Unlicensed Professionals Run Amok in South Florida
Content
MIAMI MIRROR – TRUE REFLECTIONS
Enrique Norten in Miami Beach lobbying 321 Ocean Enrique Norten
UNLICENSED STARCHITECTS RUN AMOK IN FLORIDA
City of Miami Beach Officials Could Care Less
6 November 2015
By David Arthur Walters
PRESS INDEPENDENT
Florida law is clear: building architects, landscape architects, and commercial interior
designers among other professionals must not advertise or practice their professions
without first registering with the State of Florida and obtaining either a permanent or a
temporary license.
The main reason for that law is also clear: to protect the public safety and welfare from
malpractice. Another reason is to protect Florida professionals from competitors who
may be just as well qualified by experience and education.
South Florida officials, nonetheless, could care less about the licensing regulations, at
least not until building permits are applied for, particularly if the unlicensed professionals
happen to be internationalist practitioners, so-called starchitects from out of state
retained by big developers that are often from out of state, seeking to colonize the
region for vested interests with surplus capital on their hands because only so much can
be wasted on pleasure before businesses stagnate. Especially popular in South Florida,
Ground Zero for the last great economic crisis, are cheap glass boxes in air castles
erected and sold at exorbitant prices for a fast buck.
The developer and his famous architects and interior designer will proceed to lobby
officials and local agencies for the necessary approvals of their plans including the
designs. They will hire a licensed Florida professional to put up his license number on
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the application of the actual building permit. That may amount to no more than renting
the Florida professional‟s license and perhaps acting as the out-of-state professional‟s
liaison with little or no review of the plans signed off on. The building official could care
less “as long as the paper looks good.”
South Beach One Ocean Glass Box Project
Florida‟s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is obviously
responsible by virtue of its moniker for regulating professional conduct. Its staff,
however, would rather not open an investigation unless a formal complaint is filed. That
is, enforcement is complaint driven. That way, administrators can claim they are indeed
accountable to the public by counting the number of complaints. Respondents are
naturally eager to know who filed the complaint because ordinary members of the public
would not know a violation if they saw one, so the complainant would probably be a
competitor who could be retaliated against in one way or another, wherefore complaints
may be filed anonymously.
In rare cases, especially where the press is involved in exposing misconduct, the DBPR
might look into information that comes to its attention indicative, for example, of
unlicensed activity, especially when the activity is made obvious by the so-called
legitimate press. Yet given the proverbial shortage of resources to address the vast
amount of unlicensed activity, the department is not eager to dig into independent
journalists‟ reports, for instance, to see if opening a formal investigation is warranted by
the information in the report, only to discover it has been on a wild goose chase,
especially if confronted by the caviling lawyers of an influential design firm retained by
politically influential interests eager to grow their capital lest it stagnate..
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It DBPR officials were to examine daily reports on the real estate boom in South Florida,
in Miami Beach, for example, they would see that some of the biggest designers in the
world, identified as architects, landscape architects, and interior designers, are lobbying
officials for developers with designs in hand, and even signing contracts with agencies,
yet many of them have no Florida license. The local officials could care less, and the
republican public, which is not too sympathetic to government regulation in the first
place, is awed by the very presence of these master builders in their city. As for the
local competition, it keeps silent for a piece of the action.
Of course if someone complains and the DBPR sees a winning case, it may go after a
big league violator. The state may, after a lengthy battle, get a feather in its cap if not
collect a fine. The penalties appear to be pursued on a case-by-case basis by casuistic
prosecutors who believe they have rational principles in mind, so punishment is rather
inconsistent. Someone might simply avoid punishment by applying for a license.
Knowing that prosecutions are scarce and penalties minimal, unlicensed architects and
interior designers with substantial means have little to worry about if they get caught.
Regulators excuse themselves for their negligence and leniency. Resources are limited,
they say, and their objective is to obtain compliance, not to impose punishment. Well,
then, perhaps judges should waive all penalties for driving without a license providing
that a license is applied for, and impose different fines for the same traffic violations in
order to encourage compliance at random. To obtain compliance instead of imposing
punishment, police officers should allow traffic law violators to go around the block and
obey the laws they previously violated.
The City of Miami Beach is rife with foreign i.e. out-of-state building and landscaping
architects and commercial interior designers who proceeded with their professional
without obtaining a permanent or temporary license.
Yabu Pushelberg and Enrique Norten advertising One Ocean South Beach construction project
Highly respected international interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg with studios in
Toronto and New York advertises itself as such in Florida and has helped design
numerous projects for the likes of Jorge Perez‟ Related Companies without the required
license. The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design announced on 28 July
2015 that it had settled for a fine of $5,000 plus costs against the firm and its designers
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for contracting to provide commercial interior design services, advertising its services on
its website, and offering those services through an uncertified business entity.
Internationally acclaimed architect Enrique Norten, with studios in New York and
Mexico, had no Florida license when he lobbied Miami Beach officials for approval of a
condominium project designed by and named after him, 321 Ocean Enrique Norten in
South Beach. Investigators for the Board of Architecture and Interior Design have been
looking into the matter for some time.
Renzo Piano, one of the most famous architects in the world, has designed a tower for
erection at 8701 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach without a Florida license. The project
is hailed as the advent of the architect into the Florida market. Likewise an investigator
for the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design is looking into the matter to see
if probable cause may be found to prosecute the firm.
The City of Miami Beach would have a renowned unlicensed in Florida landscape
architect with several marvelous local projects under its belt, West 8, with offices in
Rotterdam and New York, design the landscape for the 8701 Collins Avenue project.
