Miami Today: Week of Thursday, April 2, 2015

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

WWW.MIAMITODAYNEWS.COM $4.00

EDUCATION TRENDS

Campus visits, personal contact seal college commitment, pg. 9 TRI-RAIL FUNDING: Miami-Dade County has committed $13.8 million in soft pledges to partially fund expansion of Tri-Rail service to downtown Miami. The funds have yet to be approved by the county commission. Tri-Rail commuter trains now stop in West Miami-Dade; to bring the trains to downtown would cost about $69 million. Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said he supports the effort and a county contribution of $13.8 million from revenues it collects from a half-cent sales surtax. Michael Hernández, the mayor’s spokesman, told Miami Today on Monday that the county doesn’t plan to increase its financial commitment to the project. “We think that’s a sufficient investment from Miami-Dade County as of right now,” Mr. Hernández said. The state, City of Miami and Tri-Rail’s operating agencies have also committed funds but a gap of about $29 million remains.

The City of Miami is looking at a financing plan to meet the shortfall.

Dinners at home with final four end UM presidency hunt, pg. 9

THE ACHIEVER

BY LIDIA DINKOVA

MEXICO BOUND: Miami International Airport added its first new international destination of 2015 when Aeromexico Flight 425 from Monterrey touched down last week. The inaugural Monterrey-Miami flight marks the start of daily service between Miami and Mexico’s thirdlargest metropolitan area. According to MIA officials, Monterrey is a major business hub and home to numerous multinational corporations.

This represents Miami’s fifth Mexico destination, joining Cancún, Cozumel, Mérida and Mexico City. Aeromexico will operate the route from their Monterrey hub using a 76-seat Embraer 170 aircraft. MIA hub carrier American Airlines has also announced plans for service between the two cities, with six weekly flights scheduled to begin June 4.

PARK REOPENS: The City of Miami reopened Merrie Christmas Park last week after it had been closed to address contamination. Environmental remediation at the park, at South LeJeune Road and Barbarrosa Avenue, began in August 2014 and included removal of structures, sidewalks and park features in order to excavate 12 to 24 inches of potentially contaminated soil from specified areas and install 12 to 24 inches of clean fill. The work also included pruning tree roots, refurbishing playground equipment, and installing bonded rubber mulch around banyan trees, new sidewalks, and rubberized material within the playground surface area. A new drinking fountain will soon be installed. The project cost about $1.2 million.

Carlos Castillo

Photo by Marlene Quaroni

Heading area disaster operations of the Red Cross The profile is on Page 4

New Medley site to convert natural gas to LNG

BY LIDIA DINKOVA

A company backed by the global Fortress Investment Group is building a plant in Medley to convert natural gas to liquefied natural gas.

American LNG Marketing plans to build the facility where a relatively small amount of liquefied natural gas (LNG) will be produced, according to records the company submitted to the US Department of Energy.

The company is building on 13 acres it has leased from Florida East Coast Industries, the Coral Gables-based firm that owns the planned express passenger rail project All Aboard Florida.

The site is part of a facility commonly called the Hialeah Rail Yard, which stretches over several hundred acres in Northwest Miami-Dade County.

American LNG plans to source natural gas from the Florida Gas Transmission, a 5,500-mile pipeline that transports natural gas from south Texas to South Florida.

LNG is essentially natural gas obtained through fracking and then condensed to take much less volume than in its gaseous state. Various particles are also removed in the liquefaction.

AGENDA

Cruise lines aim to berth added ships

American LNG’s facility will have production capacity of 100,000 gallons of LNG annually and storage capacity of 270,000 gallons.

The company plans to sell the LNG domestically and abroad as transportation fuel for vehicles and trains as well as for use by electricity generation facilities.

In fact, American LNG has already secured a buyer for part of the LNG it’s to produce: Florida East Coast Railway (FECR), a freight rail system that stretches 351 miles along Florida’s East Coast and connects with major seaports in the state including PortMiami and Port Everglades.

American LNG has an off-take agreement under which FECR will buy a percentage of the LNG to power its locomotives as part of its fleet modernization, records show.

FECR leases most of the Hialeah Rail Yard where the LNG facility will rise.

FECR and Florida East Coast Industries, the company that leased the site to American LNG, are both also backed by New York-based Fortress Investment Group.

Miami Today learned of the plans for the Medley facility by obtaining an application

American LNG submitted to the federal government. American LNG sought permission to export about 60,000 metric tons of LNG, and in late March the US Department of Energy gave the company approval to export by vessel to free trade agreement nations. American LNG needed permission to export LNG but not to build its plant.

A spokeswoman for the company referred to it as New Fortress Energy instead of as American LNG. “New Fortress Energy is a full-service energy provider that supplies an end-toend solution for the production and delivery of Liquid Natural Gas throughout Florida. The company serves a wide range of customers, including power plants, heavy-hauling trucking firms, shipping companies and railroads,” Linda Brandt told Miami Today in an email.

The FECR tracks connect the Hialeah Rail Yard to state seaports, including PortMiami, allowing easy export access.

The LNG will also be transported via trucks and trains to users.

Construction of the LNG production facility is underway and should be completed in September.

More cruise ships aim to come to PortMiami, a Miami-Dade County official revealed.

A number of companies are in talks with the county about bringing their ships to PortMiami, Deputy Mayor Jack Osterholt told Miami Today on Monday.

Mr. Osterholt did not name the cruise lines that are in talks with the county. He said that some of the lines already have ships at PortMiami and some are interested in bringing their ships here for the first time.

“I think there may be both types – people who’re coming for the first time and people who want to increase their business here,” Mr. Osterholt said.

To add more cruise ships at PortMiami, the county would have to build two more passenger terminals, he said. The port now has seven cruise terminals.

PortMiami already boasts a booming cruise business. In 2014, the port reached a record for passengers – nearly 4.8 million sailed through the port, a 17% increase from 2013. Passengers are counted twice, when they board and when they disembark.

The port has already solidified and publicly announced plans for more ships to come. Norwegian Cruise Line is to begin sailing its 4,248-passenger Norwegian Escape in the fall. The port already welcomed the 3,000-passenger Carnival Splendor, which belongs to Carnival Cruise Lines, and the Enchantment of the Seas, which belongs to Royal Caribbean.

In 2016, Carnival will begin sailing Carnival Vista to and from PortMiami, and in winter 2017 MSC Cruises will begin sailing its MSC Seaside.

Mr. Osterholt said initially that “three or four new cruise ships” are in talks with the county, but he later said he isn’t sure if that number is accurate.

“I think it’s indicative,” Mr. Osterholt said of the interest, “of the amount of growth and change at the port.”

