Residents object as Miami clears way for luxury tower behind historic church: "Nothing is safe from development"

A developer has cleared a major hurdle in building a luxury high-rise behind Miami's first Presbyterian church after city officials voted to strip historic protections from part of the property.The city's Historic and Environmental Preservation Board voted 6-1 last week to revoke historic protections for the land behind the church, which has stood on Brickell Avenue since 1949. The move paves the way for a developer to purchase the land for about $240 million, as reported by the Miami Herald, and demolish an annex building connected to the back of the sanctuary.The decision has drawn criticism from local residents concerned about losing open space and the neighborhood's historical character."We need open space. I thought that this being historically designated would keep it that way," said resident George Simon, who walks through Mary Brickell Park behind the church every morning. "This is the city bending the knee to the development group who's got the money against the residents who