Posted on Sat, Jun. 09, 2007

As a lawyer who has worked in Miami's downtown for 35 years, John MacDaniel has had a bird's-eye view of attempts at revitalization.

He hasn't seen much progress. ``It's about the same as when I got here, unfortunately, `` MacDaniel said in an impromptu sidewalk interview Friday on Flagler Street.

``It needs more shops, more cafes, a more people-friendly environment, `` he said. ``I think it's a no-brainer to fix up the downtown.''

Despite grand plans and numerous pricey projects, progress on rehabilitating the heart of Miami's business district remains largely elusive.

Flagler Street does have new palm trees and stylish streetlights, but the sidewalks -- repaved not long ago -- are filthy with bird droppings, gum and other debris. Parking is scarce and expensive, and by many accounts, vulnerable to vandals.

Macy's Florida Chairman Julie Greiner told the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce in a blunt speech Wednesday that trash-strewn lots, homeless people, crime and traffic make it tough to get and keep good employees at the downtown store, the company's Florida headquarters. She drew loud applause from the normally staid civic and business leaders -- sparking a new focus on a long-lingering problem.

``Things are getting better, but not fast enough to my liking, `` said Aaron Podhurst, a prominent lawyer who has kept his offices on Flagler for 40 years, despite nudges to move to one of Miami's fancy new towers. ``The major problem is there has to be total commitment by all of us -- from private industry to the government.''

Downtown needs shops and restaurants ``so people can walk and talk and go to downtown cafes like any major city, `` said Podhurst, who remains an optimist. ``They did this very successfully on South Beach. Remember when nobody went to Lincoln Road?''

Dana A. Nottingham, executive director of Miami's Downtown Development Authority, acknowledges there are problems but said many efforts are afoot, including a drive to make downtown greener and more pedestrian-friendly and a push to bring in new quality retailers.

For those who work and shop downtown, one of the most visible issues on the streets is homelessness.

Around midday Friday, street people milled around near Macy's. Carlos Lorretta, who stood in a heavy canvas jacket across the street from the store, wearing a headset, said he has been homeless for 16 years. Three well-dressed women cut a wide swath around him.

Just then, Dorothy Mightley maneuvered a shopping cart piled high with plastic and sundry possessions past the store. She said she has lived on the street three years.

Outside the Walgreens on Flagler Street, a young man in a baseball cap was panhandling. ''Can you spare 80 cents?'' he asked.

Scarce and expensive parking also confounds turnaround efforts, limiting the appeal to upscale businesses. ``Parking is a headache, `` said Carlos Narvaez, who works at the Radio Shack outlet on Flagler Street. ``They broke into my car twice.''

Manny Fernandez, who has run Los Cuquitos Cafe on Northeast First Street for about 11 years, said parking hassles make it difficult for him to attract customers other than regular clients who work nearby. He's in a beautifully refurbished structure, the Dade Commonwealth Building, but he remains something of a pioneer.

``All there are [in the neighborhood] are electronics stores, luggage stores and jewelry stores, `` he said.

At the Foot Locker store on Flagler, clerk Rafael Rodrigues said, ''People who are from Miami go to the malls to shop.'' The bulk of the shop's clientele are tourists, ''foreign people'' coming from the nearby hotels, he said.

Alex Lagares, manager of the Radio Shack on Flagler, was a bit hesitant to be quoted -- but when he checked with headquarters, his boss was happy to give the green light to speak up on the area's woes.

``Almost any store owner will tell you the neighborhood is going down, `` Lagares said. ``Business compared to last year is down a lot. There's a lot of bums in the area.''

Not long ago, Lagares said, a man came into the store, grabbed some accessories from a rack, and whacked him with them before fleeing. ''It's dangerous.'' In recent months, he said, several nearby stores have left. ``After 6 p.m. everything dies out. You don't want to be here after six.''

Nancy Blount, a family law attorney who was walking down Flagler near the Miami-Dade County Courthouse, recalled being ''robbed at gunpoint four or five years ago'' when she took Metrorail.

But the DDA's Nottingham said recent efforts to revive business in downtown are starting to pay off. More than 30 new businesses have opened in the broader downtown area, including the Brickell district, since 2006, she said. They include Poz Cafe, P.F. Chang's China Bistro and Italian clothier Primo Milano.

Many locals hope the current construction of nearby downtown condos will eventually give the area the jolt of positive momentum it needs. But that seems distant for now.

``It's wall-to-wall bums, `` John Meeder, a research professor at Florida International University, said as he stood in front of the Starbucks on Flagler.

He'd never dream of bringing a friend downtown for a social visit, he said. ``Look at all the litter, all the traffic. The lack of parking.''

Miami Herald staff writer Bridget Carey contributed to this report.