MEDITERRANEAN VILLAGE WARNS TIME MAY RUN OUT ...

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UNIVERSITY SEA-LEVEL RESEARCH FINDS GROUND ZERO ...

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VIEWPOINT: WHAT A GREAT DIFFERENCE IN OPTIMISM ...

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SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE: AN ADVERTORIAL SECTION ... 15

FILM INDUSTRY INCENTIVE ADVANCES IN LEGISLATURE ...

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HOUSING PRICES FINALLY CLIMB BACK UP TO 2004 LEVEL ... 18

MORE THAN 50 BILLS IN LEGISLATURE TARGET SCHOOLS ... 11

YOUTH FAIR WON’T STUDY SITE PROPOSALS UNTIL APRIL ... 23

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MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

THE INSIDER

Honoree calls for balanced growth B Y S USAN D ANSEYAR

CITY SURPLUS: The City of Miami is more than one-third of the way Miami is just hitting its stride, through the 2014-2015 fiscal year, and as of last week, budget department says Stephen Owens, and he staffers project a surplus of about $17.4 million. In February, the estilooks forward to seeing what mated fiscal year-end surplus was $14.8 million. The city government is it will become but warns deoperating with a general fund budget of nearly $560 million.

NEW SHIPMATES: Walter Revell is now chairman of the board of directors for Miami-based Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings. He previously was a director and chairman of the audit committee for the company since 2005 and director of predecessor companies beginning in 1993.

Mr. Revell is chairman of the board and CEO of Revell Investments International Inc. From 1972 to 1975 he was Florida’s secretary of transportation. Other appointments include Kevin C. Jones and Blondel So King Tak, designees of Genting Hong Kong Ltd., as directors of the company. Mr. Jones is the general Walter Revell counsel, secretary and senior vice president of corporate development and strategy for Genting Americas Inc., an indirect, wholly owned subsidiary of Genting Malaysia Berhad. Mr. So joined Genting Hong Kong Ltd. as CFO in July 2007 and in August 2014 was appointed executive vice president for corporate services and country head of Hong Kong and Macau for Genting Hong Kong.

SOME ENCROACHING OK’D: Some taller buildings in Miami will be allowed to have elements like balconies encroach into setback areas under an ordinance amendment that commissioners approved March 26.

The change will allow balconies above the eighth story in T6 Transect Zones to encroach up to 3 feet into the depth of the setback, and allow façade components above the first story that promote energy efficiency – like shading – to encroach up to 3 feet into the depth of the setback.

The planning department and the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board recommended the move.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

velopment must be monitored to avoid mistakes of the past.

The president of Swire Properties Inc. spoke to a roomful of well-wishers after receiving a lifetime achievement award during last week’s Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce South Florida Real Estate Summit at the Treetop Ballroom on Jungle Island.

Mr. Owens – a 30-year veteran of Swire Properties, one of the leading real estate developers in South Florida and a subsidiary of the Hong Kong/ London-based Swire Group – has been in charge of US operations since 1985. Before assuming his current role as president, he oversaw Swire’s commercial and residential investment portfolio totaling over 2 million square feet.

“It has been a privilege to contribute to building this city,” Mr. Owens said. He spoke about growing up in a small North Carolina town

TRI-RAIL TO AIRPORT: Tri-Rail, the public commuter train that connects the tri-county area, is to begin stopping at Miami International Airport on Sunday. The stop at the airport is part of a larger transportation hub that’s nearing completion at Miami International. Known as the Miami Intermodal Center (MIC), it’s a facility that connects different transportation modes at the airport, including Miami-Dade County-run Metrorail and Metrobus. Tri-Rail passengers who get off at the MIC will be able to reach the airport via the MIA Mover. With the addition of this Tri-Rail stop, the commuter train’s schedule has been adjusted. Details:

BY SUSAN DANSEYAR tri-rail.com.

Lifetime honoree Stephen Owens

where the largest building was a 2½-story courthouse and the entire county’s population was less than what one tower of the new Brickell City Centre will accommodate.

Although his voice and words were gentle, Mr. Owens’ warning about avoiding a real estate bubble was clear.

“We should be realistic and monitor ourselves as we go forward with balance and respect,” he told the residential and commercial brokers and developers at the awards pre-

sentation luncheon. “We can’t have a party where everyone is drinking all the time.”

Mr. Owens said he is forever grateful and honored to receive the award and thanked the judges, his colleagues at Swire and – in particular – his best friend and wife, Aimee.

Mr. Owens’ responsibilities with Swire have encompassed some $3 billion in projects throughout the states of Florida, Hawaii and Texas, and in Hong Kong.

Prior to rejoining Swire Properties in the US in 1992, he spent two years with Swire Properties in the company’s Hong Kong headquarters where, as director of development, he oversaw development of some 680 residential units of 1.2 million feet, two fivestar, 500 room hotels and 1.4 million square feet of commercial properties.

Currently, Mr. Owens is overseeing Swire’s Brickell City Centre, an urban mixeduse development of 8.3 million gross square feet on five city blocks in Miami that will include a hotel, offices, retail and residential towers.

Chamber honors 7 for realty success

TOLL REBATES: The Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX) is offering cash rebates to drivers who frequently use one or more of the five highways under its jurisdiction. The free MDX Advantage program allows drivers to earn up to $30 in rebates per quarter if they have a SunPass account, use MDX expressways at least 66 days in a 90-day rebate period and spend $50 or more during that period. A couple of months ago, MDX increased tolls on its five highways, prompting a community outcry. Drivers can sign up for the rebate program by April 30 at mdxway.com.

FIRST UP: Miami will be the kick off city for this year’s National Small Business Week May 4-8, said US Small Business Administration Administrator Maria ContrerasSweet. This year’s theme is SBA: Dream Big, Start Small. She will highlight the week with small business events beginning in Miami, followed by Los Angeles, San Antonio, New York City and culminating in Washington, DC, where national winners will be recognized and awarded. “I’m excited to see Miami selected as the lead city to start National Small Business Week,” said SBA South Florida District Director Francisco Marrero Francisco “Pancho” Marrero. “This selection will give us the opportunity to spotlight Miami small businesses and highlight some of our district small business persons of the year award winners.” Details: www.sba.gov/smallbusinessweek NEW FIU TRUSTEES: Natasha Lowell and Justo L. Pozo have been appointed to five-year terms that began March 19 on Florida International University’s board of trustees.

Ms. Lowell, with more than 30 years in banking, is a senior vice president at Gibraltar Private Bank & Trust. She is a former board chair of the College Assistance Program Inc. of the Miami Foundation.