Incidentally, 8701 Collins Avenue LLC donated $10,000 to the political action committee
created to celebrate Mayor Philip Levine‟s accomplishments during his campaign for
reelection, for which he laid out over $800,000 from his own pocket for the $10,000 seat
on the commission, where he enjoys an allegedly “purchased” majority hence is a de
facto strong mayor in a city with a weak mayor charter. A clamor was raised over the
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money rapidly obtained from vendors and developers, and what appeared to be the sale
of the city to developers, and the PAC was shut down.
West 8 Soundscape Park - Miami Beach
Now the Board of Architecture and Interior Design retained a private law firm, Smith
Thompson Shaw Minacci & Colon P.A., led by Prosecuting Attorney David Minacci, to
conduct its investigations and prosecute misconduct. That businesslike approach to
handling cases appears to be quite effective in the long run. Staff is more than willing to
follow up on press reports of probable unlicensed activity.
Say that I am New York developer who owns Florida property. I have my New York
architect design a property for it. We go down to Florida and lobby for any necessary
approvals by planning board, land development board, preservation board etc. Then my
architect draws final plans for building permits, environmental permits, etc. I hire Florida
architects to seal and sign them. They do some gopher work during construction as my
New York architect's liaison. Has my New York architect, who is the de facto or actual
architect, violated Florida law? Probably, but that depends on who hired whom and who
paid whom and whatever related documentation reveals, such as architectural plans.
The Minacci law firm will eventually look into the unlicensed conduct of Renzo Piano.
Unlicensed landscape architecture, however, is not under the Board of Architecture and
Interior Design‟s jurisdiction. That discipline has its own self-regulating industry board,
the Board of Landscape Architecture, under the theory that building architecture and
landscape architecture require different types of education and experience. The state
legislature found that:
“The regulation of landscape architecture is necessary to assure competent landscape
planning and design of public and private environments, prevention of contamination of
water supplies, barrier-free public and private spaces, conservation of natural resources
through proper land and water management practices, prevention of erosion, energy
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conservation, functional and aesthetically pleasing environmental contributions to
humanity‟s psychological and sociological well-being, and an enhancement of the
quality of life in a safe and healthy environment and to assure the highest possible
quality of the practice of landscape architecture in this state.”
Investigations of landscape architecture irregularities are handled by state employees
with the DBPR, not by a private law firm. My anecdotal experience with the DBPR,
beginning with my investigation of its handling of licensed general contractor
misconduct and unlicensed contracting, has been far from satisfactory. For example, it
did nothing about an unlicensed general contractor doing millions of dollars of business
in South Florida, and then renting a license for a few thousand dollars and some
furniture when reported by the press, yet at the same time stings were being conducted
where, for example, an unlicensed plumber would be arrested at a house for trying to
feed his family.
A public record request for disciplinary actions against landscape architects licensed
and unlicensed is presently being run around the bush, so that information was not
available by deadline.
Press accounts tantamount to advertisements of real estate developments touting the
local landscape architecture projects of unlicensed landscape architect West 8 were
brought to the attention of the DBPR. Erin B. Reisinger, Investigation Manager,
Unlicensed Activity Unit. He acknowledged there was no record of a license on file, and
said an investigation would be conducted once a complaint form was submitted.
I identified myself as a reporter, and asked Mr. Reisinger if the policy of the State of
Florida is to investigate apparent violations and enforce laws only on receipt of a formal
complaint rather than proceed on information that comes to the attention of its officials.
He referred me to Chelsea Eagle, DBPR‟s Deputy Director of Communications.
“Your inquiry was forwarded to the Office of Communications,” she responded. “Per
your inquiry, unlicensed activity cases can be opened in the event that sufficient
information is received, whether in the form of a formal complaint, email, anonymous
call or mobile app submission. For your background, some of the information typically
required to open a complaint includes sufficient evidence of unlicensed activity, such as
a bid/proposal for services requiring a license, a contract for services requiring a license
or an advertisement for services requiring a license.
“Thank you, Chelsea Eagle. So what are you i.e. the State of Florida going to do with
the information since it raises a reasonable suspicion of unlicensed activity?”
“The Division of Regulation is monitoring the situation at this time,” she replied. “For
your background, the information included does not provide enough information to open
an unlicensed activity case. As the attachments do not specify the types of services
being provided by „West 8,‟ the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is
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unable to allege unlicensed activity. For your background, certain landscaping services
(i.e. – landscape design, which is the design of planting plans and installing plants) do
not require a license from DBPR. Additionally, „Fentress Architects‟ and „Arquitectonica‟
are sufficiently licensed to provide architecture and/or landscape architecture services in
the state of Florida.”
“Ms. Chelsea, I notice that 481.303 Definitions states that landscape architecture means
professional services, including, but not limited to, the consultation, investigation,
research, planning, design, preparation of drawings, specifications, contract documents
and reports, responsible construction supervision. Further, the law states that landscape
design means consultation for and preparation of planting plans drawn for
compensation, including specifications and installation details for plant materials, soil
amendments, mulches, edging, gravel, and other similar materials. Such plans may
include only recommendations for the conceptual placement of tangible objects for
landscape design projects. Construction documents, details, and specifications for
tangible objects and irrigation systems shall be designed or approved by licensed
professionals as required by law.
“The release by the City of Miami Beach, as previously quoted, states that „Miami
Beach‟s professional design team consisting of nationally recognized Fentress
Architects, the local design firm of Arquitectonica, and international landscape architects
West 8, have designed a project that will position itself among the top globally
significant convention centers in the world.‟
“The descriptions of the project and its illustrations provided in the indicate far more
than the planting of a few potted plants, and give the general public reason to suspect
that landscape architecture is an integral feature of the comprehensive plan: „800
parking spaces located across the street from the center will be relocated within the
footprint of the building thus allowing the 5.8 acre parking lot to be converted into a
public park surrounded by canopy trees, a flexible lawn area, a food pavilion, and a
public plaza to honor the city‟s veterans. The park will become the new civic “heart” of
Miami Beach as well as a shady destination long awaited by the residents of adjoining
neighborhoods. In addition, a new pedestrian friendly and ecologically sensitive green
space incorporating butterfly gardens and mangrove enhancements will span along the
Collins Canal incorporating a native plant palette and providing pedestrian connectivity
for residents and visitors.‟ And, as you can see, there is much more.
