Hermine_E._Ricketts

Hermine Ricketts

Hermine Ricketts

Jamaican-born American architect (1956–2019)

Hermine E. Ricketts, also known as Hermine Ricketts-Carroll (1956–2019), was a Jamaican-born American architect, activist, and painter.[1][2][3] She was active as an architect in South Florida, where she was the only Black female architect in 1992.[2] She and her husband made national news when they had a six year-long legal battle with the Village Council of Miami Shores to keep a vegetable garden in their front yard, a lawsuit which she won in July 2019 and she died soon after.[4]

Quick Facts Born, Died ...

Biography

Ricketts was born in 1956 in Hermitage, Saint Andrew Parish, Jamaica.[5] She attended Howard University in Washington, D.C.[6]

Ricketts was the founder president in 1986 of HER Architects, Inc., located in Coral Gables, Florida.[1][7] Her architecture work was acknowledged in The New York Times, and Ebony magazine, where she was named a "top women architect" in the 1990s.[5] In 1992, Ricketts was the only Black female architect in South Florida.[2][6] Her work included the renovation of the Jackson Memorial Hospital, and a renovation of a Veterans Hospital. Within the Miami-Dade County Public Schools, she designed alongside the Broward firm the Miami Shores Elementary School and Comstock Elementary School; and designed alone the Carol City Elementary School and Jann Mann Opportunity Education. She also designed African Square Park in Meyga Learning Center at 1466 NW 62nd Street in Miami.[6] In 2004, Ricketts paintings were included in a group exhibition "Three Women" at the gallery at the African Heritage Cultural Arts Center, 6161 NW 22nd Avenue, Miami.[3]

She and her husband Tom Carroll had a six year-long legal battle with the Village Council of Miami Shores in order to change zoning, so she could maintain keeping her vegetable garden in their front yard.[8][9][10][4] Starting in 2013, the village of Miami Shores has banned growing vegetable gardens in front yards, which became punishable by a daily fine of US $50 because they were "unsightly and violated zoning codes".[11] For 20 years, Ricketts had maintained a vegetable garden in her front yard.[11] Her case was supported by the Institute for Justice.[12] While the legal battle was coming to an end and they had won their case, Ricketts died on August 24, 2019, after struggle with illness.[13][11]

Work

  • Veterans Hospital[6]
  • Jackson Memorial Hospital renovation, 1611 NW 12th Avenue, Miami, Florida[6]
  • Miami Shores Elementary School, with Broward firm, 10351 NE 5th Avenue, Miami Shores, Florida[6]
  • Comstock Elementary School, with Broward firm, 2420 NW 18th Avenue, Miami, Florida[6]
  • Carol City Elementary School, Miami Gardens, Florida[6]
  • Phyllis Ruth Miller Elementary School, 840 NE 87th Street, Miami, Florida[1]
  • Jann Mann Opportunity Education, 16101 NW 44th Court, Opa-locka, Florida[6]
  • African Square Park in Meyga Learning Center, 1466 NW 62nd Street, Miami, Florida[6]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    "Top Women Architects". Ebony. Vol. 50, no. 10. August 1995. pp. 54–58. ISSN 0012-9011.
  2. [2]
    Dunlop, Beth (1992-06-14). "Crafted With Pride: Black Architects, Few in Numbers, See South Florida As A Place They Can Make A Difference". The Miami Herald. pp. 1G, 18G. ISSN 0898-865X. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  3. [3]
    "Gallery exhibition part of a salute to women". The Miami Herald. 2004-02-29. p. 175. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  4. [4]
    Linnekin, Baylen (2016-09-15). Biting the Hands that Feed Us: How Fewer, Smarter Laws Would Make Our Food System More Sustainable. Island Press. p. 151. ISBN 978-1-61091-675-2.
  5. [5]
    "Jamaican who fought for frontyard veggie gardens dies in Florida". Jamaica Gleaner. 2019-09-17. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  6. [6]
    "A Closer Look at Four Architects and Their Imprint on S. Florida". The Miami Herald. 1992-06-14. p. 975. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  7. [7]
    "Andrew Young to address conference of black architects". The Miami Herald. 1992-05-03. p. 1092. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  8. [8]
    Ebrahimji, Alisha (2019-07-03). "Six years later, Florida couple wins right to plant veggies in their front-yard". CNN. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  9. [9]
    Doss, Laine. "Miami Shores Couple to Village: Let Us Grow Our Vegetable Garden". Miami New Times. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  10. [10]
    "Orlando drops enforcement of vegetable garden rules after state preemption, but won't clear all regulations". Orlando Sentinel. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  11. [11]
    "Florida couple finally enjoying front-yard veggie garden after 6-year legal battle". CBC Radio. August 28, 2019.
  12. [12]
    "Woman who sued for front gardens dies". Kennebec Journal. 2019-08-28. pp. A8. ISSN 0745-2039. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  13. [13]
    "Woman who sued for front-yard veggie gardens dies in Florida". WTHR. August 27, 2019. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
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