Mr. Pozo, a graduate of FIU with 30 years in the healthcare industry, is chairman of Pozo Capital Partners LLC. He serves on the FIU Foundation board of directors, for which he was immediate past chairman, Natasha Lowell and is a board member of the FIU Athletic Finance Corp.

INDUSTRIAL OUTLOOK: The year-end 2014 vacancy rate for industrial property in South Florida dropped to 6.7% from 7% 12 months before, according to Cushman & Wakefield’s 2015-2017 North American Industrial Forecast. Senior research analyst Mirta DeCespedes reported the bulk of new construction finished during 2014 was in the Airport West, Airport North/Medley and Airport East areas, where over 1.3 million square feet became available, holding vacancy rates steady; and yearend investor sales totaled 1.6 million square feet with the bulk in the Airport West area, where over 800,000 square feet traded hands. Ms. DeCespedes’ research also indicates appetite remains strong for welllocated Class A assets with access to efficient transportation modes such as rail and intermodal services becoming increasingly important.

She also reports e-commerce will have a significant impact in the industrial market.

CORRECTION: The two images last week with the Miami Beach centennial events article were incorrectly listed as belonging to the Style Mafia fashion show. They were from an Andrew Charles show and an Isabel Toledo show at previous Funkshion: Fashion Week Miami Beach events.

CORRECTION: A story last week about Warby Parker incorrectly referred to its business status. It is a retailer

W. Allen Morris says Miami is not immune from another “boom and bust” cycle nor can it see valuations of property sustained but developers should feel positive about the future if they maintain memory, remain balanced and strive for adaptability.

Giving the keynote address for the fifth annual South Florida Real Estate Achiever and Leaders awards March 27 at Jungle Island, the chairman and CEO of the Allen Morris Co. said the real estate market is much like the stock market, where the only constant is change. Mr. Morris referenced a recent report about the condo market that indicates Miami is overbuilding.

“This was disturbing to a lot of people,” he said. “I think it’s a positive thing to say.”

Mr. Morris said only onethird of announced condo projects were built in the last cycle. “As developers with less experience pause for the condos to be absorbed, the more profitable the market will be,” he said. “We’ve laid a great foundation for positive change and growth in Miami and we’re looking at that in the residential market.”

Also positive is the condition of the retail market with a 3.5% vacancy and more projects coming online, Mr. Morris said, along with the office market, where he characterized the numbers as ones “we never thought we’d see” with 100 million square feet represented and 11.6% vacancies.

“I think about real estate as long-term and it’s very exciting in every sector long-term,” Mr. Morris said. What’s most important for Miami going forward, he said, is that its devel-

Hot sales restore housing prices to 2004 level, summit told, Pg. 18

Tere Blanca was cited as the top commercial real estate broker.

opers keep a memory of past cycles and “not get sucked in by the hype;” maintain a sense of balance, which will discourage gross overbuilding; and search for adaptability by continuing to learn as a community and as individuals.

“We must challenge our brand and adapt to a changing world,” Mr. Morris said.

Leadership awards were given to: Tere Blanca, founder, president and CEO of Blanca Commercial Real Estate Inc., for individual commercial real estate broker, with special recognition for Rodney C. Langer, president of Investors CRE Inc., in the same category.

Robert Given’s CBRE South Florida multifamily brokers for commercial real estate broker team.

Chad Carroll, executive vice president for Douglas Elliman, for residential real estate broker.

Avra Jain, who has developed 26 boutique projects, for commercial developer.

Edgardo DeFortuna, president and founder of Avra Jain Fortune International Group, for residential developer.

Steven Cohen, executive vice president of commercial real estate at Sabadell United Bank, for real estate finance.

The chamber also recognized Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properties Inc., with a lifetime achievement award.

Finalists for the other awards were Christian Lee, CBRE Inc.; Jack Lowell and Adriana Rosillo, Pointe Group Advisors; Ike Ojala, Jorge Portela and Hermen Rodriguez, HFF LP; Anthony Askowitz, RE/MAX Advance Realty; Nancy Batchelor, EWM Realty International; Stiles Construction; The Plaza Group/The DevStar Group; The Related Group; Jim Dockerty, HFF LP; and Charles J. Foschini, CBRE Inc.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

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Mediterranean Village time may run out, principals warn

BY SUSAN DANSEYAR

Developers of the proposed Mediterranean Village on the former Old Spanish Village site asked the Coral Gables Commission not to be afraid of sharing city founder George Merrick’s vision of growth with them and cautioned that time can run out as it did for the developer of City Beautiful.

The Great Depression caught up with Mr. Merrick and he ran out of money, said Hector Fernandez, CEO of Agave Holdings, who is behind the project along with Eddie Avila, president of Key Realty Advisors, and Jorge Pinto, president of Intelligent Construction Inc. Additionally, Mr. Fernandez said, “a Coral Gables family spent 10 years with this property and lost it because they ran out of time” during last decade’s economic downturn.

Speaking during a hearing last week when the commission had its first reading of zoning changes proposed by the developers that would allow the project at Ponce Circle additional height and floor area, Mr. Fernandez said Agave Ponce LLC wants to partner with the city and neighbors to bring prosperity and will keep the property for generations.

The commission decided to

A Coral Gables hearing was warned that time has run out before on the Mediterranean Village location.

continue the discussion today (4/2) in order to address issues that arose during the public hearing. Those who oppose changes to the zoning code or the project altogether stressed what they said would be area traffic and congestion it would create and a lack of parking. They also said the scale of this mixed-use development spanning about 6.7 acres is too large for Coral Gables and would reduce nearby resi-

Large corporate banks keep branching in area

BY SUSAN D ANSEYAR

Banks may be closing branches in other parts of the country, but in South Florida many are opening additional retail locations.

In the past year, a number of large corporate banks have opened branches here including TD Bank, BankUnited and JP Morgan Chase. Community banks are expanding as well: Marquis Bank opened its second banking center at 19058 NE 29th Ave. in Aventura on March 6 and U.S. Century Bank filed an application with the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. in Atlanta to establish a branch at 396 Giralda Ave. in Coral Gables for relocation of its current one on Ponce de Leon.

The Office of the Comptroller of the Currency lists several approved applications for additional branches since Jan. 1, including Continental National Bank of Miami based at 1801 Continental Plaza, Mercantil CommerceBank based at 220 Alhambra Circle in Coral Gables and BankUnited based at 14817 Oak Lane in Miami Lakes.

