About Us

Mission Statement

Support and serve the residents of the Venetian Islands so as to maintain the highest quality of living through energized and focused advocacy, with the powers of and performing activities granted to a Florida nonprofit corporation under Florida Statute Chapter 617.

Goals

The purpose of VWNA is:

To carry out the objectives approved by the VWNA Board of Directors or general membership and to advocate for the highest quality-of-life regarding the following issues including but not limited to:

  • Public safety Traffic Parking Cleanliness Noise Beauty
  • Historical Preservation Environmental and Ecological Issues
  • To work with the political leaders and staffs of Miami, Miami Beach, and Miami-Dade County regarding all proposed policies, public works, capital projects and commercial or residential development or zoning plans to protect the V C neighborhood.
  • To involve residents in the affairs of the V C neighborhood.

Boundaries

From and including the west bascule in the City of Miami along the Venetian Causeway (V C) to the end of the V C beyond the east bascule in Miami Beach including the residential neighborhood of Biscayne, San Marco, San Marino, Dilido, Rivo Alto and Belle Isle Islands.

Achievements

Since the 1990’s when the Venetian Causeway Neighborhood Alliance was formed, open to condo and single family owners, to fight the county’s plan to replicate the MacArthur and gained a listing on the National Registry of History Places (currently on all local listings as well), the Venetian Way Neighborhood Alliance (name changed in 2018 to emphasize residential character) led the way in the early 2000’s in the historical rebuilding of the toll booth and improved landscaping, and culminated recently in 2022, working with the two other residential V C associations*, in the defeat of the County’s attempt to privatize the Venetian Causeway and to raise the east bascule to a height which altered the physical setting of V C islands and potentially jeopardized the V C’s historical listings.

Goals for 2024

1. The VWNA will continue to work with code and law enforcement, as well as review all municipal, county and state plans and policies, including the soon to be effectuated Venetians Bridges Project.

2. The VWNA will emphasize the review of the resilience plans of the US Army Corps of Engineers and local governments.

3. The VWNA will continue to work closely with the Venetian Islands Homeowners Association and the Belle Isle Residents Association as well as nearby resident associations to shield the neighborhood from noise, light, trash, signage, and other nuisance intrusions.

*The V C is the site of three neighborhood organizations: The VWNA, open to all residents of the V C neighborhood in both Miami and Miami Beach; the Venetian Islands Homeowners Association (VIHA), open to single family homeowners who live mainly in Miami Beach; and the Belle Isle Residents Association (BIRA), open to condominium owners and homeowners living on Belle Isle.
The Venetian Way Neighborhood Alliance (VWNA), for all owners on the Venetian Causeway (V C), primarily addresses Miami, Miami Beach and Miami-Dade County issues affecting the V C neighborhood. We work closely with the Venetian Islands Homeowners Association (VIHA), open to single family owners only, and the Belle Isle Residents Association (BIRA) for condo and homeowners living on Belle Isle

Officers

Barbara K. Bisno
President

Sharon Kirby
Vice President

Manal Oliver
Treasurer

Ken Gordon
Secretary

Board

Kirsten Baier
Adele Bolden
Michael E. Fryd
Ryan K. Todd
Hortense DeCastro

 

History of Venetian Way

The Venetian Way crosses Biscayne Bay between Miami on the mainland and Miami Beach on a barrier island in south Florida. The man-made Venetian Islands and non-bridge portions of the causeway were created by materials which came from the dredging of the bay. The Venetian Causeway follows the original route of the Collins Bridge, a wooden 2.5 mi (4 km) long structure built in 1913 by John S. Collins and Carl G. Fisher which opened up the barrier island for unprecedented growth and development.

The causeway has one toll plaza (administered by the Miami-Dade County Public Works department , on Biscayne Island, the westernmost Venetian Island.

The causeway has two bascule bridges. At the Downtown/Western Beginning of the causeway travelers are greeted by two columns vertically saying “VENETIAN WAY” .

The Venetian Causeway was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1989.  It was re-dedicated in 1999 after the completion of a $29 million restoration and replacement project.[7]

A popular use of the causeway is for exercising, including both jogging and bicycling.