Robins, Craig interview

Permanent Link:: http://dpanther.fiu.edu/dpService/dpPurlService/purl/MBVM000007/00001

Material Information

Subjects / Keywords:: Oral histories -- Miami Beach (Fla.)
Art -- Collectors and collecting
Real estate development -- United States
Genre:: Video Recordings
Spatial Coverage:: United States -- Florida -- Miami Beach
Coordinates:: 25.8126848 x -80.1911444

Scope and Content:: Craig Robins, art collector and real estate developer, the driving force behind the Miami Design District, talks about the creative convergence that happened on South Beach in the 1990’s, which resulted in the renaissance of the Art Deco District. At the time, he was the young son of a Miami Beach real estate developer, looking to establish an art and design gallery on 5th Street. He connected with Tony Goldman, a legendary real estate developer who was just starting to buy up properties to restore and create a concept neighborhood. Other young innovators pooled their ideas and investment skills and South Beach was reborn. Barbara Capitman had started the “uprising,” in his words, which helped drive the dynamic preservation movement. Robins was skeptical at first about Barbara’s ideas, but states that the demolition of the Senator Hotel was a pivotal moment in his attitude about preserving the Deco legacy. He calls himself a “bridge” between the older powers that controlled the Beach at that time and the younger, innovative group that saw great potential in the unique urban landscape, dilapidated though it was. Robins talks about bringing Art Basel to Miami Beach, the excitement at the time and its influence. “Miami Beach became a city of cultural substance.” He relates his concept behind the Miami Design District and how it is a continuation of what started on Ocean Drive.