An application for a branch for Pacific National Bank, which is based at 1390 Brickell Ave., is pending, as is an application for another branch for City National Bank of Florida, based at 25 W Flagler St. Last year, Safra National Bank opened a branch in Brickell, choosing that part of the city because of its reputation as the

Ken Thomas: branch deaths a myth.

central area for banking in Miami.

The Brickell branch reflects Safra National Bank’s “growing mode,” executive vice president and director Manuel L. Diaz told Miami Today at the time.

He co-heads Safra National Bank’s Latin American private banking business in Miami with Jose Ortega.

It’s an urban myth that bank branches are dying now that more and more people are banking online, said Ken Thomas, independent bank consultant and economist. “A lot of banks are closing their branches such as Bank of America, which has shut down thousands,” he said.

“But other markets don’t have the wealth we do.”

In South Florida, Mr. Thomas said, you can drive around and see numerous branches opening. “South Florida has one of the five best banking markets in the country,” he said. “We’re a three-in-one market, with significant retail, a growing international market and a huge wealth management market.”

dential property values in the long term.

Others expressed concern with increased height beyond what the zoning code now allows, saying that it is unnecessary and that a precedent would be set if allowed, opening the door for other developers to ask for projects exceeding 16 stories and fostering a “Brickell west.”

Mediterranean Village is to

include a Class A office building with 314,000 square feet; a high-end hotel with 184 rooms; 324,000 square feet of commercial uses that would include retail, a restaurant, day-care facility, gym and a high-end cinema with VIP seating and a cafe; three residential towers with 214 condos and 15 townhouses; and 2,691 parking spaces.

A number of people spoke in

favor of the project, saying they look forward to finally seeing development on what has been an empty lot for years.

The Coral Gables Chamber of Commerce put together an ad hoc committee to discuss the project and met with developers over several months to review its aspects, said President and CEO Mark Trowbridge. The committee advised having an anchor tenant for retail vitality and that landscape architects for this project and the revitalization of Miracle Mile meet and discuss how to enhance and complement each other.

“This will forever alter the landscape of City Beautiful,” said Mr. Trowbridge. “To remain competitive, we need to put our muscle behind projects that allow us to achieve great things in our community.”

The developers, who bought the property in 2011, have been before various boards in 15 public meetings to date, said Mr. Avila.

“We have researched the market and hired five consultants to study the best use for the property,” he said. “We’ve followed all requests and done more than any other developer in the history of Coral Gables to make sure we have a plan that makes sense for us and the city.”

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TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Bill to kick-start filming tax rebate clears House committee B Y CATHERINE L ACKNER

This is an important week for South Florida’s film industry. The Florida House of Representatives’ Finance and Tax Committee on Tuesday by a clear majority approved House Bill 451, which “decides whether or not the state should provide tax rebates to help Florida’s film, TV and digital media industry grow,” according to Michelle Hillery, president of the Film Florida advocacy group.

That bill, along with Senate bill 1046, is hoped to kick-start the state’s taxcredit program, to which the Legislature has not added new funding for two years. The Senate bill is to be heard before the Appropriations Subcommittee on Transportation, Tourism, and Economic Development today (4/2).

The Senate bill renames the Office of Film and Entertainment as the Division

of Film and Entertainment and moves it from the Department of Economic Opportunity to Enterprise Florida.

It also creates the Entertainment Industry Quick Action Account in the State Economic Enhancement and Development Trust Fund and revises provisions relating to tax credits for productions.

Among other provisions, the House bill affirms the department’s name change and move to Enterprise Florida, requires the governor to appoint a commissioner, and revises some provisions regarding tax credits. The language and provisions of both might change as they go through committee review before being voted upon by the full Legislature.

Others ideas being considered are to create two application cycles per fiscal year to allow more windows of oppor-

tunity, and amending the application process based on the state’s expected return on investment.

In 2010, a Jobs for Florida bill designated $242 million over five years for tax credits for film studios and other production companies. By March 2011, $227 million of the credits had been committed, with the majority going to so-called high impact television shows like “Magic City,” “The Glades” and “Burn Notice.”

The state’s film tax credits were based on the scope of the production, number of local people hired, the season in which filming occurs, and several other variables. The credits can be sold at the end of the term if the production doesn’t need the equivalent tax relief.

Forty states offer incentives, and some of their programs – particularly those in

Louisiana, North Carolina, and Georgia – are well-funded and aggressive.

“We are already making great progress in the House this year,” Ms. Hillery wrote last month. “Senator Nancy Detert and Representative Mike Miller are both outstanding champions who really believe in this program and boast it as a jobs bill. A great deal of work still needs to be done to support our champions.”

The progress both bills were making as of Tuesday is encouraging, said Sandy Lighterman, Miami-Dade County film commissioner. “We are cautiously optimistic that the Florida Legislature will support the growth of the film and entertainment industry by passing bills supporting a funded program to attract production projects to our state.”

If the bills pass, changes will be effective July 1.

Actions on many fronts revitalize North Beach community

BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

There’s more to Miami Beach than the epic pool parties of SoBe. The bundle of barrier islands with a penchant for pastel colors and swaying palms has another neighborhood that doesn’t mind its slower pace and more family-oriented character.

It’s North Beach, and there’s plenty more there than its iconic band shell.

The folks who’ve made North Beach home for decades are quick to boast about their slice of paradise, and point out the virtues of the sandy locale north of the hubbub at the core of Miami Beach.

North Beach locals are so proud of their neighborhood that they offer tours the first Saturday of every month. The walking tours are led by volunteers of the Miami Design Preservation League.

North Beach is generally defined as the area north of 63rd Street to the city limits at about 87th Terrace.

While the city government is working to revitalize North Beach with an accent on family-oriented spaces, the people themselves are willing to roll up their sleeves and get their hands dirty to make improvements.

Just last month volunteers young and old turned out to Crespi Park to assemble and construct a new playground.

The rebuilt park is hugged by Hawthorne Avenue, 79th Street and Crespi Boulevard.

Most if not all of the parks in North Beach have been tended to, say city officials.

“You’d be hard pressed to find a park in North Beach that we haven’t spent money on in the last year,” said Jeff Oris, the city’s Economic Development Division director.

Even more park improvements are included in an action plan adopted by the city commission in late 2014.

About a year ago the city launched an effort to craft a comprehensive economic development and revitalization plan for the area, which included hosting several community workshops.

The goal was to update the

Photo by Maxine Usdan

Miami Beach is nearing a deal with a company to manage programs at the North Shore Park Band Shell.

community vision for North Beach and to reinvigorate efforts to enhance the district.

Those workshops led to an action plan, North Beach Revitalization Strategies, adopted by city commissioners in December.

