MIAMI – Some Midtown Miami residents want to know why a project that was never finished is being uprooted.
The center of Midtown was supposed to be transformed into what was called the New World Gardens. English- and Japanese-style gardens were supposed to be completed by the end of March 2010. An Italian water garden, a French Versailles garden and a Modern Garden were supposed to be completed by the end of September 2010.
New World Gardens was supposed to be a temporary park until developers decided what to do with the land.
But some in Midtown said it's been nothing but an overgrown eyesore.
"It's a fraud and no one is taking responsibility," said a Midtown regular.
The incomplete project is being uprooted to the dismay of neighbors, who wanted to see it completed.
"It was more in disrepair than anything else. I actually thought it was a nursery for the city," said Midtown resident Jean Picard.
Harry Nelson is the designer and the man behind the idea. He is now selling off some of his trees and moving others to property he owns on Krome Avenue. Nelson said there were financial obstacles and a family tragedy.
"After my sister died, we were doing all kinds of other things and the economy -- lots of people who were supposed to back this backed out," said Nelson.
Hundreds and thousands of dollars were donated, Nelson said, to buy soil and put in an irrigation system. But some claimed Nelson used the lot as a private nursery.
"I saw more trees coming out of this place than coming in," said Picard.
"It was never going to be a world garden because everything was kept in its pots. It was a storage spot for trees," said Midtown resident Peter Mansfield.
But Nelson, who claimed he's owned the trees for years, said his intentions were good.
"There is always someone who is not going to be happy. I live here and I'd love to walk out and work on my garden. In life, we don't have control of the world," Nelson said.
Last week, new developers acquired vacant land. There is talk of a movie theater, but no one is willing to talk concrete plans.
The property management issued the following statement:
"World Gardens temporary installation in Midtown Miami has been canceled due to challenges faced by the designer, Harry Nelson of Harry Nelson Fine Gardens, which resulted in the inability to complete his vision for the project during the timeline planned for the exhibit. It is an unfortunate circumstance because it was the original intent of Midtown Miami to provide land to the designer for a temporary installation for the public to enjoy while the next phase of development was being planned for the site. Midtown is currently in design development for the property and will be excited to share more information about the next phase when it is finalized."