Community Newspapers SERVING MIAMI-DADE COUNTY SINCE 1958
SUN
AUGUST 16, 2010
INSIDE THIS
S unny I sles B each
‘Sea-cret’ to more success Seaquarium operators and city moving forward with plans for park/aquarium complex
ISSUE LOCAL STUDENTS’ ARTWORKS
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MOVING FORWARD PROMOTIONS
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ENFEITES ALL-IN-ONE GRAND OPENING
VOL. 28, NO. 33
BY BARI AUERBACH
S
ince Sunny Isles Beach incorporated in 1997, the city has experienced a “revitalization transformation” – and now the progress continues as plans are moving forward to construct a magnificent new Park/Aquarium complex at the gateway to the city on Sunny Isles Boulevard. LETTER OF INTENT APPROVED At the July 15 City Commission meeting, a resolution was passed approving a non binding Letter of Intent between the City of Sunny Isles Beach and H & M Gables Investors, LLC (operator of the Seaquarium) to lease property to construct, develop and operate an Aquarium at 151 Sunny Isles Boulevard. Related facilities proposed include a restaurant, food and gift concessions, meeting rooms and party rooms. The Aquarium will be open to the public and used to help promote Sunny Isles Beach tourism. City Attorney Hans Ottinot explained in a memo to the Commission, “The operator of the Seaquarium has expressed a strong interest in developing a private/public partnership with the City to develop an Aquarium in [Sunny Isles Beach]. To facilitate the execution of a lease agreement, the operator of the Seaquarium has agreed to accept the terms outlined in the Letter of Intent.
“The City and the operator of the Miami Seaquarium have agreed to enter a 99 year lease. Under the proposed lease, the City will collect, with the exception of the first four years of the lease term, an annual rent in the amount of $324,000 (with appropriate inflating increases). H & M will be responsible for all costs associated with the construction of the Aquarium. The City will provide the Aquarium with the use of the parking garage that the City intends to build adjacent to the Aquarium. The City, however, will collect all revenues generated from the use of the garage. “In addition to collecting rent, the City will be entitled to collect a percentage of the gross sales from the Aquarium less the amount of the base rent. The City will have the right to approve the sale of the Aquarium to a third party. The City will also have the right to terminate the lease if the Aquarium is not constructed. The parties agree to finalize all necessary agreements within ninety days of approval of the Letter of Intent.”
Beach Clean Up
PROGRESS REPORT A recent Sunny Isles Beach “Progress Report” published by the City Commission featured an update on plans for the Park/Aquarium complex – representing “the City’s commitment to creating public facili-
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SEE STORY AND PHOTOS ON PAGE 2
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