This StoryMap examines the impact of neoliberal mechanisms on the Ocean Drive and Collins Avenue Historic District in Miami Beach, including robust private property rights, increased surveillance, and the prioritization of economic value. This project is an extension of my ongoing thesis, "Preserving in the Land of the [Free Market]: The Case of The Architectural District in Miami Beach and The Vieux Carré Historic District in New Orleans," which presents a spatial analysis of property values, ownership types, land use patterns, and social regulation through surveillance. The StoryMap illustrates commercial interests' dominance and impact on the built environment through ArcGIS mapping, emphasizing the transformation of urban spaces under neoliberalism.
St Louis #3 Tombs Documentation featured on Dezeen
My photogrammetry of the Fernand May tomb and Allyson's drawings of the P. Pennacchia tomb were featured in Dezeen. For Studio I class in the historic preservation program, we documented tombs at St. Louis Number 3 Cemetery in New Orleans. I chose photogrammetry for the Fernand May tomb to build experience with Reality Capture and streamline the drawing process in AutoCAD, capturing every crack, patch of biogrowth, and surface detail with precision. I selected this tomb for its spatial features, as it was detached from others—ideal for photographing all sides. All necessary measurements were taken on-site to ensure precision. In contrast, my classmate, friend, and young mentor, Allyson Hinz, who has an interior design background, took a traditional approach, creating measured drawings of the similar P. Pennacchia tomb in the field.
Is It Worthwhile to Preserve Places That Bear Witness to Suffering and Sadness?
Is it worthwhile to preserve places that are a testament to a reality that many ignore or choose to remain ignorant of? Is it worth preserving places that provide a glimpse into a history of suffering and sadness? Do they offer any value to society? I maintain that it is not only important but necessary to do so, particularly in an era where individuals strive to revise history to suit their interests, where they seek to sweep their litter under the rug and pretend it never existed.