“I believe that alone provides reasonable suspicion that that Chapter 481 may be
violated, and that the matter should be looked into by professional state investigators to
see if probable cause exists after examining any and all contracts, drawings, and plans
and the like, as well as documentation if any that Fentress Architects and Arquitectonica
adequately examined and approved the landscaping features of the project, which
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would be required, as I believe you are saying, in order for West 8 to practice without a
Florida license.
“It does appear that such firms may easily obtain an endorsement from the state and/or
practice temporarily in Florida. Of course one question asked would be, does this
famous landscaper have a license somewhere else in the world, and is the firm in good
standing?
“Please point out where Chapter 481 allows a landscape architect not registered in
Florida to practice landscape architecture under the registration of architectural firms
such as Fentress and Arquitectonica.
“Attached again for your perusal is the James Corner contract. The City of Miami
Beach has continued with this engagement after inquiries were made of the Miami
Beach city attorney and city manager as to the apparent lack of a Florida license. I
suppose that the city attorney has communicated with the state on the issue and the
state has given the city leave to proceed without making a determination if a violation of
law has and is occurring. Please confirm.
“Finally, I want to make it clear that I have no personal complaint against West 8 or any
other unlicensed in Florida practitioner. If I were to fill out a complaint form, it would be
against regulators for ignoring violations for which no formal complaints had been filed,
or for referring to information provided as something they are looking into or inquiring
about or monitoring without diligent investigation and to no reported conclusion. As for
architects and interior designers, thus far my investigation has concluded that the law
firm that handles those issues diligently pursues them to their logical conclusions”.
I had wasted my breath on Ms. Chelsea, whose job is to apparently rebuff investigative
reporters with silence on touchy issues such as specific legislative authorization for
unlicensed landscape architects to practice under licensed building architects in Florida,
and, generally speaking, to put them off with bureauspeak.
“The Division of Regulation will continue to monitor the situation. The Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has an overall goal of compliance.
DBPR frequently works with businesses and individuals to help bring them into
compliance with state licensing requirements. For your background, there is a
landscape architect application on file for James Corner. Upon non-compliance, the
Division of Regulation will take administrative action as outlined in Florida law.”
“After additional cursory research,” I persisted, “which you will find attached, I have
reason to believe that West 8 has been and is engaged in landscape architecture, as
defined by statute, without a license in Florida, as prohibited by that statute. Please
monitor the information I have obtained. I suggest that we refer the matter to the
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attorney general and the governor for their opinion on whether the DBPR should open
an investigation into the matter based on that information and other information that
may have come to the attention of its monitors. Also, please advise if the penalties
provided by statute will be applied to James Corner dba James Corner Field
Operations. Again, my concern is not so much with landscape architects as it is with the
policies and practices of the Board of Landscape Architecture and the DBPR.”
I reiterated my concern with competences in building and landscape architecture:
“Please advise whether or not the minimum standards that qualify an architect for
registration in Florida would alone enable him or her to pass the test required for
licensure to practice landscape architecture. In other words, assuming that I have
qualified to take and pass the test to obtain a license as architect, would I therefore be
competent in terms of formal education to supervise the work of a landscape architect
not licensed by the State of Florida? If so, it would seem that a separate license for
landscape architecture would be unnecessary, or that I could obtain both licenses in
one sitting.”
“Generally speaking,” she responded, “an architect can perform landscape architecture
services when it is in conjunction with a building that the architect is designing. Licensed
architects may not contract solely to perform or supervise landscape architecture
services or hold themselves out to be a „landscape architect‟ without a landscape
architect license. In order for an architect to qualify for licensure, he or she would still be
required to submit proof of 3 years of practical experience in landscape architecture
under the direct supervision of a landscape architect and pass the L.A.R.E. as well as
the Florida section of the exam.”
That is, if I am a building architect, I can do landscape architecture for the building I am
designing, but I cannot go out and practice landscape architecture alone or for others.
That leaves the question as to whether I am competent by education and experience to
practice landscape architecture. I wondered why Florida building architects even bother
to engage landscape architects if they can keep that work in house.
Neither did Ms. Eagle answer by deadline my question, “What is the specific Section of
Florida law that permits architects to practice landscape architecture?” Nor did she
respond to, “Does the Board of Landscape Architecture promulgate Rules on this
subject? A general Google search only turns up a single file, on another matter, by this
specific board.”
Designing landscapes without a Florida license is not like driving its roads with an outof-state license until one becomes a permanent resident. Natural conditions, for one
thing, are different in every region, and a great deal of technical knowledge is required
to address them appropriately. Naturally every jurisdiction regulates the practice of
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landscape architecture based on local conditions. If there were an International
Landscape Architecture License based on different conditions in the world, localities
might recognize it. As things stand now, Florida may issue temporary licenses to foreign
professionals if they apply and meet the requirements, yet many of them do not feel like
applying and fail to apply with impunity.
I submitted further information on West 8 projects in Miami Beach to Ms. Eagle, and
suggested that we ask Florida‟s governor and its attorney general if they believe an
investigation should be conducted based on a reasonable suspicion that probable
cause could be found that West 8 was practicing its trade in violation of state law.
