About Us

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1. OVERALL PURPOSE & MISSION

• Our Purpose is to advocate for the quality of life of the residents, advocate for cleaner and safer streets, preserve and protect our buildings and green spaces, and restore pride in our historic district. 

• Our Mission is to not only work with fellow residents, to advocate for the needs of our community, but to partner with local businesses and collaborate with city leaders to put forth policies, and ultimately ordinances, that support the beautification of our community, foster a positive and diversely balanced economy, and improve the quality of life and safety of its residents.

• Our City overall suffers from low self-esteem, but we can change that. It starts with reminding each other how unique and special our neighborhoods are, and demand respect from not only those who live, work and play in them, but the City that has the power to affect them. This is especially true for the Art Deco Neighborhood.

• Our Vision is a cleaner, safer, harmonious community that is well respected, with its pride restored. 

CURRENT ADVOCACY GOALS/PRIORITIES:

1) Protecting the Ocean Drive Pedestrian Promenade:

a) Engaging with the City of Miami Beach while it works on a responsible methodology that addresses both traffic and safety issues, in order to come to a resolution to be presented to both impacted stakeholders and ultimately the County for approval.

2) Limiting Special Events (New/Grandfathered):

a) No Events Above 12th Street

b) Proper Placement

c) Appropriate Footprint

d) Reasonable Set Up & Break Down

3) Establishing a Community Policing Program in our Neighborhood:

a) Having 2-4 Dedicated Officers on Ocean Drive (5th-15th Streets)

b) Increase in Foot Patrols 

4) Preserving Art Deco Cultural & Promoting Heritage Tourism:

a) Working with the GMCVB and MB Magazine on Re-branding & Marketing

IRENE BIGGER, PRESIDENT:

As a retired C.P.A., Irene Bigger moved to Miami Beach with her husband in 2019. She fell in love with the Art Deco district because of its rich history, beauty, and accessibility to many restaurants and venues  from their place on the north end of Ocean Drive. Grateful to be living in Miami Beach, she quickly became aware of its fragility and the need to protect it from those who did not have its best interest at heart. In the years advocating for a safer and better quality of life here, she saw how advocacy could positively impact the City, and noted that this advocacy was most needed in her own backyard in the Art Deco Cultural District. It was then that she decided to create the Art Deco Neighborhood Association, and join forces with fellow advocates to allow for better representation of the residents and their needs in the beautiful and historic district.

ANNETT GRANT, VICE PRESIDENT:

 Originally from Montreal, Annett came to the US to complete her graduate work in directing theater and founded Executive Speaking in 1979 and now focuses on coaching leaders and emerging leaders from global multi nationals speak spontaneously with power and precision. Her ideas have been published in the New York Times, the Wall Street Journal, Fast Company, the Minneapolis Star Tribune. Annett fell in love with South Beach over 20 years ago and has been living here ever since with her husband Peter. She believes that South Beach is a world class jewel – an extraordinary community, and looks forward to helping the community grow and prosper in ways that are inclusive for everyone.

ANNE BLUME, SECRETARY:

Anne was a construction lawyer in Chicago and made Miami Beach her full-time home after 20+ years of visits that kept increasing in duration. She loves the beauty of the Art Deco and Miami Modern architecture and finds Miami Beach to be a unique and perfect mix of city and beach. She loves meandering Lincoln Road and walking the beach walk, Ocean Drive and Lummus Park and always finds something new to admire. As a full-time resident, Anne discovered the need to help protect what makes Miami Beach so special and is thrilled to be part of the Art Deco Neighborhood Association’s work to keep Miami Beach the very special place that it is.

NINA WEBER WORTH, DIRECTOR: 

Originally from NY, Nina came to South Beach in the Fall of 1993 with her husband, Don, to live on Ocean Drive. Her credits include working with then Commissioner Nancy Liebman on the first Noise Ordinance, serving on the Parks and Recreation Board, ultimately becoming Chairman, and initiating the renovation of Lummus Park and propagating the historic Jamaican Tall Palm trees. In response to the toll that holding special events was taking on the park, she co-wrote the Lummus Park Impact Fee which became legislation. Historic Preservation is her passion as she is currently the Vice Chair of the Miami Design Preservation League, and has spent the last 16 years, with Don, working on restoring the Miami Marine Stadium. Now with ADNA, she will continue the efforts she started some 30 years ago to improve the quality of life here in our area.

EUGENE RODRIGUEZ, DIRECTOR:

A Miami Beach native, Eugene is a graduate from Georgetown University. He has lived on the north end of Ocean Drive since 1997 and is a pioneer of the Fashion and Film Production industry that was centered on Ocean Drive with his first office in the basement of the Leslie Hotel in 1988. His clients included fashion designers Valentino, Versace, Armani, and Ralph Lauren; photographers Herb Ritts, Helmut Newton, Steven Meisel, and he contributed to the production on films including Miami Vice , Fast and Furious and Rock of Ages. He was the owner of the Art Deco Paris Theater until 2020, and current owner of the historic Ice Palace Studios, a venue for creative events and projects including art and charitable events. He is a past Board Member of the Ocean Drive Association, he is very much excited about contributing his expertise to ADNA’s goals in elevating our Art Deco Cultural District.