WEEK OF THURSDAY, OCTOBER 6, 2016
A Singular Voice in an Evolving City
WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00
CORAL GABLES
Retail district expands to meet ever-growing demand, pg. 13 CONSTRUCTION STARTS DOWN: As the value of construction starts in South Florida fell 22% in August from August 2015, the value of construction starts for the whole of 2016 slipped slightly into negative territory, down more than $11 million from the first eight months of 2015. Construction starts for the year for Miami-Dade, Broward and Palm Beach counties now total a bit more than $7.2 billion, according to Dodge Data & Analytics, which closely tracks construction in the area. In August alone, non-residential starts fell 31% in value for the area from August 2015 and residential starts fell 20%. For the whole year, non-residential starts are up 7% and residential starts down 4% in value, according to Dodge’s figures.
Business leaders unite to deal with streetscape issues, pg. 14
THE ACHIEVER
BY SUSAN DANSEYAR
MIA-ONTARIO FLIGHTS: Canadian carrier First Air will begin charter passenger flights to Miami International Airport from Hamilton International Airport in Mount Hope, Ontario, on Feb. 4, 2017, on behalf of Celebrity Cruises. The carrier will use B737-400 aircraft seating 136 passengers for the weekly charter service. First Air will add to MIA’s current service to Canada, which includes flights linking to Montreal by American Airlines and Air Canada, as well as to Toronto with American Airlines, Air Canada and WestJet. Canada is MIA’s eighth-busiest international market, with more than 765,000 passengers a year. First Air is the leading airline in Canada’s Arctic, wholly owned by the 9,000 Inuit of northern Quebec through the Makivik Corp. BUS FARE CUT: To encourage more use of public transit, officials have cut fares for express Metrobus routes operating within Miami-Dade lines from $2.65 to $2.25. Routes 150, 338, 272, 288, 204, 34 and 95 Express Golden Glades now have a 40-cent lower cost per trip. The 301 DadeMonroe Express, 302 Card Sound Express and four 95 Dade-Broward Express routes remain at the old fares. Changes took effect Oct. 1. County commissioners approved Mayor Carlos Gimenez’s budget Sept. 22, which included the reduced fare. The resolution that led to the fare cut was sponsored by Daniella Levine Cava, who said express bus service like the 95 Express routes and Busway Flyer is important for thousands of people already and will be a critical link in the SMART plan that is eventually to add six transit routes. In a written statement, Director of Transportation and Public Works Alice Bravo said express Metrobus route fares now match Metrorail rates. GAS TRICKLES UP: Miami retail gasoline prices averaged $2.25 a gallon as this week opened, 1 cent higher than last week but 4.4 cents per gallon lower than a year earlier.
Carole Kruse
Photo by Marlene Quaroni
Director prepares for Zoo Miami’s Everglades exhibit The profile is on Page 4
Casino giant Genting floats marina slips swap BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS
Mega-yacht plans face manatee rules, pg. 12
Genting Group will wait no longer. The Malaysian casino giant, through its Resorts World Miami, is moving forward to build a mega-yacht marina at 1 Herald Plaza without first developing the upland, where it long has sought a mammoth gambling resort. That’s the word from attorney Spencer Crowley, representing the company Monday before the Miami River Commission. The commission voted 10-1 to recommend approval of a plan that would establish 50 boat slips in Biscayne Bay off the former Miami Herald headquarters site between the MacArthur and Venetian causeways. The deal includes construction of a public shoreline baywalk and a Genting promise to pay to build part of the baywalk under I-395 connecting to the existing baywalk in front of the Pérez Art Museum Miami. That slice of baywalk would be “a huge substantial benefit” that Genting is proud to offer, Mr. Crowley said. Rules to protect manatees allow for one slip per 100 feet of owned shoreline, giving Genting eight slips. But Mr. Crowley said
Resorts World Miami intends to seek special permission to buy boat slips from two Miami River sites to bring the new marina’s slip count to 50. The river marinas are Austral Marina near Northwest 16th Terrace and the South Fork property near Northwest 19th Court owned by Apex Marine, according to data provided to the river commission. Horacio Stuart Aguirre, river commission chair, citing business and personal relationships with the two riverfront property owners, recused himself from the discussion and vote. “The county has used the slip transfer in the past,” Mr. Crowley said. Resorts World Miami hopes to transfer the slips in order “to achieve the densities we want,” he said. Mr. Crowley also said the marina would be a major economic engine for the city and increase the area’s marine industry. “Big boats mean big jobs,” he said, and big money. “We see this as a great benefit to the Miami River,” Mr. Crowley said, saying the marina would help support marine uses and boat yards up and down the river.
AGENDA
Chamber, Beacon tie given push A merger would benefit the Beacon Council and Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce as a shared CEO and resources streamlined and strengthened economic development efforts, some leaders are saying. County Commissioner Xavier Suarez said publicly this week that he agrees with a Sept. 8 Miami Today editorial that timing is perfect to search for just one CEO now that both groups are seeking one. The editorial said a merger could better lure top talent, sharpen focus and command more government respect. In a formal meeting with Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava to discuss Beacon Council efficacy, Mr. Suarez told council Chair Jaret Davis that the $3.7 million a year the council gets from the business surtax would be more effectively used if the council and chamber merged. Ms. Levine Cava said she shares the concerns of many that the county might not be getting the full value of the business tax and would like the Beacon Council to explain more clearly what it does. She’s talked to people on both sides of the merger idea, although she said most don’t favor it. Mr. Davis said the Beacon Council will investigate a merger. Several people have proposed it, he said. “We are open to the idea.” In a written statement Tuesday, Mr. Davis said the Beacon Council has considered strategic partnerships with the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce and similar entities for years. “We recognize that the simultaneous vacancies in chief executive positions provide a natural catalyst to revisit these talks. As part of our fiduciary duty to our stakeholders, we are having informal discussions with local leaders.” But, he said, “before any serious discussions of any strategic partnership may occur, we would need to analyze the risks and benefits.”
Genting has owned the Biscayne Bay waterfront for about five years while floating ideas for a billion-dollar resort on the 14-acre site. But attempts to get a casino approved in Tallahassee have been dashed repeatedly, and the land has remained barren. Mr. Crowley said the developer has been working on this plan for several years. “The site is very well suited for a marina,” he said. A proposed layout shows the marina could handle 50- to 175-footlong vessels. Initially, it was believed the submerged lands off 1 Herald Plaza belonged to the state, he said, but research revealed the state conveyed the submerged lands to the City of Miami in 1919, a fact confirmed by state officials. Plenty must happen before the first 120-footer docks at the planned marina, including approvals from county, state and federal agencies. A key to the proposal is a lease of the bottomlands from the city. The marina proposal is under review currently, said Mr. Crowley, by Miami-Dade Commissioner Levine Cava seeks County Department of Environmental Refull audit of Beacon Council, pg. 11 sources Management and other agencies.
CLEANUP OF POLLUTED WATERWAYS YEARS BEHIND ...
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RUSSIA FLIERS DIP 37%, BUT AEROFLOT ADDING HERE ...
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ENDANGERED BEETLE NOW ENDANGERS THEME PARK ...
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ACCOUNTABILITY ISSUE STALLS HOUSING LAND TRUST ...
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VIEWPOINT: AERIAL BALLPARK TRANSIT A HOME RUN? ...
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CANADIAN HOTELIER PLANS TO BUILD IN EDGEWATER ...
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DOWNTOWN RETAIL SPACE TO QUICKLY EXPAND 23% ...
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AS FILM FEST EVENT OPENS, ‘INTERNATIONAL’ EXITS ...
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