“As I mentioned,” she said, “the information included regarding „West 8‟ does not
provide enough information to open an unlicensed activity case. The Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has an overall goal of compliance.
DBPR frequently works with businesses and individuals to help bring them into
compliance with state licensing requirements. For your background, there is a
landscape architect application on file for James Corner. The Division of Regulation will
continue to monitor the situation.”
It appears that “monitor” (monere: to warn) means that we can rest assured that Big
Brother is “watching over” basically self-regulated businesses without opening
investigations unless private individuals without investigative powers obtain proof of
misconduct, or unless officials have some other motive to exercise their discretion.
Indeed, “discretion” is the key word. Officials enjoy sovereign immunity for negligence
even if roofs cave in or buildings are blown down and people are killed. A building
department inspector once told me that perhaps half of construction is unpermitted and
performed by unlicensed contractors. Inspectors simply cannot keep up with the
volume, and must rely on complaints to ensure compliance. In California, officials have
gone so far as to say their duty is to “promote compliance” rather than ensure it.
Whereas the Minacci law firm pursued interior designer Yabu Pushelberg and settled
for an embarrassing $5,000 fine plus costs, the DBPR got unlicensed landscape
architect James Corner to agree to apply for a license. Interestingly, a person with
Yabu Pushelberg was listed by the state as qualified to take the necessary
examination, hence a license must have been applied for before it was caught doing a
great deal of commercial interior designing, and was prosecuted because a private law
firm was duly diligent. Notably, Ms. Chelsea did not specifically respond to the question
as to whether James Corner would also be fined, and we may assume not. Notably, we
pointed out to her that some time ago a competitor to West 8 had complained that West
8 won a bid despite the fact that someone had pointed out during the bidding process
that West 8 was unlicensed by the State of Florida. The excuse offered in that instance
was that West 8 has promised when it held itself out with plans as a landscape architect
for bidding purposes that it would obtain the necessary license.
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Why did the state even bother with James Corner when his company won a bid and
signed a contract to landscape famed Lincoln Road Mall? City of Miami Beach Manager
Jimmy Morales certified that he had done the due diligence required, and all was well.
Neither he nor City of Miami Beach Attorney Raul Aguila responded to concerns
expressed after questions were submitted to them with copies to the mayor and city
commissioners.
James Corner‟s amazing Lincoln Road Miami Beach Design
“TO Raul Aguila re Aiding and Abetting Unlicensed Architecture: Dear Mr. Aguila: I did
not receive a response from you to the below inquiry as to James Corner's practice of
landscape architecture for the City of Miami Beach without obtaining a Florida license,
which may have easily been had by endorsement. Now it appears that a landscape
architecture firm doing business as West 8 does not have a Florida license yet is
involved in the city's convention center project. It is my information that the DBPR is
looking into the James Corner licensing issue. As for West 8, the DBPR has no record
of a license, and may or may not look into the matter further without a formal complaint
being lodged. An interior design company that has done considerable work South of
Fifth, Yabu Pushelberg, is being looked into by (a private law firm for) the DBPR.
Enrique Norten, the architect of 321 Ocean Enrique Norten and other major projects in
the region is also being looked into. May I suppose from your silence on the James
Corner inquiry that you have determined that no Florida licenses are required by such a
contractor, or that it is none of the city's business, and that for officials to knowingly
continue to do business with unlicensed architects is not aiding and abetting violations
of civil (fines) and criminal (misdemeanor) law? David Arthur Walters MIAMI MIRROR”
“Mr. Aguila, Attached are the first 75 pages of the city's contract with James Corner's
company for the renovation of Lincoln Road. I often check Building Department permits
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to make sure the contractors and architects are licensed by the State of Florida, which
is the normal process. I cannot seem to find a Florida landscape architect license with
the DBPR for James Corner's company. Maybe I am not searching in the correct place.
Would you please have some verify whether or not this firm is licensed to practice in this
state? And if not, please advise whether or not that would affect the validity of the
contract. David Arthur Walters MIAMI MIRROR”
James Corner‟s Underline Miami Design
Clearly, not only could City of Miami Beach, City of Miami, and and Miami-Dade County
officials care less that unlicensed building architects, landscape architects, and
commercial interior designers are running amok in their jurisdictions, but DBPR officials
could also care less unless someone lodges a complaint, or prosecutions are handled
by a private law firm.
That attitude extends to other trades as well, and is by no means unique to Florida, but
is endemic wherever regulatory agencies have a complaint-driven “system” to obtain
compliance from violators “partnered” with to “help” them comply. That system of
random enforcement is widely recognized as the worst kind of enforcement that a
jurisdiction could have. It encourages non-compliance of violators, disparate treatment
of violators, and irrational behavior by compliance officers not to mention moral and
criminal corruption.
Compliance with legal codes only occurs when the cost of disobedience exceeds the
benefits of obedience.
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On the other hand, aggressive, systematic enforcement of codes with mandatory
minimum penalties has the best results. Complaint-driven or reactive enforcement when
transformed to systematic, proactive enforcement, with incentives provided to citizens to
participate in enforcement and report violators, has proven to be the best policy in terms
of results.
It does appear that Florida officials, despite their frequent attendance at seminars on
best practices, are not that interested in the regulation of businesses and professionals,
especially at the political level, which is virtually owned by major vested interests.
The proverbial lack of resources is almost always the excuse. Proactive programs are
tried upon occasion with good results, and then abandoned. Low priority is obviously
given to information that world-class architects may be practicing in Florida without the
necessary license. After all, old men are chained to walls like dogs in their own
excrement in public institutions, prisoners and guards are beaten and stabbed at
random in jails and prisons, kids are abused, maimed and killed after visits by state
agents.
