Bay Harbor's East Island's MiMo Architecture "Endangered"

MIAMI (CBSMiami/AP) — Bay Harbor's East Island has been designated one of the country's "most endangered historic places."

The National Trust for Historic Preservation says structures on the island are at risk of destruction or irreparable damage. County officials said the island has one of the largest concentrations of mid-century Miami Modern-style (MiMo) architecture in the country.

Several of the island's historic buildings were designed by renowned architects including, Morris Lapidus, Henry Hohauser, and Charles McKirahan, according to preservationnation.org. These architects helped transition the definitive Miami architectural style from Art Deco in the 1930s into the MiMo style that emerged in the mid-20th century.

The "MiMo" movement featured concrete screens with geometric patterns to shield residents from the sun, cantilevered roofs with holes for palm trees and decorations that evoked South Florida's tropical environment.

Preservation officials say East Island is threatened by redevelopment that calls for the demolition of several mid-century structures. Trust president Stephanie Meeks says residents and officials must urge developers to find ways to reuse these buildings instead of destroying them.

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