Miami Beach elected officials have initiated plans to amend the city code in order to co-name a portion of 17th Street in honor of Norman Braman, a long-time automotive business leader whose civic involvement has impacted the city.
The ordinance is to face city officials for a final vote April 23.
Mr. Braman has created a legacy in South Florida, says a commission memo accompanying the legislation, through his business achievements as well as through his commitment to enhancing others’ well-being. “His leadership and generosity have shaped the cultural, healthcare and civic fabric of Miami Beach and beyond.”
Additionally, Mr. Braman’s impact in preserving the memory of the Holocaust in the city was highlighted as he is “an original founder and former president of the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial, a place of reflection, education and remembrance for the community.”
The well-known art fair Art Basel is also tied with Mr. Braman’s efforts in the city.
Mr. Braman and his wife Irma are also noted as influential patrons of the arts, says the memo, “with a particular focus on bringing world-class cultural events and exhibitions to Miami Beach. In the early 2000s, they helped bring the Swiss art fair Art Basel – one of the most prestigious contemporary art fairs in the world – to Miami Beach, solidifying Miami Beach as a prominent destination for artistic and cultural innovation.”
City officials unanimously agreed to pass the ordinance at first reading in order to honor Mr. Braman for his lasting and significant impact on the city.
Mr. Braman, the owner of Braman Motors, moved to Miami in 1969 from Philadelphia, where he had owned the Philadelphia Eagles in the National Football Leagues, planning to retire here – but he didn’t.
Mr. Braman has been a frequent and vocal civic activist here. He told Miami Today in 2017 that he has no patience for those who complain about local issues but do not interfere, fearing backlash: “I fight for what I believe in – I’m not afraid,” he said.
Mr. Braman is not shy about putting his money where his mouth is, and is known to generously support leaders he believes are responsive to the community.
Braman Motors is one of Florida’s largest car dealerships, with plans to expand its location just north of downtown Miami with several business buildings mixed with residential towers.
Mr. Braman fully funded the construction of what he called his “legacy project”: The Institute of Contemporary Art in the Miami Design District.
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