XYX
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Enrique Norten in Miami Beach lobbying 321 Ocean Enrique Norten
UNLICENSED STARCHITECTS RUN AMOK IN FLORIDA
City of Miami Beach Officials Could Care Less
6 November 2015
By David Arthur Walters
PRESS INDEPENDENT
Florida law is clear: building architects, landscape architects, and commercial interior
designers among other professionals must not advertise or practice their professions
without first registering with the State of Florida and obtaining either a permanent or a
temporary license.
The main reason for that law is also clear: to protect the public safety and welfare from
malpractice. Another reason is to protect Florida professionals from competitors who
may be just as well qualified by experience and education.
South Florida officials, nonetheless, could care less about the licensing regulations, at
least not until building permits are applied for, particularly if the unlicensed professionals
happen to be internationalist practitioners, so-called starchitects from out of state
retained by big developers that are often from out of state, seeking to colonize the
region for vested interests with surplus capital on their hands because only so much can
be wasted on pleasure before businesses stagnate. Especially popular in South Florida,
Ground Zero for the last great economic crisis, are cheap glass boxes in air castles
erected and sold at exorbitant prices for a fast buck.
The developer and his famous architects and interior designer will proceed to lobby
officials and local agencies for the necessary approvals of their plans including the
designs. They will hire a licensed Florida professional to put up his license number on
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the application of the actual building permit. That may amount to no more than renting
the Florida professional‟s license and perhaps acting as the out-of-state professional‟s
liaison with little or no review of the plans signed off on. The building official could care
less “as long as the paper looks good.”
South Beach One Ocean Glass Box Project
Florida‟s Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) is obviously
responsible by virtue of its moniker for regulating professional conduct. Its staff,
however, would rather not open an investigation unless a formal complaint is filed. That
is, enforcement is complaint driven. That way, administrators can claim they are indeed
accountable to the public by counting the number of complaints. Respondents are
naturally eager to know who filed the complaint because ordinary members of the public
would not know a violation if they saw one, so the complainant would probably be a
competitor who could be retaliated against in one way or another, wherefore complaints
may be filed anonymously.
In rare cases, especially where the press is involved in exposing misconduct, the DBPR
might look into information that comes to its attention indicative, for example, of
unlicensed activity, especially when the activity is made obvious by the so-called
legitimate press. Yet given the proverbial shortage of resources to address the vast
amount of unlicensed activity, the department is not eager to dig into independent
journalists‟ reports, for instance, to see if opening a formal investigation is warranted by
the information in the report, only to discover it has been on a wild goose chase,
especially if confronted by the caviling lawyers of an influential design firm retained by
politically influential interests eager to grow their capital lest it stagnate..
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It DBPR officials were to examine daily reports on the real estate boom in South Florida,
in Miami Beach, for example, they would see that some of the biggest designers in the
world, identified as architects, landscape architects, and interior designers, are lobbying
officials for developers with designs in hand, and even signing contracts with agencies,
yet many of them have no Florida license. The local officials could care less, and the
republican public, which is not too sympathetic to government regulation in the first
place, is awed by the very presence of these master builders in their city. As for the
local competition, it keeps silent for a piece of the action.
Of course if someone complains and the DBPR sees a winning case, it may go after a
big league violator. The state may, after a lengthy battle, get a feather in its cap if not
collect a fine. The penalties appear to be pursued on a case-by-case basis by casuistic
prosecutors who believe they have rational principles in mind, so punishment is rather
inconsistent. Someone might simply avoid punishment by applying for a license.
Knowing that prosecutions are scarce and penalties minimal, unlicensed architects and
interior designers with substantial means have little to worry about if they get caught.
Regulators excuse themselves for their negligence and leniency. Resources are limited,
they say, and their objective is to obtain compliance, not to impose punishment. Well,
then, perhaps judges should waive all penalties for driving without a license providing
that a license is applied for, and impose different fines for the same traffic violations in
order to encourage compliance at random. To obtain compliance instead of imposing
punishment, police officers should allow traffic law violators to go around the block and
obey the laws they previously violated.
The City of Miami Beach is rife with foreign i.e. out-of-state building and landscaping
architects and commercial interior designers who proceeded with their professional
without obtaining a permanent or temporary license.
Yabu Pushelberg and Enrique Norten advertising One Ocean South Beach construction project
Highly respected international interior design firm Yabu Pushelberg with studios in
Toronto and New York advertises itself as such in Florida and has helped design
numerous projects for the likes of Jorge Perez‟ Related Companies without the required
license. The Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design announced on 28 July
2015 that it had settled for a fine of $5,000 plus costs against the firm and its designers
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for contracting to provide commercial interior design services, advertising its services on
its website, and offering those services through an uncertified business entity.
Internationally acclaimed architect Enrique Norten, with studios in New York and
Mexico, had no Florida license when he lobbied Miami Beach officials for approval of a
condominium project designed by and named after him, 321 Ocean Enrique Norten in
South Beach. Investigators for the Board of Architecture and Interior Design have been
looking into the matter for some time.
Renzo Piano, one of the most famous architects in the world, has designed a tower for
erection at 8701 Collins Avenue on Miami Beach without a Florida license. The project
is hailed as the advent of the architect into the Florida market. Likewise an investigator
for the Florida Board of Architecture and Interior Design is looking into the matter to see
if probable cause may be found to prosecute the firm.
The City of Miami Beach would have a renowned unlicensed in Florida landscape
architect with several marvelous local projects under its belt, West 8, with offices in
Rotterdam and New York, design the landscape for the 8701 Collins Avenue project.