“This strategy document is not intended to be a major redesign of North Beach…,” says the introduction. “It is intended to be the initial plan of efforts to initiate long term revitalization by outlining projects to be undertaken in the short run to eliminate the area’s ‘tired and run down’ feel and appearance while simultaneously adding activity to the area.”

The plan’s series of infrastructure action items includes proposed work on roadways, sidewalks and crosswalks, bridges, waterways, parking, water and sewer, drainage and more.

Other aspects show general North Beach area-wide needs, including increased aesthetic standards and code compliance, historic preservation, and a desire to attract high tech industry.

Development needs include more retail. Data collected show demand for retail of various types, the plan says.

“Data shows the potential for between 487,929 and 609,910 additional square feet of retail

space can be added during this time of economic recovery,” the plan says. “It is most likely that this demand will grow as the national and worldwide economies continue to recover from the recent recession and as North Beach becomes a more reliable regional and tourist draw and as residents gain more disposable income.”

Also last year, the mayor named a three-member panel on North Beach revitalization. The panel recommended the city hire a world-class master planning firm to look at the bigger picture of North Beach’s future, said Mr. Oris. That process is ongoing.

In the meantime, Mr. Oris said the city is working to implement the action items in the plan OK’d in December.

Major streetscape work is planned for all of North Beach, he said, as are improvements around the Normandy Fountain area.

While working on the revitalization plan, the city last year made several improvements, Mr. Oris said.

The city established a free trolley system that loops throughout North Beach.

It revived an old vacant theater into O Cinema, offering movies and other shows.

“We got the Normandy Foun-

tain working again,” said Mr. Oris, where Normandy and 71st Street converge. Built in the 1920s when Normandy Island was being developed, the antique fountain hadn’t worked in decades.

Fixing the fountain was a big deal.

“That was a major symbolic move to the community, showing that we were serious about making improvements in North Beach,” Mr. Oris said.

The city worked with developer Terra Group, which is redeveloping the old Howard Johnson’s hotel site. The city signed over a street end to Terra, which in exchange will donate $10.5 million to the city, he said.

The city commission has earmarked $6.5 million for improvements to the North Shore Open Space Park, and the rest of the money will be spent north of 65th Street, Mr. Oris said.

In addition, the mayor’s office along with the Greater Miami and the Beaches Hotel Association hosted a symposium to begin talks on how best to get more hotel rooms in North Beach. Mr. Oris said discussion dealt with how to be more appealing to developers in encouraging them to build or renovate hotels.

“They would be the smaller

boutique-type hotels. The economy there needs that shot of daily visitors spending money,” said Mr. Oris.

The city is also very close to a deal with a company to manage events programming at the North Shore Park Band Shell, renovated in 2011.

Another change is installation of a high-end sound system to offer a continuity of sound, he said.

“The new system directs the sound away from residential areas and offers a more consistent sound output,” Mr. Oris said.

And while improvements are welcome, the area’s historic roots are protected as well.

In November 2009, the National Register of Historic Places announced that Miami Beach’s North Shore Historic District had been added to the list.

Miami Beach, geographically only 7.1 square miles, is also home to the internationally renowned Art Deco District in South Beach.

Unlike the Art Deco District, the North Shore designation is based on a characteristic style of Miami Modernism, also known as MiMo, a post-war modern style of architecture that features acute angles, delta wings, sweeping curved walls and soaring pylons and is unique to Miami.

North Beach has one of the largest and most cohesive concentrations of such buildings in South Florida, including landmark hotels, commercial buildings and apartment buildings.

City officials at the time of the designation said they hoped that MiMo would be to North Beach what Art Deco is to South Beach.

The North Shore Historic District is bounded by 73rd Street to the south, 87th Street to the north, the Atlantic Ocean to the east, excluding Collins Avenue north of 76th Street, and Crespi Boulevard to the west.

North Beach neighborhoods also incorporate other architectural styles, including Mediterranean Revival, Art Deco, and Moderne – all blending to give a distinctive character to this northern part of Miami Beach.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

MIAMI TODAY

9

Campus visits, personal contact aim to seal enrollment deals

BY SUSAN D ANSEYAR

Local colleges and universities are using traditional methods to ensure that students who are accepted actually enroll for the coming year, paying particular attention to bringing them to the campus and reaching out with personal, one-on-one contact.

Barry University works with students early in the application process through acceptance, said Sarah Riley, director of undergraduate admissions.

Once students are accepted through the university’s rolling admissions system, she said, they are assigned a counselor who sends a comprehensive package outlining all the steps necessary for enrollment.

About 90% of Barry University students require some financial assistance, Ms. Riley said, and the materials in their acceptance package walk them through the process of how to apply for various forms of financial aid. In addition, faculty members reach out to accepted students by phone and email to answer questions about curriculum and internship opportunities; students reach out as well by phone to answer questions about university life.

“We try to get them to the campus so they can see the school and meet other students and faculty,” Ms. Riley said. On April 9, Barry is holding an open house at which accepted students will meet faculty and learn about academic programs, the Center for Community Services Initiative and athletics.

In 2014, Ms. Riley said, the retention rate for undergraduates at Barry University was 90%. The freshman class in 2013 was just under 900 students compared with 767 new students in 2014.

“We’re raising the academic profile and are having smaller classes come in but are retaining them,” she said.

For graduate students, Barry

Sarah Riley: The ties begin early.

Photo by Maxine Usdan

For graduate students, said Barry University’s Dave Fletcher, “we want our faculty extremely involved.”

Photo by Maxine Usdan

A Barry Student Ambassador, Bradley JeanJoseph, gives student visitors from St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, a tour and answers questions.

emphasizes personal attention, said Dave C. Fletcher, senior director of graduate admissions.

Once students are accepted to one of the 50 graduate programs, three things happen: they receive a phone call from the

admissions office congratulating them, and often a call from a professor in the appropriate discipline; a letter in the mail with news of acceptance; and a congratulatory message posted on a personal account opened

for them at Barry.

“At that point, and often before, we want our faculty extremely involved,” Dr. Fletcher said. “It’s largely their influence that will have a positive impact on enrollment as they live the profession and the students will want to know the people they’ll be working with for the next few years.”

As with the undergraduates, the graduate admissions department believes it’s important for students who have been accepted to visit the campus.

Dr. Fletcher said some programs offer an open house, orientation or social event. “The common goal is to bring students to our university where they will get a much better sense of the Barry community when meeting faculty and students.”

Finally, Barry University makes sure prospective graduate students know about various forms of financial support that Barry University offers. Dr. Fletcher said some programs offer grants, scholarships, graduate assistantships and professional discounts such as 20%

and up for nurses and teachers entering programs in their fields.

