Vizcaya Museum and Gardens, the National Historic Landmark on Biscayne Bay managed by the Vizcaya Museum and Gardens Trust, is getting federally funded flood defenses. Residents have a narrow window to weigh in.

FEMA posted a Final Public Notice on Friday, July 24, opening a 15-day comment period on Hurricane Irma recovery and hazard mitigation work at the museum, located at 3251 South Miami Ave. The project falls under FEMA's Public Assistance Program, designated DR-4337-FL, PW-8524, with Miami-Dade County listed as the subgrant applicant.

The comment window closes approximately Aug. 8, based on the 15-day period from the July 24 posting date.

What's being built

The scope covers both completed repairs and planned upgrades. Miami-Dade County has already repaired the Main House interior and exterior, including walls, ceilings, windows, roof, furniture and historical details. Crews also installed corrosion-resistant roofing clips and upgraded gutters and downspouts.

Planned mitigation work still ahead includes:

  • Wet floodproofing of interior walls in the café and waterproofing of the pool concrete wall
  • Dry floodproofing of electrical outlets and relocation of electrical systems to 42 inches above the first floor
  • Installation of a waterproof glass handrail system on the exterior
  • Extension of the seawall with a compensatory storage area
  • Deployment of a Tiger Dam flood barrier system, a set of water-filled flexible tubes that can be filled in minutes and stacked to form barriers of any length

Why the floodplain matters

The museum sits within both the AE Zone (100-year floodplain) and the VE Zone (Coastal High Hazard Area). That designation triggered the public notice requirement under Executive Order 11988 and federal regulation 44 CFR Part 9.

FEMA determined that a "no action" alternative was not feasible because the site would remain vulnerable to property damage and hazards to human life. Alternate locations were ruled out because Vizcaya is a National Historic Landmark and the seawall extension depends on its current position along the bay.

Background

Hurricane Irma struck Miami in September 2017 and affected every major architectural element along Vizcaya's waterfront, according to the museum's restoration page. The entire gardens flooded with saltwater and debris. An initial disaster-wide public notice was published Oct. 6, 2017. The July notice reflects modifications to the project's scope of work since that original filing.

How to comment

Comments, questions or requests for a project map can be sent to:

  • Email: [email protected]
  • Mail: FEMA Region 4, 3005 Chamblee-Tucker Road, Atlanta, GA 30341
  • Subject line: FL-4337-PW-8524, Miami-Dade County

The notice states comments must be received within 15 days of the July 24 posting date.