Incidentally, 8701 Collins Avenue LLC donated $10,000 to the political action committee
created to celebrate Mayor Philip Levine‟s accomplishments during his campaign for
reelection, for which he laid out over $800,000 from his own pocket for the $10,000 seat
on the commission, where he enjoys an allegedly “purchased” majority hence is a de
facto strong mayor in a city with a weak mayor charter. A clamor was raised over the
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money rapidly obtained from vendors and developers, and what appeared to be the sale
of the city to developers, and the PAC was shut down.
West 8 Soundscape Park - Miami Beach
Now the Board of Architecture and Interior Design retained a private law firm, Smith
Thompson Shaw Minacci & Colon P.A., led by Prosecuting Attorney David Minacci, to
conduct its investigations and prosecute misconduct. That businesslike approach to
handling cases appears to be quite effective in the long run. Staff is more than willing to
follow up on press reports of probable unlicensed activity.
Say that I am New York developer who owns Florida property. I have my New York
architect design a property for it. We go down to Florida and lobby for any necessary
approvals by planning board, land development board, preservation board etc. Then my
architect draws final plans for building permits, environmental permits, etc. I hire Florida
architects to seal and sign them. They do some gopher work during construction as my
New York architect's liaison. Has my New York architect, who is the de facto or actual
architect, violated Florida law? Probably, but that depends on who hired whom and who
paid whom and whatever related documentation reveals, such as architectural plans.
The Minacci law firm will eventually look into the unlicensed conduct of Renzo Piano.
Unlicensed landscape architecture, however, is not under the Board of Architecture and
Interior Design‟s jurisdiction. That discipline has its own self-regulating industry board,
the Board of Landscape Architecture, under the theory that building architecture and
landscape architecture require different types of education and experience. The state
legislature found that:
“The regulation of landscape architecture is necessary to assure competent landscape
planning and design of public and private environments, prevention of contamination of
water supplies, barrier-free public and private spaces, conservation of natural resources
through proper land and water management practices, prevention of erosion, energy
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conservation, functional and aesthetically pleasing environmental contributions to
humanity‟s psychological and sociological well-being, and an enhancement of the
quality of life in a safe and healthy environment and to assure the highest possible
quality of the practice of landscape architecture in this state.”
Investigations of landscape architecture irregularities are handled by state employees
with the DBPR, not by a private law firm. My anecdotal experience with the DBPR,
beginning with my investigation of its handling of licensed general contractor
misconduct and unlicensed contracting, has been far from satisfactory. For example, it
did nothing about an unlicensed general contractor doing millions of dollars of business
in South Florida, and then renting a license for a few thousand dollars and some
furniture when reported by the press, yet at the same time stings were being conducted
where, for example, an unlicensed plumber would be arrested at a house for trying to
feed his family.
A public record request for disciplinary actions against landscape architects licensed
and unlicensed is presently being run around the bush, so that information was not
available by deadline.
Press accounts tantamount to advertisements of real estate developments touting the
local landscape architecture projects of unlicensed landscape architect West 8 were
brought to the attention of the DBPR. Erin B. Reisinger, Investigation Manager,
Unlicensed Activity Unit. He acknowledged there was no record of a license on file, and
said an investigation would be conducted once a complaint form was submitted.
I identified myself as a reporter, and asked Mr. Reisinger if the policy of the State of
Florida is to investigate apparent violations and enforce laws only on receipt of a formal
complaint rather than proceed on information that comes to the attention of its officials.
He referred me to Chelsea Eagle, DBPR‟s Deputy Director of Communications.
“Your inquiry was forwarded to the Office of Communications,” she responded. “Per
your inquiry, unlicensed activity cases can be opened in the event that sufficient
information is received, whether in the form of a formal complaint, email, anonymous
call or mobile app submission. For your background, some of the information typically
required to open a complaint includes sufficient evidence of unlicensed activity, such as
a bid/proposal for services requiring a license, a contract for services requiring a license
or an advertisement for services requiring a license.
“Thank you, Chelsea Eagle. So what are you i.e. the State of Florida going to do with
the information since it raises a reasonable suspicion of unlicensed activity?”
“The Division of Regulation is monitoring the situation at this time,” she replied. “For
your background, the information included does not provide enough information to open
an unlicensed activity case. As the attachments do not specify the types of services
being provided by „West 8,‟ the Department of Business and Professional Regulation is
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unable to allege unlicensed activity. For your background, certain landscaping services
(i.e. – landscape design, which is the design of planting plans and installing plants) do
not require a license from DBPR. Additionally, „Fentress Architects‟ and „Arquitectonica‟
are sufficiently licensed to provide architecture and/or landscape architecture services in
the state of Florida.”
“Ms. Chelsea, I notice that 481.303 Definitions states that landscape architecture means
professional services, including, but not limited to, the consultation, investigation,
research, planning, design, preparation of drawings, specifications, contract documents
and reports, responsible construction supervision. Further, the law states that landscape
design means consultation for and preparation of planting plans drawn for
compensation, including specifications and installation details for plant materials, soil
amendments, mulches, edging, gravel, and other similar materials. Such plans may
include only recommendations for the conceptual placement of tangible objects for
landscape design projects. Construction documents, details, and specifications for
tangible objects and irrigation systems shall be designed or approved by licensed
professionals as required by law.
“The release by the City of Miami Beach, as previously quoted, states that „Miami
Beach‟s professional design team consisting of nationally recognized Fentress
Architects, the local design firm of Arquitectonica, and international landscape architects
West 8, have designed a project that will position itself among the top globally
significant convention centers in the world.‟
“The descriptions of the project and its illustrations provided in the indicate far more
than the planting of a few potted plants, and give the general public reason to suspect
that landscape architecture is an integral feature of the comprehensive plan: „800
parking spaces located across the street from the center will be relocated within the
footprint of the building thus allowing the 5.8 acre parking lot to be converted into a
public park surrounded by canopy trees, a flexible lawn area, a food pavilion, and a
public plaza to honor the city‟s veterans. The park will become the new civic “heart” of
Miami Beach as well as a shady destination long awaited by the residents of adjoining
neighborhoods. In addition, a new pedestrian friendly and ecologically sensitive green
space incorporating butterfly gardens and mangrove enhancements will span along the
Collins Canal incorporating a native plant palette and providing pedestrian connectivity
for residents and visitors.‟ And, as you can see, there is much more.
