{"id":20651,"date":"2020-03-08T11:57:28","date_gmt":"2020-03-08T18:57:28","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/?p=20651"},"modified":"2020-03-13T12:02:18","modified_gmt":"2020-03-13T19:02:18","slug":"historic-property-recognition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/somimag.com\/historic-property-recognition\/","title":{"rendered":"HISTORIC PROPERTY RECOGNITION"},"content":{"rendered":"<\/a>\n

In early February, the South Miami Historic Preservation Board hosted a sidewalk Plaque Dedication ceremony event outside the 5875 Sunset Drive building known as the Opsahl\/Dowling Building.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Guests in attendance included members of the Berrin family, the owners of the property and included remarks by Christine Rupp, Executive Director of the Dade Heritage Trust and Pam Lahiff, Chair of the Historic Board.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Opsahl\/Dowling Building has as its core one of the oldest surviving concrete block buildings in the city. Originally built in 1914 as a general store for pioneer John Opsahl, it was transformed by the new owner William Manning Dowling in 1926.  Opsahla\u2019s utilitarian design was enriched by the addition of a number of architectural elements.  Dowling added apartments upstairs while maintaining the retail use on the ground floor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The property was purchased in 1971 by the family matriarch Roz Berrin.  In her comments to the assembled guests, Roz noted that she was counselled \u201cdon\u2019t fall in love with real estate, it\u2019s to buy and sell.\u201d  Well, Roz didn\u2019t follow that counsel when it came to this property.  \u201cIt was always a charming building and a unique part of South Miami.\u201d  The family has recently invested significant monies to rehab the historic property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n