Miami Today: Week of Thursday, March 17, 2016

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, MARCH 17, 2016

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00

COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE & OFFICE SPACE

Investors reveal diverse list of targets in county, pg. 14 BIG-NAME DELINQUENTS: Big-name developments have avoided paying Miami-Dade Water and Sewer connection charges so long that they have passed the county’s four-year statute of limitations, accounting for the vast majority of more than $3.5 million sitting on the county’s ledger as uncollected. Among the big ones that got away forever, according to a memo last week from Mayor Carlos Gimenez to commissioners, are the Loews Hotel, which owes $976,007 uncollectible, Yacht Club at Portofino $537,389, Sunny Isles Luxury Ventures (formerly known as Trump International Sonesta Beach) $467,794, Portofino Tower $319,423, and Bentley Hotel, $120,752. In 2015 the county collected only $58,110 in delinquent water and sewer connection charges, $45,610 from the Bentley Beach Condo Hotel and $12,500 from The Clinton Hotel. The mayor issued the report at the request of Commissioner Daniella Levine Cava.

Smaller Design District shops awaiting second phase, pg. 15

THE ACHIEVER

BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

CONVENTION HOTEL FAILS: Miami Beach voters on Tuesday rejected a lease of city land for 99 years for construction of an 800-room, 25-story convention center hotel at 17th Street and Convention Center Drive. Approval would have allowed Portman Holdings of Atlanta to build the $400 million hotel behind the Fillmore Miami Beach to serve the Miami Beach Convention Center, which is now being upgraded. The measure won more than 50% approval, but a 60% yes vote was needed to permit the deal to go forward. Hotel proponents had said a convention center hotel was vital to bringing more major conventions to the center. RIVERSIDE REFERENDUM: On Tuesday, City of Miami voters approved by a wide margin a plan to lease city-owned land on the Miami River to a developer who plans a mixed-use fisherman’s wharf with restaurants. Voters were asked to approve a lease of 0.73-acre on the river to Riverside Wharf LLC, providing for $195,500 of minimum guaranteed annual rent and an investment of about $7 million in privately funded improvements, including construction of restaurants and the continuity of the public riverwalk, for a 30-year term with two 10-year renewal options. The plan includes a complex of four riverfront restaurants and event spaces and a fish market and oyster bar run by Garcia’s Seafood, along with a new portion of the riverwalk. PRIVATE ASSET MANAGEMENT: Miami law firm Cantor & Webb received the Best Private Client Law Firm Award at the annual Private Asset Management Awards in New York.

Scheffer Tseng

Photo by Marlene Quaroni

MD develops and markets wound-healing technologies The profile is on Page 4

Guyana grower plans river import-shipping hub BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

An established importer-exporter plans to redevelop a marine-industrial site on the upper Miami River, a move expected to generate new jobs and tax base for the area. The company plans to relocate to 32183250 NW N River Drive, a riverfront property with access to a rail spur and close to Miami International Airport. Dee Talford owns and operates two companies: Exquisite Import/Export Trading Co. Inc., doing business as ETC Logistics (USA), and Talford-Guyana Agro Industries. The operation in Guyana feeds the US company palm oil and soybeans. ETC Logistics USA, founded in 1988, operates as a trade stream service provider. As a contract worldwide shipper, the company is in global market trade, moving and transportation technologies. It also provides dry, refrigerated, flatbed and intermodal services. Mr. Talford met recently with the economic development committee of the Miami River Commission to explain his plans to move from North Carolina to Miami. About three years ago, a Beacon Council

AGENDA

City seeks waterways travel plan

representative reached out to him about relocating to Miami, he said. For about a year, Mr. Talford has been in talks with Brett Bibeau, River Commission managing director, about relocation. The company has offered to buy the riverfront site, Mr. Talford said. Talford-Guyana Agro Industries leases about 20,000 acres from the government of Guyana to grow African palms and soybeans. The company’s products include palm oil for cooking, butter and margarine, soy milk, soy oil and bio-fuels, and can be used in the manufacture of cosmetics and pharmaceuticals. “Overall it is an environmentally-sound product,” he said. The plan calls for shipping the raw palm oil and soybeans from South America by tankers to the river site, transporting raw product by rail from the riverfront site to a New York refinery and transporting it back to Miami for packaging and shipment to sellers. About 75 packaging and processing jobs are expected here within five years, he said. “Already we’ve started hiring here in Miami,” Mr. Talford said – about 20 people so far. As for goals for sales of palm and soy

In the wake of use of water taxis to ferry thousands to the Miami International Boat Show last month, Miami commissioners are preparing to launch a study leading to a major waterway transportation system. Commissioners, buoyed by boat show numbers, directed City Manager Daniel Alfonso on March 11 to study what a waterways transportation plan would require. Boat show organizer the National Marine Manufacturers Association reported that its water taxis transported more than 53,000 people to the show on Virginia Key. City officials say that number reveals how valuable waterways can be for transportation in the city. Commissioner Ken Russell, chairing last week’s meeting, said successful use of water taxis was a great kick-off to discussing waterway transportation. “The question of ‘would people use it’ has been answered,” Mr. Russell said. Commissioner Wifredo “Willy” Gort, a champion of public transit over waterways, authored the resolution that the commission adopted. A system that uses water routes on Biscayne Bay and the Miami River could help relieve traffic congestion on the roadways, Mr. Gort said. “Water travel works worldwide,” he said. The commission believes a balanced, integrated and multimodal transportation system is a priority, the legislation states. It directs Mr. Alfonso to conduct a study focused on manatee protection, no wake zone and safety considerations; existing ports and marinas and those in development; the system’s relationship with MiamiDade County and surrounding municipalities; use of various vessel types and the environmental impacts of each; and connectivity with other forms of transport such as Metrorail, Metro Bus and the network of trolleys.

products, Mr. Talford said, “We will try to get in all the major grocery stores.” The company now has two palm oil products in Walmarts in Mexico, he said. By cutting transportation costs, Mr. Talford said, his company can sell palm oil at a 30% discount. The company currently ships to the Port of Charleston. He said he plans to sell stock in the company soon. He said he is also considering using the EB-5 foreign investment program to generate money to help the company grow. “We wish you the best of luck,” said committee chairman Phil Everingham. Rob Piatkowski, a planning consultant with the Florida Department of Transportation, listened to Mr. Talford’s presentation. He said the department in September will study short sea shipping to evaluate freight uses on the river. Mr. Piatkowski said the study will look at connectivity to other transportation modes. Mr. Talford said the relaxation of trade restrictions with Cuba and the expansion of the Panama Canal could be “great busi- 80% attending boat show rode in water taxis or buses, city told, pg. 8 ness opportunities for us.”

COMMUTE TIMES DETER TALENT, TECH PANEL TOLD ...

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ROCKS AND STICKS ARE ‘ZOO DOO’ STICKING POINTS ...

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CITY STRIPS SPORTS AUTHORITY OF LAND CONTROLS ...

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THE FAIR ANALYZES TWO RELOCATION POSSIBILITIES ...

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VIEWPOINT: LET PUBLIC VOTE ON METROMOVER FARE ...

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REALTY HOLDS OWN AMID FALLING FOREIGN SALES ...

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MUSEUM BAILOUT WOULD ADD OFFICIALS TO BOARD ...

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COUNTY PULLS FILM STUDIO GRANT, RECYCLES CASH ...

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Miami Today: Week of Thursday, March 17, 2016 by Miami Today - Issuu