses Coconut Grove. “From conception to completion, this mural represents all the good that the City of Miami has to offer.”

The idea to place a mural at the Coconut Grove Post Office came about initially as a way to combat graffiti. The project quickly took hold of the hearts and minds of a diverse group of people – artists and non-artists, the young and not-so-young – who pulled together in an effort to create a visible heart of the community.

“Every volunteer worked hard to contribute their own unique piece that when brought together highlights the mural’s marine theme,” Congresswoman Ros-Lehtinen said. “Individually, each tile represents the broad diversity of our South Florida community, but combined they create this wonderful mural that showcases our unity and strength.”

The earliest fruit of this collaborative effort appears in the watercolor painting “Layers of Love,” by Eileen Seitz, who drew from Cyndy Hill’s design concept and which serves as the basis for the mural. The mural design takes its major elements directly from original children’s paintings and drawings gathered from Coconut Grove Cares/ Barnyard Community Center, Shake-A-Leg Miami, Blu Moon Studio of Art, and other contributors.

In addition to those organizations, youths from Coconut Grove Elementary School, Coral Gables High School, Ponce de Leon Middle School and the Coconut Grove Sailing Club, as well as additional local artists and community members, helped to the assemble the 56 panels that comprise the mural.

“It shows what a dedicated group of people can do,” artist Hill said. “It took local people, local government and local businesses to accomplish this mural project.”

Each of the 56 panels weighs approximately 100 pounds and incorporates tiles donated by Juan Carlos Ruiz, of the non-profit group The Artile Project, that were mounted onto stone panels provided by Amir Awal, of the company Excellence In Stone. Sylvia Jordan, director of the Coconut Grove Cares / The Barnyard Community Center, provided workspace and the non-profit framework for the group to accept donations. Barbara Bisno and the Venetian Causeway Neighborhood Alliance provided $2,200 to pay for additional materials. The majority of the prefabrication of the panels was done at the City of Miami’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team office in Coconut Grove. Shake-A-Leg Miami provided its hanger for storage and workspace to complete the panels.

Commissioner Sarnoff invites neighbors, public officials and the general public to the unveiling ceremony next Friday, Oct. 7 at 3:00 p.m., at 3191 Grand Avenue, in Coconut Grove. For more information about the mural and the artists please visit the Coconut Grove Children’s Mosaic Mural Facebook page at

http://on.fb.me/onegrovemural ]]> http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/coconut-grove-childrens-mosaic-mural-to-be-unveiled/feed/ 0 http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-the-new-playground-at-brickell-park/ http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-the-new-playground-at-brickell-park/#comments Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:06:04 +0000 Marc http://www.marcsarnoff.com/?p=505  

District 2 is responding to the growing needs of Brickell families (MIAMI, FL  October 4, 2011) – City of Miami Commissioner Marc D. Sarnoff is proud to announce the Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new children’s playground at Brickell Park, Thursday, Oct. 6 at 10:00 a.m. at 501 Brickell Avenue, between ICON at Brickell and the First Presbyterian Church. The playground comes in response to the growing number of families who have moved to the Brickell area in recent years, many of whom requested a play area nearby.   “Families are the bedrock of growth for our city,” said Commissioner Sarnoff. “The pioneering Brickell family who settled this area knew that, and this playground is just another wonderful addition for the families of Miami to enjoy the outdoors.”   The Brickell Park playground, just south of the ICON building, should be completed within 70 days from the time of the groundbreaking, according to the City of Miami Capital Improvements Program. The cost of the playground equipment and construction is roughly $88,000 and will be paid for from the Homeland Defense Bond (Series 3).   Commissioner Sarnoff invites neighbors, public officials and the general public to the groundbreaking ceremony next Thursday.

WHAT:                 Groundbreaking Ceremony for the new children’s playground at Brickell Park

WHEN:                Thursday, October 6, 2011 @ 10:00 a.m.

