WAS THE COMPLETE REDESIGN AND RENOVATION OF
THIS 6 UNIT APARTMENT HOUSE TO BE KNOWN AS THE
TODDLER CENTER
This apartment contained 6 units and was chosen to be developed into the Toddler
Building as the first phase of the Center because it was smaller and could be done
quicker than the huge complex next door that was to be the Intervention Center.
This building was in the better condition of the two buildings, but was flea and termite
infested and had been out of code for many years. However, it met the requirements of
Infants In Need in location, space, and potential for the
proposed Toddler Center.
A new rendering was presented by Sasaki after a number of planning meetings and
approval by the Board. The Architects completed the preliminary drawings for the
Toddler Center and the members of the Miami Building and Construction Trades
Council agreed that their member Trade Unions would donate the labor and much
of the materials to complete this phase of the project.
The tenants were evicted from the future Toddler Building in late 1989, so the plans
could be completed and work begin by late 1989 with a goal of a completion date of
June 1991. Quite an ambitious plan, but the Miami Building and Trades Council's
22 local union volunteers were ready to go full blast on weekends, holidays,
vacations as well as and days off.
Over the
next
year
over 350 volunteers gave hundreds of hours of their time and
talents as the work progressed. At this point we were confidant that we would meet
the project finish date of June, 1990. The completed building included a
reception room, office for social services, and a medical room for visiting doctors
to use in examining and treating the children. Also included is a kitchen to serve
the facility as well as a dining room that would double as a meeting/classroom.
In addition, there would be five bedrooms, an isolation unit, an special bathrooms
to serve the 40
medically dependent children that would be served by this facility.
Yes, we did it and the
finished product is shown on next page!
This is the
completed building as it stands
today serving 40 medically dependent
children. The program is directed by the UM/Jackson Memorial Hospital Pediatric
Department. The Pediatric Center (as it is referred to today) and its beautiful
playground provided by Dr. & Mrs. Sanford Ziff was the first facility to start the
revitalization of the entire neighborhood.
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here to look at more pages of Linda Ray Children's Center-The Beginning