The art-house cinema, located at 1508 SW Eighth St., has a long history of supporting local filmmakers. “I hope that the city realizes that this is what the people want, and are able to reverse the eviction that they put forth,” Molina said.Ĭalzada, the executive director of the theater, added: “I have to think the city will ultimately make the right call and allow Miami Dade College to continue to operate, so that cinema can continue to thrive in Little Havana.” 4, at 11 a.m., in front of Tower Theater. “And to see the Tower Theater kind of just dissolve the way it is away from Miami Dade College, where it has thrived so well, is really heartbreaking because we know how much potential the theater has under their management.”įilmmakers in the community have also come together to organize a protest on Oct. “The College has done so much for me, so much for so many other filmmakers in Miami,” said Molina, who obtained an associate’s and bachelor’s degree in film, television and digital production at MDC. Since then, it has gathered almost 6,000 signatures. Rather, its members are focused on the parking lot behind it, to build a museum commemorating the attempted invasion of Cuba in 1961.Ĭhris Molina, a filmmaker and programmer, started a petition on to advocate for the impact Tower Theater Miami has in the community, in hopes that it would reach local government officials. Two resolutions on the agenda were sponsored by Miami City Commissioner Joe Carollo to waive bidding on the property and allow the Bay of Pigs Veterans Association – Brigade 2506 – to manage the property.īut the group has since said it is not interested in Tower Theater. The letter came three days before a City of Miami commission meeting. ![]() “They've created this beloved cultural institution of international renown.” “They've done this without city funds for 20 years and the results speak for themselves,” Calzada said. Over the years, the college has put more than $1 million into capital improvements in the building and spends about half a million dollars annually to maintain and operate it, according to Calzada. “No one has anything bad to say about how Miami Dade College has managed and operated the building for 20 years.” “The stewardship of the college has just been impeccable,” Calzada said. ![]() 19, did not even provide an explanation for the city dissolving the arrangement with MDC. Miami Dade College had a five-year lease on the property since 2016 with the option to renew it for an additional five years, according to Calzada.īut the written notice received on Sept. “We thank you for your services in managing the Property for the past few years,” said Jacqueline Lorenzo, the interim director of real estate and asset management for the City of Miami, in the notice sent to the college. The news sent shockwaves through the community – a petition and a protest have already been organized. But last week city officials notified them that the deal would be terminated at the beginning of next year.
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