HomeMy WebLinkAbout2010-005-1187 - Bennett M Lifter Street
City of Miami Gardens Agenda Cover Memo Council Meeting Date: January 13, 2010 Item Type: (Enter X in box) Resolution Ordinance Other X Fiscal Impact: (Enter X in box) Yes No Ordinance
Reading: (Enter X in box) 1st Reading 2nd Reading X Public Hearing: (Enter X in box) Yes No Yes No Funding Source: N/A Advertising Requirement: (Enter X in box) Yes No X Contract/P.O.
Required: (Enter X in box) Yes No RFP/RFQ/Bid #: X N/A Sponsor Name Mayor Shirley Gibson Department: Public Works Short Title: A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF MIAMI GARDENS,
FLORIDA, RENAMING A PORTION OF NORTHWEST 177TH STREET, BETWEEN 2ND AVENUE AND 7TH AVENUE, TO “BENNETT M. LIFTER WAY”; PROVIDING FOR DIRECTIONS TO THE CITY MANAGER; PROVIDING FOR THE
ADOPTION OF REPRESENTATIONS; PROVIDING AN EFFECTIVE DATE. Staff Summary: Mr. Bennett M. Lifter had a vision of this community long before it became the City of Miami Gardens. As a realtor
and developer, Mr. Lifter purchased approximately 400 acres of land at the Golden Glades Interchange in the late sixties to early seventies. During that time, he was approached by the
Florida Dept of Transportation to use approximately 200 acres for the creation of the Florida Turnpike Extension off the Palmetto Expressway. We now know this to be Miami Gardens’ entrance
and exit to the turnpike. As a result of that sale, Mr. Lifter began development of the remaining 200 acres into what is known today as the Cloverleaf neighborhood. He built most of
the residential developments along NW 177th Street, NW 178th Street and NW 179th Street from NW 2nd Avenue to NW 7th Avenue over the past 30 years. In the early 1990’s when crime was
out of control, he elected to close down his apartment units and to begin a sales program to convert renters into homeowners. When FHA and Fannie Mae loans were not available, he provided
his own financing. Mr. Lifter created approximately 1,000 home owners during his sales program. ITEM J-6) CONSENT AGENDA RESOLUTION Bennett M. Lifter Way
1515 NW 167 Street, Building 5 Suite 200 Miami Gardens, Florida 33169 The transition took time, but by the early 2000’s most of the crime in the Cloverleaf neighborhood had disseminated.
As a result, the street became accessible again. Mr. Lifter invested his own funds to create a landscaped buffer as well as hired of a local person who walked along NW 177th Street daily
to pick up the garbage. When he noticed that several accidents had occurred at the corner of NW 7th Avenue and NW 5th Avenue along NW 177th Street due to the lack of traffic lights or
stop signs, he worked with Miami Dade County to install the necessary traffic signs needed in this area. He believed so much in the area that he put his own money into the creation of
a gas station on the corner of NW 177th Street (which was subsequently sold) and into the development of his headquarters at the corner of NW 179th Street and US 441. On Sunday, September
27, 2009, Mr. Bennett M. Lifter passed away leaving a great legacy in the City of Miami Gardens. Naming a portion on Northwest 177th Street between 2nd Avenue and 7th Avenue would be
an adequate gesture to recognize a man who had a vision of this improve this community long before it became the City of Miami Gardens. Proposed Action: It is recommended that the Council
approve the attached Resolution for the naming of NW 177th Street between 2nd Avenue and 7th Avenue in Miami Gardens, Florida to “Bennett M. Lifter Way”. Attachment: None.