COCONUT GROVE, FLA. (WSVN) - Things might come to halt at a construction site for a luxury high-rise after a Tequesta burial ground with artifacts that could date back thousands of years was found at the location.
The remains, found on a site for a major Brickell Avenue development, are not unlike that of the Miami Circle, found many years ago.
The question now is how to move forward.
The meeting, which lasted into Tuesday night inside city hall, was so packed that afternoon some attendees had to sit under a tent. Still, in the Miami heat, it’s worth it to voice strong feelings on thousand-year-old artifacts found at a Brickell site of a planned for major development, affecting two properties in the area.
“The history of this place should be preserved, the ancestors left in place,” said Lynn Parsons, who supports the preservation of the site.
“The first steps in a very complicated procedural process have taken place,” said Luis Prieto y Munoz who is with Miami’s Historic Preservation Office, after the meeting.
They watched presentations and listened to public comment regarding archeological teams recently discovering what experts call prehistoric, indigenous artifacts, said to be thousands of years old at the site of 444 Brickell Ave. and at another site on Southeast Fifth Street.
“The archaeological layers of conservation are on that site, which very much limit the actions that the developer can take,” Prieto y Munoz said.
Tuesday night, it was determined more time was needed before any project halting designation review could be announced.
Archeological teams discovered what experts call prehistoric, indigenous artifacts, said to be thousands of years old where luxury condo towers and other projects are slated for construction.
Some preservationists said this historic find shouldn’t be where building continues, no matter how important or lucrative the project.
“It used to be legal to own people,” said a man during the meeting. “Slavery used to be legal, but it didn’t make it very right. This isn’t the America that I wanna live in as far as where money can come up and just dig up graves and desecrate and dehumanizes. I’m native too.”
After the hearing, we spoke to Related Group boss and mega developer Jorge Perez
“I think people expressed their opinions and desires,” he said.
Sheridan murphy opposes development of site.
“When is the dignity given to native people?” he said “When is respect given to native people?”
Asked about some of the Native Americans who were at the meeting who said, “this is essentially going to someone’s gravesite and ripping it apart,” Perez said, “You have to remember, the site is not a vacant site. Let the search finish, and then we’re gonna come with an action plan. We’re trying to please as many people as we possibly can.
Asked if it would be possible that the development never gets done because of what’s underneath the ground, Perez responded with, “I don’t think so.”
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