The University of Miami uses traditional methods such as direct mail, telemarketing, websites and advertising, according to spokesperson Margot Winick, and is increasingly using social media to reach today’s students.

“All activities we engage in try to build community with admitted students so they see what kind of robust experience they will have when they come to UM,” she said. “The campus visit is critical, and we offer a series of activities where we put our best foot forward.”

April 12 is the #FutureCane Day for admitted students, one of the university’s biggest events of the year.

According to Ms. Winick, the university gets 33,000 applications for 2,000 open slots in its freshman class. Of the students who enroll, 93% are retained to their sophomore year, which is the highest in University of Miami history based on the most recent data available from last year. Ms. Winick said the sixyear graduation rate last year was 81%, the second highest in UM history.

“The primary goal of the University of Miami is to see a student achieve his or her dreams toward a degree,” she said. “This outcome means we have to be successful in other areas beyond the admissions office for students to achieve their dreams.”

Dinners at home with final four lead to UM president choice

BY CATHERINE LACKNER

The University of Miami’s hunt for a new president is nearing its end, Richard D. Fain, vice chair of the board of trustees and chair of the search committee, reported Monday. A replacement for Donna E. Shalala, who is leaving at the end of this academic year, will be chosen within the next few weeks, he wrote.

Mr. Fain’s email to readers of the search committee’s website revealed details of the quest, of which there have been few since Dr. Shalala announced her departure last October.

“We are not your ‘usual’ university,” wrote Mr. Fain, who is who is chairman

and CEO of Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. “Personal relationships matter,” his email continued. “As anticipated, our search received an enthusiastic response from a very distinguished and diverse pool of candidates.” After narrowing the field to four, “we not only met with them in formal settings in Miami, we also visited them on their home turf, even dining in their homes.”

This comes after a six-month process that Mr. Fain has described as “invigorating, heartening, and rewarding.” The committee held more than 50 outreach meetings.

“A few overriding and recurrent

themes prevailed,” he wrote. “The uniqueness of our university, our location, and our community was an asset people consistently felt we need to leverage.”

Finding Dr. Shalala’s replacement, he added, was “a tall order.”

Stuart A. Miller, chairman of the university’s board of trustees, has said that “The Shalala Years” will shine as a beacon in the university’s history.

“President Shalala has guided the university into the top tier of national research universities with unprecedented progress in the academic qualifications and diversity of our student body, scholarly productivity, research innovation,

patient care, fundraising, new and improved facilities, and global community outreach,” said Mr. Miller, who is CEO, director and member of the executive committee of Lennar Corp.

“We’d like to find another Donna Shalala,” said university trustee Arthur Hertz, who is also chief executive of Wometco Enterprises, when her resignation was announced. “We’d love to get another president with her level of enthusiasm and energy.”

Former President Bill Clinton announced in Miami last month that on leaving the university Dr. Shalala would become the president and CEO of the Bill, Hillary and Chelsea Clinton Foundation.

18

SPOTLIGHT ON EXCELLENCE

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

Prestigious win highlights exciting St. Thomas University growth It was a brisk 20 degrees outside the Cleveland Marriott Downtown this past Feb. 28. In a hotel conference room inside, South Florida’s own St. Thomas University was heating up the competition among the country’s top Universities during the finals of the 2015 Keybank Foundation Minority MBA Case Competition.

Alongside teams from Yale, the University of Chicago, USC and Boston College who’d also made it to the finals, the threewoman team from St. Thomas University in Miami Gardens completed their final, 20-minute presentation to a panel of judges.

“I am sure there was a bit of surprise by some of the other schools who were there,” said St. Thomas University Professor Dr. Jose Rocha who, along with Dr. Paul Maxwell, worked for six weeks preparing the University’s School of Business MBA High Performance team for the competition. “Most had never heard of St. Thomas University. Well, they sure know us now.”

St. Thomas’ team won first place in the prestigious competition that also included teams from Penn State, UC-Berkeley, and American University, among others. St. Thomas was

St. Thomas University program enhancement stretches to add 18 degree programs, 10 concentrations.

the only university from South Florida invited to compete, and it was the first time the St. Thomas University Graduate Business Program had participated.

“We are proud of our students who competed against the best in the competition and then bested them,” said School of Business Dean Dr. Somnath Bhattacharya. “There we were

competing against the elite. But in fact, and as the competition bore out, we are among the elite.”

The win was no surprise for Dr. Bhattacharya. Mixed with well-deserved pride, the Dean, who joined the University last summer, acknowledges some frustration that St. Thomas’ School of Business often does not receive recognition for its

incredible accomplishments and programs here at home.

The School pioneered the first undergraduate Sports Administration Program to receive approval by the North American Society for Sport Management (NASSM) in 1973. Developed by a group of nationally known sports executives (including Don Shula, whose Miami Dolphins used St. Thomas as their

practice facility for 20 years), St. Thomas’ Sports Admin graduates are sports industry leaders throughout the country.

Other innovative School of Business programs include Global Entrepreneurship and International Business, as well as new bachelors and masters programs in Cybersecurity and Trade & Logistics – among other business programs – launching in the fall as part of the University’s aggressive academic expansion.

The program enhancement stretches well beyond the School of Business. New degree programs in the School of Science, Technology and Engineering Management will increase health sciences offerings to meet current demand, including a masters of nursing degree. All told, 18 new degree programs and 10 concentrations will be added to the curriculum, including programs in Biscayne College, the School of Arts and Education, and in Theology and Ministry.

“It’s a great time – not only for St. Thomas University, but for our community,” said Provost Dr. Irma Becerra. “This win proves we are well on our way to being recognized as the leading Catholic university in the Southeast.”

Record-breaking pace restores housing prices to 2004 level

BY SUSAN DANSEYAR

Despite four record-breaking years, residential prices are only now regaining their 2004 highs, according to Teresa King Kinney, CEO of the Miami Association of Realtors.

During an address at the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce South Florida Real Estate Summit last week on Jungle Island, Ms. Kinney shared a report from the National Association of Realtors showing sales prices have amplified consistently since December 2011, with condominium prices increasing for 44 months and single-family homes for 39 months.

At the peak of 2007, the median sale price was $380,000 for single-family homes and $272,000 for condominiums compared with $245,000 and $189,000, respectively, in February 2015 – the same as 11 years ago.

Driving the record-breaking sales is what Ms. Kinney referred to as “the ultra-high net worth individual” led by Latin Americans who she said makes the difference between Miami today and a year or so ago.

