Museums at Center of Miami Condo Development Provoke War of Words

The Miami Herald isn’t impressed with the behavior of the two men involved in Miami’s museum scene. At stake is an office and condominium development anchored with a museum. The development takes place on land owned by a local college amid a slow-down in the city’s development cycle. (This story gives the details on the competing proposals):

Listen to the egos of two grown men vying to overshadow Miami’s iconic Freedom Tower with two sky-reaching condo towers and a massive cultural complex — a project being enabled by the most unlikely institution, Miami Dade College.

In an interview with the Miami Herald, art dealer Gary Nader called his competitor in the venture, condo developer Jorge M. Pérez, “the worst thing that happened to culture in this town.”

His nasty hyperbole sought to put down Pérez’s $45 million donation in cash and art during a critical moment in the construction of Miami Art Museum’s stellar waterfront building in exchange for naming rights to Pérez Art Museum Miami.

In turn, Pérez called Nader’s comments “irresponsible and uncalled for,” which they might have been, but Pérez didn’t stop there. He then lectured the Herald for publishing them. “It’s not journalism fit for you guys.”

In battle of egos for Miami Dade College land, it’s Gary Nader vs. Jorge M. Pérez (Miami Herald)