Miami Beach Moves to Honor Civic Giant Norman Braman with Street Co-Naming

Miami Beach is gearing up to pay tribute to one of its most influential residents. City officials are moving forward with plans to co-name a portion of 17th Street in honor of Norman Braman—an automotive industry titan whose passion for community, culture, and civic advocacy has helped shape the city’s modern identity.

The proposal is set for a final vote on April 23, and officials have already unanimously approved it on first reading.

A name synonymous with philanthropy and public service, Mr. Braman has left a lasting legacy in South Florida—not just through his business success as the founder of Braman Motors, one of the largest car dealerships in the state—but also through decades of unwavering civic engagement.

“His leadership and generosity have shaped the cultural, healthcare and civic fabric of Miami Beach and beyond,” a city commission memo reads.

Mr. Braman’s deep commitment to Holocaust remembrance also earned heartfelt praise. As an original founder and former president of the Miami Beach Holocaust Memorial, he helped create a powerful space for education, reflection, and community healing.

Culturally, Braman’s impact is just as significant. He and his wife Irma Braman were instrumental in bringing Art Basel to Miami Beach in the early 2000s—an event that has since become a global icon in the art world, cementing Miami Beach as a hub for international creativity and innovation.

Braman didn’t come to Miami to become a civic force—he moved here in 1969 from Philadelphia with plans to retire after owning the Philadelphia Eagles. But retirement was never really in the cards. “I fight for what I believe in – I’m not afraid,” he told Miami Today in a 2017 interview, calling out apathy and encouraging community action.

Known for backing up his words with action—and generous support—Braman has long championed leaders who prioritize transparency and public service. His “legacy project,” the Institute of Contemporary Art in the Miami Design District, was funded entirely by him and stands as a bold statement of his passion for the arts and the city’s future.

With the street co-naming on the horizon, Miami Beach is poised to honor not just a man, but a movement—one rooted in service, courage, and a love for community.