In Miami-Dade and Broward counties, 68% of international buyers came from Latin America in 2014. In Miami,

Venezuelans made 17% of international purchases here, followed by Argentina and Brazil at 13% each and Colombia with 8%. France comprised 6% of international buyers followed by Canada and Mexico with 5%, Italy with 4%, and 3% each for Peru, Spain, Ecuador, the Dominican Republic and Chile.

For the first time, China was on the list for second-tier countries of origin buying in Miami-Dade, joining Russia, the United Kingdom, Germany Nicaragua, Costa Rica, Honduras, Panama, India, Japan, Australia, South Korea, Portugal and Malaysia.

Florida tops the list of total international housing transactions in the US at 23% compared with California at 14%, Texas at 12%, Arizona at 6% and Washington, DC, at 4%, according to the 2014 survey of international home purchases conducted by NAR and released in March.

For international buyers in Broward and Miami-Dade, 28% are buying homes over $500,000; the average purchase price of Miami’s top international buyers is $444,052 compared with $245,500 nationally. Brazil tops Miami’s list, with an average purchase price of $494,531; Canada is the lowest at $310,484.

For all international buyers in MiamiDade and Broward, 81% paid all-cash

compared with 31% of international buyers paying cash nationally. France tops the list at 96% paying all-cash, followed by Argentina at 88%, Canada and Venezuela at 84%, Brazil at 77% and Colombia at 65%. For those using financing, 3% received mortgages from sources in their home countries and 15% from US sources.

Among the most important reasons influencing an international customer to buy real estate in Miami-Dade or Broward counties, 36% said it was a profitable income in 2014 compared with 20% in 2010; 31% said it was a secure investment compared with 45% in 2010. Other responses (31% last year compared with 29% in 2010) included conditions in their country of origin and pursuit of education in US universities.

In 2014, 80% of international buyers purchased previously owned homes with 18% purchasing new ones; 22% bought single-family homes, 65% bought condominiums, 7% townhouse or row houses; 9% condominiums, and 64% timeshares.

Miami was third on the list of the top US cities searched for housing purchases by international consumers, according to statistics from Realtor.com for February 2015. New York tops the

list, with Orlando fourth, Fort Lauderdale sixth and Naples tenth.

Looking to the future, buyers in 12 of 20 countries around the globe have Miami on their target list. Canadians are looking in Fort Lauderdale and Miami; Germany is looking in Miami; Brazil is looking in Miami and Orlando; Mexico is looking in Miami; France and Italy are looking in Miami and Miami Beach; the Netherlands is looking in Miami; the Russian Federation is looking in Miami; Spain is looking in Miami; Sweden is looking in Miami and Fort Lauderdale; Switzerland is looking in Miami and Miami Beach; and South Africa is looking in Miami.

Ms. Kinney pointed to another indication of international interest in Miami – newspapers. The top countries covering the Miami market are the United Kingdom (first), China (second), Venezuela (third), Canada and Honduras (fourth) and Argentina, Chile, the Dominican Republic, France, Italy and New Zealand (tied at fifth).

Here in the US, a number of states are following the Miami market through their publications including (in order of volume of articles) Texas, California, New York, Nebraska, Connecticut and Louisiana, Georgia, Virginia and Illinois.

Climate Reality Training in Miami seeks to create leaders B Y CATHERINE L ACKNER

Miami will be one of three North American cities to hold a three-day training session sponsored the Climate Reality Project, led by former vice president Al Gore. The training, set for Sept. 28-30, aims to create “climate leaders” who can spur others to awareness and action.

“We are training leaders to change the political and social dynamic,” said Ken Berlin, president and CEO of the

Climate Reality Project, who was speaking at Friday’s Community Resiliency Summit: Miami Beach Rising Above.

The half-day meeting focused on progress Miami Beach has made to combat sea-level rise, and what steps lie ahead.

“We have to show it’s happening, and that it’s urgent,” Mr. Berlin said. Already, 70% of Americans believe global warming is real and that the government should be doing something about it, he said. In addition to encouraging people

to vote for candidates who support proclimate measures, he said activists must provide them with real solutions. “People think they can’t influence anything,” he said, but now that energy alternatives to fossil fuel are becoming more plentiful and cheaper, transitioning to a cleanenergy economy is something consumers can do.

In the months leading up to the United Nations Climate Change Conference Nov. 30 to Dec. 11 in Paris, to which 196 countries are expected to send

representatives, the reality project aims to muster a grass-roots demonstration of support. Performers at the group’s June 18 concert will tweet pro-environment messages to their followers and encourage them to sign a textmessage petition demanding that an action plan be put into place.

“A couple of million texts will be a message that leaders won’t ignore,” Mr. Berlin predicted.

Details: climaterealityproject.org

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, APRIL 2, 2015

MIAMI TODAY

23

County proposes four sites as potential home for Youth Fair

BY L IDIA DINKOVA

Miami-Dade County is preliminarily proposing four sites where the Youth Fair could potentially relocate.

The county is responsible for finding a suitable site for the Youth Fair, which is run by the state-chartered not-for-profit Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Exposition Inc., after county voters approved a referendum exempting Florida International University from complying with development restrictions at Tamiami Park, a county park.

Florida International University wants to expand and build more student facilities at the park where the Youth Fair is held. FIU’s Modesto A. Maidique Campus is adjacent to Tamiami Park.

County voters approved exempting FIU from park development restrictions with the understanding that the county won’t be on the hook for any fair relocation costs.

The lease between the fair and the county for the park expires in 2085 but it could be terminated early as long as the county secures “an equal or better alternate site in Dade County” for the fair, according to the lease.

Now, Miami-Dade County is considering four sites as potential new homes for the Youth Fair, with two of the sites hav-

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President and CEO Robert Hohenstein said fair officials won’t look at the four sites until the end of April.

ing been rejected by fair representatives in past years.

Specifically, the county is considering two parcels of land in Homestead that together total 120 acres; a site just west of Dolphin Mall; 180 acres at Sun Life Stadium; and a 260-acre site in West Miami-Dade County, according to county records.

The Sun Life Stadium site and the site in Homestead have been brought up in the past.

“The Homestead site was unanimously rejected by our board of directors in 2013,” said Robert Hohenstein, president and CEO of Miami-Dade

County Fair & Exposition Inc. “I see no reason that that rejection changes in March or April of 2015. Nothing has changed fundamentally that would have the board vote to reconsider it.”

As for the Sun Life Stadium site?

“The Sun Life Stadium site was not seen as viable due to a whole variety of factors, the chief one being that the plots that FIU wanted us to look at were disjointed,” Mr. Hohenstein added.