WHERE:               501 Brickell Avenue, between ICON at Brickell and the First Presbyterian Church ]]> http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-the-new-playground-at-brickell-park/feed/ 0 http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-flatiron-park/ http://www.marcsarnoff.com/press-releases/commissioner-marc-d-sarnoff-invites-the-community-to-the-groundbreaking-for-flatiron-park/#comments Fri, 23 Sep 2011 20:42:38 +0000 Marc http://www.marcsarnoff.com/?p=491 Public-private partnership brings a new park to the Brickell area.

The City of Miami Omni Community Redevelopment Agency Board unanimously approved a $1 million allocation to begin planning, design, permitting and initial retrofitting of the Miami Entertainment Complex. MEC will convert an 82,000-square-foot building into a state-of-the-art mixed-use production facility to cultivate the Magic City’s homegrown film community while working to attract new production.

“Downtown Miami is in a unique position to nurture a strong and vibrant film industry,” says Marc Sarnoff, City of Miami commissioner, who also serves as chair of the Omni CRA and sponsored the appropriation. “We have all seen the powerful effect that the City’s exposure in film and TV shows has on tourism and the local economy. Beyond that, there are also many local aspiring filmmakers, budding writers, directors, producers and actors who would thrive in a facility that offered a place to create, collaborate and hone their craft.”

The facility will feature two sound stages, a motion capture studio, as well as editing suites, screening rooms, production offices and rooms for other production functions. The agency estimates it will spend between $7 million to $10 million to complete the project, which will take about 18 to 24 months. The facility is expected to generate more than $260 million in tax incentives and create dozens of high-skilled jobs.

“For decades, Miami has survived on two industries–real estate and tourism,” Sarnoff says. “Like the work we are doing on the biotechnology front, film has the potential to enhance the viability of Miami’s economic future.”

By Jennifer LeClaire

See full article at:  http://www.globest.com/news/1967_1967/miami/312605-1.html

Well, steps are being taken to make it happen.

A movie set isn’t the norm for Miami, but the “Rock of Ages” movie set takes up two blocks near the Adrienne Arsht Center. City leaders said it’s a sign of things to come.

“This is the beginning of an industry that Miami has never seen before,” Greg Hauptner, founder of the G Star School of the Arts, said.

Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff agreed saying the movie industry wants to be in Miami.

“To watch this become a movie studio in three months and to see Tom Cruise as the actor… there’s no better calling card,” Sarnoff said. “We’re here, we’re open for business, and we’re ready to go.”

Sarnoff is working with the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency to attract more movies to Miami. Those prospects are exciting for local film buffs and business leaders like Hauptner.

“You’re not only talking about the huge budgets with major films, but the money that rolls over – with new people coming in that will hired for jobs,” he said.

A warehouse near North Miami Avenue and 14th Street is full of props for the Rock of Ages movie now, but in two years it will have two sound stages, editing rooms, and everything else needed to make a major motion picture.

The Omni CRA already has $1 million to start building the MEC, or Miami Entertainment Complex.

Miami leaders said it will bring in millions and give the city more than just real estate and tourism to thrive off of.

Read the full NBC Miami article and video by Christina Hernandez Here

“Downtown Miami is in a unique position to nurture a strong and vibrant film industry,” said Marc Sarnoff, City of Miami commissioner. “We have all seen the powerful effect that the city’s exposure in film and TV shows has on tourism and the local economy. Beyond that, there are also many local aspiring filmmakers, budding writers, directors, producers and actors who would thrive in a facility that offered a place to create, collaborate and hone their craft.”

The facility will feature two sound stages, a motion capture studio, editing suites, screening rooms, production offices and rooms for other production functions. Experts estimate that it will take $7 million to $10 million to complete the project, which will take about 18 to 24 months.

See the full The Real Deal article Here

…Now windows are boarded gates are rusting and trash litters the property in the heart of the Center Grove entertainment district.

“There has been absolute and total neglect by the board for the last five years,” said City of Miami Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who has been an outspoken critic of the board of directors that operates the playhouse. “This is something that is very important to the Grove, something that has been allowed to languish and be dormant for far too long.”

