I have long lamented the loss of the once shapely Miami skyline. What was once a collection of tasteful, recognizable sky scrapers is now an oversized mess shaped vaguely like a box of French fries. In a word, Miami’s skyline went from iconic to ugly in the span of about seven years. We are America’s 11th-largest city, but for some reason have its third largest skyline. But I guess that makes sense in a town where everyone tries to look a lot bigger than they really are.

VISIONARY OR WHORE TO DEVELOPERS?

But until this week, I didn’t realize to what degree others in Miami disliked all the vertical growth. The New York Times, of all people, wrote a piece on Mayor Manny Diaz and his legacy. The story isn’t really an indictment of Mayor Diaz. Nor is it a fluff job. Rather it looks at the obscene growth that took place in Miami during his eight years in office and debates whether or not it was a good thing.

In the article, Diaz is referred to as “Money Diaz,” a name local media had used for him for some time. It also describes how Diaz always fashioned himself a “deal man.” Essentially, the Times shows how Diaz more or less rubber stamped every development that was proposed during his term, and never did much more than suggest changes. The mayor and the city commission, after all, were legally powerless to prevent anything going up as long as it was zoned appropriately. And, really, nobody at that time was saying no to the heavy-hitting contributors that were real estate developers. Diaz even permitted two condo towers that were supposed to go up next to Vizcaya. And people wonder why some say Miami is losing its character.

“THIS IS NOT NEW YORK CITY, AND IT SHOULDN’T BE”

Of course, many in what were once residential areas are not exactly looking back on what Diaz did as progress. One woman in the article laments the loss of her once quiet residential area on Coral Way to gargantuan condo towers that destroyed its feel. So not only was the skyline permanently scarred, but so were many neighborhoods. And for what?

One can’t even argue that much money was made, since we all see how profitable the endless condo towers have been for their developers. Yes, Diaz did succeed in bringing some semblance of life to downtown, but that goal could have been easily accomplished with half as many buildings. I’m pretty sure if we went ahead and demoed every building built in Brickell after 2005, we’d be just fine.

But since Diaz’ protégé Joe Sanchez was trounced in the mayoral race; some see it as a rejection of the Diaz-era rubber stamping of development. And, to the same tune, his progressive attitude towards spending on large civic projects Whether or not this past election was a referendum on Manny Diaz and his vision of progress will remain to be seen. As will his legacy. Was he the mayor who made Miami an international player? Or did he simply create a bunch of white elephants that will haunt the city for years?

Matt Meltzer is a featured columnist at Miami Beach 411. Matt’s column appears Tuesdays. See more articles by Matt Meltzer >