More specifically, the two new sites Miami-Dade County has brought forward for consideration are:

A location west of Dolphin Mall. The site is comprised of two parcels, each about 70 acres. The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) owns the land, according to county records. A consultation with the state department of transportation is necessary to confirm whether the department has future plans for the property. Aside from the FDOT parcels, FIU might have to purchase nearby additional property at market value from private owners in order to meet the acreage requirement needed to accommodate the fair.

A location in West Miami-

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Dade. The site is mostly privately owned land. If the fair agrees to relocate there, FIU would have to buy the property from private owners at market value.

If Miami-Dade County Fair & Exposition is to relocate its events to either of these two sites, it could do a complete relocation. Or, it could hold the annual Youth Fair there and continue holding all of its other year-round events at its buildings at its existing home at Tamiami Park, according to county records.

Mr. Hohenstein said he hasn’t had time to study either of the two newly proposed sites and added that fair officials won’t look at the sites until the end of April.

The preliminary consideration of these four sites comes as issues between the Youth Fair and FIU escalate. The Youth Fair’s parent company has run a series of ads through which the organization says it aims to dispel what it says are “false” ideas and statements FIU has made.

Michael Spring, a senior advisor to Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez, said in an email to Miami Today that the county has asked FIU and the fair to provide the county with feedback on the proposed four sites.

Depending on that feedback, Mr. Spring said, more analysis of the sites might be done.

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Construction Notice For Mercy Hospital 7th Floor Renovation of Carroll Tower 3663 South Miami Avenue Miami, FL 33133 Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors is currently seeking bids from qualified subcontractors and suppliers for the 7th Floor Renovation of Carroll Tower at Mercy Hospital. Brasfield & Gorrie General Contractors strongly support and promote diversity participation. All interested subcontractors claiming Minority/Women/Diversity Business Enterprise/Small Business Enterprise status must provide proof of certification with bid and meet Brasfield & Gorrie’s Subcontractor Prequalification requirements to be considered for the select bidder’s list.

1.There will be a project informational meeting at the Mercy Hospital, 3663 South Miami Avenue, Miami, FL., in Brasfield & Gorrie’s office on the fourth floor at 10:00 am EST on Tuesday, April 7, 2015. Please use the main entrance and check-in at the security desk.

2.Project scope includes approximately 18,700 SF of renovation to the 7th floor of Carroll Tower.

Bid Packages may include: Demolition / Architectural Millwork & Casework / Interior Joint Sealants / Firestopping / Doors, Frames and Hardware / Glass & Glazing / Metal Studs & Drywall / Hard Tile / ACT / Resilient Flooring & Moisture Mitigation / Paint & Wallcovering / Specialties / Signage / Pneumatic Tube System / Fire Protection / Plumbing & Med Gas / HVAC / Test & Balance / Electrical / Low Voltage Interested parties should contact Crawford Logan at 615-313-2900 or via email at crlogan@brasfieldgorrie.com for further information regarding this project.

STATE OF SOUTH CAROLINA, COUNTY OF ORANGEBURG LASHAUNA RANDOLPH Petitioner vs.

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NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION STATE OF FLORIDA, OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION PRONTO FINANCIAL GROUP, LLC

IN THE PROBATE COURT SUMMONS Case No. 2014-ES-38-00440

Pronto Financial Group, LLC. Edwin M. Rivero, Resident Agent 329 West Palm Drive Florida City, Florida 33034

TO THE RESPONDENT(S) ABOVE-NAMED: YOU ARE HEREBY SUMMONED and required to answer the petition herein, a copy of which is herewith served upon you, and to serve a copy of your Answer to this Petition upon the subscriber, at the address shown below, within thirty (30) days after service hereof, exclusive of the day of such service, and if you fail to answer the petition, judgment by default will be rendered against you for the relief demanded in the petition.

LEXINTON, South Carolina.

Dated: November 3, 2014 DAUN C. STEIGNER Attorney for Petitioner 206 East Main Street Lexington, SC 29071 Phone: 803-359-1550 Notice Under Fictitious Name Law Pursuant to Section 865.09, Florida Statutes NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that the undersigned, desiring to engage in business under the fictitious name of MATRIX MOBILE SOUND located at 8885 NW 23 Street, in the County of Miami-Dade, in the City of Miami, Florida, 33172, intends to register the said name with the Division of Corporations of the Florida Department of State, Tallahassee, Florida.

Dated at Miami, Florida, this 1st Day of April, 2015.

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FAILURE TO RESPOND AS PRESCRIBED will result in a default entered against you regarding the allegations and penalties contained in the Administrative Complaint, including but not limited to, an administrative fine of $17,300.

A copy of the Administrative Complaint may be obtained from, and your response must be filed with the Agency Clerk of the State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation as follows: GIGI HOLDER, Agency Clerk State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation Post Office Box 8050 Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.com Tel: (850) 410-9889 Fax: (850) 410-9663 A copy of your response should be sent to: C. Michael Marschall Assistant General Counsel State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation 200 E. Gaines Street Fletcher Building - Suite 550 Tallahassee, FL 32399-0376 Tel: (850) 410-9516

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NOTICE OF ADMINISTRATIVE ACTION STATE OF FLORIDA, OFFICE OF FINANCIAL REGULATION DON DINERO LLC, RAMON JOSE DURAN, AND RAUL O. ALVAREZ Administrative Proceeding Docket No. 55513 Don Dinero LLC d/b/a Don Dinero Check Cashing Ramon Jose Duran and Raul O. Alvarez 7380 SW 42 Street Miami, Florida 33155 YOU ARE HEREBY NOTIFIED that an Administrative Complaint (with Notice of Rights) has been filed against you by the State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation for failure to comply with certain requirements of Chapter 560, Florida Statutes. As such, your written defenses, if any, must be received at the address provided below by 5:00pm ET, on April 20, 2015.

FAILURE TO RESPOND AS PRESCRIBED will result in a default entered against you regarding the allegations and penalties contained in the Administrative Complaint, including but not limited to, a total administrative fine imposed of $9,500.

A copy of the Administrative Complaint may be obtained from, and your response must be filed with the Agency Clerk of the State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation as follows: GIGI HOLDER, Agency Clerk State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation Post Office Box 8050 Tallahassee, FL 32314-8050 Email: Agency.Clerk@flofr.com Tel: (850) 410-9889 Fax: (850) 410-9663 A copy of your response should be sent to: Jenny Salvia Assistant General Counsel State of Florida, Office of Financial Regulation 1313 N. Tampa St., Suite 615 Tampa, FL 33602-3394 Tel: (813) 218-5308

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