“I believe that alone provides reasonable suspicion that that Chapter 481 may be
violated, and that the matter should be looked into by professional state investigators to
see if probable cause exists after examining any and all contracts, drawings, and plans
and the like, as well as documentation if any that Fentress Architects and Arquitectonica
adequately examined and approved the landscaping features of the project, which
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would be required, as I believe you are saying, in order for West 8 to practice without a
Florida license.
“It does appear that such firms may easily obtain an endorsement from the state and/or
practice temporarily in Florida. Of course one question asked would be, does this
famous landscaper have a license somewhere else in the world, and is the firm in good
standing?
“Please point out where Chapter 481 allows a landscape architect not registered in
Florida to practice landscape architecture under the registration of architectural firms
such as Fentress and Arquitectonica.
“Attached again for your perusal is the James Corner contract. The City of Miami
Beach has continued with this engagement after inquiries were made of the Miami
Beach city attorney and city manager as to the apparent lack of a Florida license. I
suppose that the city attorney has communicated with the state on the issue and the
state has given the city leave to proceed without making a determination if a violation of
law has and is occurring. Please confirm.
“Finally, I want to make it clear that I have no personal complaint against West 8 or any
other unlicensed in Florida practitioner. If I were to fill out a complaint form, it would be
against regulators for ignoring violations for which no formal complaints had been filed,
or for referring to information provided as something they are looking into or inquiring
about or monitoring without diligent investigation and to no reported conclusion. As for
architects and interior designers, thus far my investigation has concluded that the law
firm that handles those issues diligently pursues them to their logical conclusions”.
I had wasted my breath on Ms. Chelsea, whose job is to apparently rebuff investigative
reporters with silence on touchy issues such as specific legislative authorization for
unlicensed landscape architects to practice under licensed building architects in Florida,
and, generally speaking, to put them off with bureauspeak.
“The Division of Regulation will continue to monitor the situation. The Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has an overall goal of compliance.
DBPR frequently works with businesses and individuals to help bring them into
compliance with state licensing requirements. For your background, there is a
landscape architect application on file for James Corner. Upon non-compliance, the
Division of Regulation will take administrative action as outlined in Florida law.”
“After additional cursory research,” I persisted, “which you will find attached, I have
reason to believe that West 8 has been and is engaged in landscape architecture, as
defined by statute, without a license in Florida, as prohibited by that statute. Please
monitor the information I have obtained. I suggest that we refer the matter to the
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attorney general and the governor for their opinion on whether the DBPR should open
an investigation into the matter based on that information and other information that
may have come to the attention of its monitors. Also, please advise if the penalties
provided by statute will be applied to James Corner dba James Corner Field
Operations. Again, my concern is not so much with landscape architects as it is with the
policies and practices of the Board of Landscape Architecture and the DBPR.”
I reiterated my concern with competences in building and landscape architecture:
“Please advise whether or not the minimum standards that qualify an architect for
registration in Florida would alone enable him or her to pass the test required for
licensure to practice landscape architecture. In other words, assuming that I have
qualified to take and pass the test to obtain a license as architect, would I therefore be
competent in terms of formal education to supervise the work of a landscape architect
not licensed by the State of Florida? If so, it would seem that a separate license for
landscape architecture would be unnecessary, or that I could obtain both licenses in
one sitting.”
“Generally speaking,” she responded, “an architect can perform landscape architecture
services when it is in conjunction with a building that the architect is designing. Licensed
architects may not contract solely to perform or supervise landscape architecture
services or hold themselves out to be a „landscape architect‟ without a landscape
architect license. In order for an architect to qualify for licensure, he or she would still be
required to submit proof of 3 years of practical experience in landscape architecture
under the direct supervision of a landscape architect and pass the L.A.R.E. as well as
the Florida section of the exam.”
That is, if I am a building architect, I can do landscape architecture for the building I am
designing, but I cannot go out and practice landscape architecture alone or for others.
That leaves the question as to whether I am competent by education and experience to
practice landscape architecture. I wondered why Florida building architects even bother
to engage landscape architects if they can keep that work in house.
Neither did Ms. Eagle answer by deadline my question, “What is the specific Section of
Florida law that permits architects to practice landscape architecture?” Nor did she
respond to, “Does the Board of Landscape Architecture promulgate Rules on this
subject? A general Google search only turns up a single file, on another matter, by this
specific board.”
Designing landscapes without a Florida license is not like driving its roads with an outof-state license until one becomes a permanent resident. Natural conditions, for one
thing, are different in every region, and a great deal of technical knowledge is required
to address them appropriately. Naturally every jurisdiction regulates the practice of
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landscape architecture based on local conditions. If there were an International
Landscape Architecture License based on different conditions in the world, localities
might recognize it. As things stand now, Florida may issue temporary licenses to foreign
professionals if they apply and meet the requirements, yet many of them do not feel like
applying and fail to apply with impunity.
I submitted further information on West 8 projects in Miami Beach to Ms. Eagle, and
suggested that we ask Florida‟s governor and its attorney general if they believe an
investigation should be conducted based on a reasonable suspicion that probable
cause could be found that West 8 was practicing its trade in violation of state law.
