Commentary
Ultra? What has changed?
Open Letter by Scott Lindenberg to Mayor Suarez; Commissioner Russell; Commissioner Carollo; Commissioner Gort; Commissioner Hardemon; Commissioner Reyes.
I really don’t understand the rationale of the commission revisiting a decision on Ultra when there has been no visible change in circumstances that would justify reconsideration.
As a former chief revenue attorney for the City of Chicago, I was intimately involved in the revitalization of Navy Pier and Millennium Park (formerly Grant Park) in downtown Chicago. Both hugely successful developments, which maximize the use of space, with little or no impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. Both locations severely limit the use of the space for outside entertainment events with little or no impact on the environment or continuity of use as green space.
Instead of playing the short game for quick profit, Chicago took the time to put together a well-conceived urban plan that coupled corporate sponsorship with community cooperation to develop commercial space that benefits business and the communities in which they exist.
Ultra does none of that. The benefits to business are short-lived and minimal, because this is an event that attracts a very specific demographic that has limited commercial potential. For that reason alone, this is an event that is best suited for an open fairground with lots of open space and largely undeveloped borders.
The very nature of the event precludes changes that will address the concerns of nearby residents. Ultra is about loud music and that’s fine. It’s just not fine in a confined area surrounded by tall buildings. Nothing Ultra can or will do can change that. Reducing set-up and tear-down times, even by half (which is highly unlikely) still puts Bayfront Park out of commission for far too long.
So I have to ask, what has changed that now makes Ultra a viable event in downtown Miami? The answer is nothing.
In short, Ultra is bad for downtown Miami. Bad for business, bad for the environment, bad for the residents and bad for the political futures of the Miami commissioners, should they decide to bring it back.
Scott Lindenberg is a downtown Miami resident and former chief revenue attorney for the City of Chicago — involved in the revitalization of Navy Pier and Millennium Park in downtown Chicago.
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