^^^Well, I know I'm one of the biggest culprits of what you term as Miami bashing.
What I think has happened is this: in the early 2000s through perhaps 2009, the amount of construction in South FL was unbelievable. People, especially on this forum, were very excited to watch the exponential increase in the skyline unfold. Unfortunately for Miami's sympathizers, pure "construction" only goes so far. People are generally interested in design, context, and the basis behind the construction, as well. Couple that with an oddly missing element on this forum from Miami - aside from you and your pictures, and a couple other occasional posters, there isn't much "robust" discussion on Miami as there are other major cities. Take Atlanta - which does not have the overall design or construction going on that Miami consistently has these days, there is still tons of robust discussion between dozens of active posters, and the discussions are typically quite informative and intellectual in nature. I've certainly bashed Atlanta, my adopted hometown previously, probably more than Miami, but I also try to add to that amazing conversation on their construction/city threads.
What I've heard in the real estate community is that there is so much incredibly "stupid" money investing in Miami right now. Everyone's looking to scoop up any sort of core deals around Brickell or retail in South Beach because they feel they must, but Miami is the butt of so many jokes in the finance/real estate community. It's just an odd place with more than its fair share of problems, which for us end up being typified in its brutally cold skylines.
That "wall" in Sunny Isles is amazingly stupid to look at (FTR, we own an apartment complex in Sunny Isles, off the water). My perspective is influenced by the exact opposite situation here in SF - right next door to me a developer wants to put up the following:
http://www.socketsite.com/
http://www.socketsite.com/archives/2...ent_as_pr.html
And because it would create a mere 136' "wall" along the waterfront, which is so public and treasured by all that nobody can even conceive of a private entity interfering with it, there is a HUGE push to not approve this. In fact the Democrat party has come out swinging against the proposal and there will be a ballot measure (basically this tiny thing will be put to vote).
So when I see a wall of exclusive 50 story Trump towers and such on a beach front, basically walling off the general public and reserving the beach for the elite Russians and Latins who live in those towers, it's a bit much. It really doesn't help that the vast majority of South FL is so poor and so lacking in great public/park space, which gets hogged by all these rich foreign millionaires along the beach and east of 95. It's almost insulting.
FTR, even though my view will be blocked by the proposal above, I am totally for it...it's not too much and preserves much of the Bay Club that occupies the site now (plus the design compliments my older towers next door).
Random SF skyline shot I took last weekend and a couple from 2 months ago: