A Look Back at the Urban Impact of Miami Mayor Manny Diaz

As termed-out Mayor Manny Diaz leaves office in Miami, The Miami Herald's Andres Viglucci takes a look back at the impact Diaz had on the city's growth.

1 minute read

November 17, 2009, 7:00 AM PST

By Nate Berg


Diaz was instrumental in bringing about the condo boom that has characterized downtown Miami in recent years, as well as the city's recently approved form-based code, Miami 21.

"The mayor who will likely best be remembered -- and in some quarters, reviled -- for presiding over an unprecedented development boom and an ambitious set of grand plans wasn't focused just on the big picture.

'There was not an area of the city that didn't get our attention, and this is something I'm very proud of,' said Diaz, hauling out the binder during an interview just days before leaving office. 'This was my Bible, and we focused on everything.'"

Wednesday, November 11, 2009 in The Miami Herald

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Wastewater pouring out from a pipe.

Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage

Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”

April 13, 2025 - Inside Climate News

High-rise apartment buildings in Waikiki, Hawaii with steep green mountains in background.

Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss

The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.

April 6, 2025 - Honolulu Civil Beat

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 10, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

A line of white wind turbines surrounded by wheat and soybean fields with a cloudy blue sky in the background.

Wind Energy on the Rise Despite Federal Policy Reversal

The Trump administration is revoking federal support for renewable energy, but demand for new projects continues unabated.

5 hours ago - Fast Company

Red and white Caltrain train.

Passengers Flock to Caltrain After Electrification

The new electric trains are running faster and more reliably, leading to strong ridership growth on the Bay Area rail system.

6 hours ago - Office of Governor Gavin Newsom

View up at brick Catholic church towers and modern high-rise buildings.

Texas Churches Rally Behind ‘Yes in God’s Back Yard’ Legislation

Religious leaders want the state to reduce zoning regulations to streamline leasing church-owned land to housing developers.

6 hours ago - NBC Dallas