“As I mentioned,” she said, “the information included regarding „West 8‟ does not
provide enough information to open an unlicensed activity case. The Department of
Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR) has an overall goal of compliance.
DBPR frequently works with businesses and individuals to help bring them into
compliance with state licensing requirements. For your background, there is a
landscape architect application on file for James Corner. The Division of Regulation will
continue to monitor the situation.”
It appears that “monitor” (monere: to warn) means that we can rest assured that Big
Brother is “watching over” basically self-regulated businesses without opening
investigations unless private individuals without investigative powers obtain proof of
misconduct, or unless officials have some other motive to exercise their discretion.
Indeed, “discretion” is the key word. Officials enjoy sovereign immunity for negligence
even if roofs cave in or buildings are blown down and people are killed. A building
department inspector once told me that perhaps half of construction is unpermitted and
performed by unlicensed contractors. Inspectors simply cannot keep up with the
volume, and must rely on complaints to ensure compliance. In California, officials have
gone so far as to say their duty is to “promote compliance” rather than ensure it.
Whereas the Minacci law firm pursued interior designer Yabu Pushelberg and settled
for an embarrassing $5,000 fine plus costs, the DBPR got unlicensed landscape
architect James Corner to agree to apply for a license. Interestingly, a person with
Yabu Pushelberg was listed by the state as qualified to take the necessary
examination, hence a license must have been applied for before it was caught doing a
great deal of commercial interior designing, and was prosecuted because a private law
firm was duly diligent. Notably, Ms. Chelsea did not specifically respond to the question
as to whether James Corner would also be fined, and we may assume not. Notably, we
pointed out to her that some time ago a competitor to West 8 had complained that West
8 won a bid despite the fact that someone had pointed out during the bidding process
that West 8 was unlicensed by the State of Florida. The excuse offered in that instance
was that West 8 has promised when it held itself out with plans as a landscape architect
for bidding purposes that it would obtain the necessary license.
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Why did the state even bother with James Corner when his company won a bid and
signed a contract to landscape famed Lincoln Road Mall? City of Miami Beach Manager
Jimmy Morales certified that he had done the due diligence required, and all was well.
Neither he nor City of Miami Beach Attorney Raul Aguila responded to concerns
expressed after questions were submitted to them with copies to the mayor and city
commissioners.
James Corner‟s amazing Lincoln Road Miami Beach Design
“TO Raul Aguila re Aiding and Abetting Unlicensed Architecture: Dear Mr. Aguila: I did
not receive a response from you to the below inquiry as to James Corner's practice of
landscape architecture for the City of Miami Beach without obtaining a Florida license,
which may have easily been had by endorsement. Now it appears that a landscape
architecture firm doing business as West 8 does not have a Florida license yet is
involved in the city's convention center project. It is my information that the DBPR is
looking into the James Corner licensing issue. As for West 8, the DBPR has no record
of a license, and may or may not look into the matter further without a formal complaint
being lodged. An interior design company that has done considerable work South of
Fifth, Yabu Pushelberg, is being looked into by (a private law firm for) the DBPR.
Enrique Norten, the architect of 321 Ocean Enrique Norten and other major projects in
the region is also being looked into. May I suppose from your silence on the James
Corner inquiry that you have determined that no Florida licenses are required by such a
contractor, or that it is none of the city's business, and that for officials to knowingly
continue to do business with unlicensed architects is not aiding and abetting violations
of civil (fines) and criminal (misdemeanor) law? David Arthur Walters MIAMI MIRROR”
“Mr. Aguila, Attached are the first 75 pages of the city's contract with James Corner's
company for the renovation of Lincoln Road. I often check Building Department permits
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to make sure the contractors and architects are licensed by the State of Florida, which
is the normal process. I cannot seem to find a Florida landscape architect license with
the DBPR for James Corner's company. Maybe I am not searching in the correct place.
Would you please have some verify whether or not this firm is licensed to practice in this
state? And if not, please advise whether or not that would affect the validity of the
contract. David Arthur Walters MIAMI MIRROR”
James Corner‟s Underline Miami Design
Clearly, not only could City of Miami Beach, City of Miami, and and Miami-Dade County
officials care less that unlicensed building architects, landscape architects, and
commercial interior designers are running amok in their jurisdictions, but DBPR officials
could also care less unless someone lodges a complaint, or prosecutions are handled
by a private law firm.
That attitude extends to other trades as well, and is by no means unique to Florida, but
is endemic wherever regulatory agencies have a complaint-driven “system” to obtain
compliance from violators “partnered” with to “help” them comply. That system of
random enforcement is widely recognized as the worst kind of enforcement that a
jurisdiction could have. It encourages non-compliance of violators, disparate treatment
of violators, and irrational behavior by compliance officers not to mention moral and
criminal corruption.
Compliance with legal codes only occurs when the cost of disobedience exceeds the
benefits of obedience.
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On the other hand, aggressive, systematic enforcement of codes with mandatory
minimum penalties has the best results. Complaint-driven or reactive enforcement when
transformed to systematic, proactive enforcement, with incentives provided to citizens to
participate in enforcement and report violators, has proven to be the best policy in terms
of results.
It does appear that Florida officials, despite their frequent attendance at seminars on
best practices, are not that interested in the regulation of businesses and professionals,
especially at the political level, which is virtually owned by major vested interests.
The proverbial lack of resources is almost always the excuse. Proactive programs are
tried upon occasion with good results, and then abandoned. Low priority is obviously
given to information that world-class architects may be practicing in Florida without the
necessary license. After all, old men are chained to walls like dogs in their own
excrement in public institutions, prisoners and guards are beaten and stabbed at
random in jails and prisons, kids are abused, maimed and killed after visits by state
agents.
XYX
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