Miami Beach leaders say they will remove Ocean Drive promenade after judge orders reopening

A judge has ordered Miami Beach to reopen the two blocked blocks of Ocean Drive and return the street to its pre‑COVID two‑way configuration, and city staff said they will remove the promenade as soon as the Feb. 7 special meeting ends.

Mayor Minor, mayor of Miami Beach, opened the meeting saying the commission called the session to explain why Ocean Drive was closed, what led to the current legal dispute and what steps the city will take next. City Manager Eric Carpenter told the commission the city has received a January 7 letter from Miami‑Dade County and a subsequent court order directing removal of the pedestrian plaza and a return to two‑way traffic between Fifth Street and Fifteenth Street. Carpenter said staff will comply immediately unless another reprieve is granted by the courts.

The order and county letter came amid years of pilot programs and county approvals and rejections. Eric Carpenter said the commission initially directed a southbound one‑way configuration with a two‑way protected bicycle lane in late 2021 and that the city implemented a promenade pilot and a block‑party permit in 2022. The county later said the block‑party permit was conditional and in January told the city to remove the pedestrian plaza; a judge then ordered removal on public‑safety grounds during litigation between private hotel interests and the city.

Why it matters: The two‑block promenade on Ocean Drive has become a flashpoint between residents and business owners, with supporters saying the closure has improved safety and quality of life and opponents saying it has harmed retail and blocked vehicle access. The court order, county requirements for repurposing lanes and a new state statute that imposes additional procedural steps for lane changes mean the city must navigate concurrent legal and permitting processes while restoring traffic flow.

Residents and business owners who spoke during the meeting presented sharply different accounts of the promenade’s effects. Irene Bigger, president of the Art Deco Neighborhood Association, said the pedestrian zone has made the street “a haven of tranquility and a healthier and safer environment” and compared it to pedestrianized projects in other cities. By contrast, several retail and property owners said the promenade has reduced customers and harmed property values; Andrew Mermeli, owner of SB Realty, said an appraisal done after the closure showed his property value fell by about $7,000,000.

Public‑safety arguments were central to the judge’s ruling and to several speakers at the meeting. Police Chief Wayne Jones told the commission the department supported measures that preserved quick emergency access and that the city supplemented patrols with ATVs, bicycles and security at the gates; he said the police have recorded a 12% reduction in arrests and a 16% reduction in calls for service on Ocean Drive since 2021. Opponents of the closure, including speakers citing county safety reports, said the dead‑end created by the barricades forced U‑turns, delayed large vehicles and produced “bottlenecks” that increased risk for fire and EMS response.

Legal and permitting path forward: City Attorney Rick (city attorney) and Carpenter said the city has filed an appeal asking the Third District Court of Appeal to reinstate an automatic stay; the judge vacated an earlier stay and issued a final order during the meeting. Carpenter also said the city is pursuing renewed permitting with Miami‑Dade County for a one‑way configuration with a protected bike lane, but county staff have told the city that prior approvals have lapsed and that new permits will be subject to recently adopted state requirements (including community notice and a 180‑day review period). The manager said the city engaged Calvin Giordano and Associates on a longer‑term design and expects to present that analysis within 60 to 90 days.

Commissioners said the city must comply with the court while seeking a local solution. Multiple commissioners emphasized respect for judicial authority and county jurisdiction, even as some urged continued efforts to secure county permission for the bike lane or to obtain delegated authority so the city can set local traffic policy. City staff said crews were standing by to remove the barricades after the meeting if no additional court reprieve was granted.

Next steps and community concerns: The city manager committed to immediate compliance with the judge’s order unless a higher court intervenes, to pursue the county permit process for a one‑way/bike lane configuration under the new state rules, and to present a finalized traffic analysis and long‑range plan for Ocean Drive and Lummus Park in the coming months. Speakers asked the commission to consider the economic effects on small businesses and hotels, emergency‑vehicle access, pedestrian safety, and whether temporary events such as the promenade’s concert series can continue during the transition.

"You need to obey the law," resident Inez Flax said about the court order. Vanina, president of Ocean Drive Promenade Community, urged immediate removal of the barricades and told commissioners, “Remove the barricades now.”

Ending: The commission opened the meeting to extensive public comment and a long discussion among commissioners, city staff and the police chief. For now, the city plans to carry out the court’s order to reopen Ocean Drive while pursuing legal appeals and renewed county permits that could allow a one‑way, bike‑lane configuration or a redesigned pedestrian solution in the months ahead. The commission asked staff for regular updates as the legal and permitting processes proceed.