We'd hoped that the architectural details that were briefly uncovered during the
recent re-facing of Somerset Place might have been preserved, but it appears that they've been plastered over and lost. (Perhaps they were protected with something before the plaster was applied; hope springs eternal.)
Somehow that Joni Mitchell song about "they paved paradise" seems appropriate here. At least there are still
photos of this building when it was a beauty. It makes us appreciate the restorations that we
do still have today which will be be around for future generations to enjoy.
We'd hoped that the architectural details that were briefly uncovered during the recent re-facing of Somerset Place might have been preserved, but it appears that they've been plastered over and lost. (Perhaps they were protected with something before the plaster was applied; hope springs eternal.)
Somehow that Joni Mitchell song about "they paved paradise" seems appropriate here. At least there are still photos of this building when it was a beauty. It makes us appreciate the restorations that we do still have today which will be be around for future generations to enjoy.
It is really a shame but the building surely needed a rehab and the inside too is worse yet. Have you ever been inside this building. It is smelly and real dirty. This building has for sure seen its better days..........
ReplyDeleteAs someone who has on several occasions had a professional relationship with this nursing home I am not surprised. It is a poorly run psychiatric nursing home with far to many residents to do effective treatment with. But if the owners were not to pack people into every bed in the place they would make less money and making money seems to be the only goal. Therefore an expensive restoration would be a surprise from my experience. I am often shocked at the behavior allowed to take place in front of this building when I have approached it. All I can say is not all psychiatric treatment is as poorly managed as some of the nursing homes in Uptown.
ReplyDeleteI went past today and they were painting the exterior bright, bright, bright Miami-Beach turquoise. Wonder if that's the primer or the final color?
ReplyDeleteWow! I had no idea the building was as beautiful as the 1922 picture shown. Amazing how much the area as a whole has been affected by years of neglect. Sommerset Place sure ruined the once Summerset Hotel.
ReplyDeleteI saw the facade work and hoped that just maybe Sommerset Place had closed down... No such luck. What a horrible, horrible nursing home. It's too bad the State won't intervene and shut down this cruel trap for the mentally ill.
ReplyDeleteThe building is a complete eyesore and will continue to be. The work being done on the exterior of the building looks haphazard. The only thing the renovation is going to do is push the loiterers/residents closer to the streets, making it more difficult for pedestrians to avoid direct contact with them. I would already cross to the other side of the street when I walked by the building ...even if I had to recross the street to get to my intended destination. Very depressing.
ReplyDeleteIf I remember correctly from the three choices they were promoting, it looks to me like the new facade is going to be a newer version of what the old facade looked like. Horizontal bricks, dark brown in color, very suburban non-descript facade. The Miami green is most likely a protectant for the stucco or the adhesive for the applied finish which is going to go on next.
ReplyDelete