When the doors of the theatre suddenly shut five years ago amid $4 million in debt, Shelley Spivack, chair of the Playhouse’s board, said the building was not emptied of its 50 years worth of archival material, including playbills, costumes, props and photographs.

“Whatever you would find in a theatre is in there,” Spivack said, recognizing that there are items in the building that need to be preserved. “When we closed the building there was no money, and there is no money now.”

Cmdr. Richard Gentry, who oversees patrols in Coconut Grove for the City of Miami Police Department, said that he is unsure what damage, if any, has been done to the Playhouse items, but that officers at the building noted that copper had been taken.

Officers have been instructed to monitor the building extra closely, in search of any homeless people who may be occupying the landmark, Gentry said. Police have connected a couple of homeless people around the building with homeless services in the area…

Read the full article written by the Miami Herald’s Perry Stein  Here

Read more: http://www.miamiherald.com/2011/07/21/2324777/outdoor-exercise-equipment-project.html#storylink=misearch#ixzz1TERhAid3

MIAMI – July 16, 2011 – Commissioner Marc Sarnoff joined by his passionate neighbors, Miami’s Neighborhood Enhancement Team (NET), and his staff aided in the successful completion of the revitalization of six foreclosed properties in the northern city limits. Work began around 9:00am with a few motivational words from concerned Miami citizens along with Commissioner Sarnoff. The hard work in the brutal South Florida sun continued throughout the afternoon by trimming overgrown trees, mowing neglected lawns, and removing unsightly debris from the deserted properties.

The day’s hard work was all in part of a community initiative lead by active community leaders Jennifer Ocana and Jack Barnes to keep Miami neighborhoods safe and clean. Since bank owned properties see little to no maintenance, Commissioner Sarnoff believes it is up to motivated community members to pitch in and “clean this city up” one house at a time.

With the assistance of the Neighborhood Enhancement Team and concerned neighbors, the two-dozen volunteers were able to turn abandoned homes into much more appealing properties. The actions by the volunteers will not only increase property values in the affected neighborhood, but also aid in the wellbeing and safety of the Miami community.

Bank foreclosed homes that have become eyesores to neighbors have much deeper affects then just being unattractive. Some of the neglected properties in the area have boarded up and broken windows and doors, stagnant water, and overgrown foliage. The combination of this negligence can potentially lead to health and safety hazards such as unwanted mosquitoes, rodents, and other pests to the neighborhood.

Commissioner Sarnoff understands the importance of maintenance and integration of the environment into the City of Miami’s culture. Through programs such as the Canopy Revitalization, the planting of over 150 trees in Coconut Grove, and the creation of many city parks over Commissioner Sarnoff’s tenure as a citizen and city official shows that he is ready to get involved on a grassroots level. The Commissioner would like to make the City of Miami safer and even more beautiful not only for current citizens but also for future generations to enjoy.

In order to keep abandoned negligent properties from becoming a hazard the Miami community must come together to combat this issue head on in a positive fashion. Lending a helping hand in other projects around the City of Miami through the Neighborhood Enhancement Team can go a long way in the further beautification of our already great city.

If you would like more information on the Neighborhood Enhancement Team of Miami or how you can become involved please contact Commissioner Sarnoff at MarcSarnoff.com or visit miamigov.com/NETS/pages to contact the Miami Neighborhood Enhancement Team.

The plot has recently thickened. A few months ago, Miami’s Community Redevelopment Agency purchased a warehouse near 29th Avenue and Northwest 13th Street for about $3 million.

The facility was once used to house old textbooks for Miami-Dade Public Schools. In a few months, however, it will become a state-of-the-art film studio.

“You’ll have the proper heights, you’ll have the proper electric, you’ll have the proper sound proofing,” said CRA board member Marc Sarnoff. “This would allow you to film as if you were in Hollywood.”

The CRA thinks it is just the thing the city needs to lure in major productions. Until now, producers have complained of South Florida’s lack of controlled space.

Watch: Video

Continue reading article at:

http://www.local10.com/entertainment/27854562/detail.html