Skyrise Miami: Future Tourist Destination and Hard Pill to Swallow for Miami Locals

Sep 23, 2016 September 23, 2016

The Berkowitz Development Group, describes SkyRise as their “abstract version of the Statue of Liberty”. Approved in 2014, this R-shaped structure is being built in tandem with the revitalization of Bayside Marketplace. The tower will be built facing the Caribbean and South America, as a welcoming beacon for visitors from the South. And more recently, developers have requested the city to grant permission for the addition of a “Giant Observation Wheel” and a “Giant Chair Drop” to the north elevation of the tower.

Developers have introduced the tower as a revolutionary structure that’s part-entertainment hub, part-adventure park and part-observation tower.

Now, that’s the company’s version of the 1000-foot-high SkyRise sitting on the Bay. Coming to the residents’ side of the story, and most (including me) are meeting this tourist-trap of a monstrosity with an eyeroll.

Yes, it will feature Sky Top – Miami’s highest viewing point at 1,000 feet above sea level. Yes, it will have 15,000 sq ft of retail space. Yes, it will offer multiple dining opportunities with killer views at 840 feet and above. There’ll also be a sky-high ballroom, conference center, a Flying Theater and SkyPlunge (a sudden plummet through hundreds of feet at 55 MPH) to make this a landmark attraction.

However, for the average Miamian such as me, it seems like nothing more than a tourist trap trying hard to liven up the lowly Bayside Marketplace that’s currently land of the bored cruise-goers and clueless Miami suburbanites. I remember when I used to go there in 1999 and 2000 when I first moved to Miami. I was young and unknowing – and Miami had a lot less to do as well.

Now, 17 years later, we have this SkyRise ski slope looking thing with a whole slew of tourist-trap things to do for the same-old bored cruise-goers, and perhaps some other tourists looking for a cheap thrill. I suppose that since tourism is one of our biggest economic drivers, pills like this are ones we might just need to swallow, even if it means that the thought of it is a bit cringeworthy to the average local.

Comment if you agree or share your opinion on the SkyRise.

SkyRise with the "Giant Observation Wheel" - Courtesy of Arquitectonica

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