Miami Today: Week of Thursday, June 18, 2015 by Miami Today

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

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Model for medical office space healthy after its facelift, pg. 13 PROOF OF BLIGHT: Miami-Dade commissioners are to decide next month whether a community redevelopment agency must demonstrate through an updated study that slum or blight exists in its area when it seeks approval to extend its life. The resolution, sponsored by Juan Zapata, came last week before the Economic Prosperity Committee, whose members forwarded it to the full commission without recommendation. The resolution states the commission has expressed concern about extending the lives of some community development agencies, their uses of tax increments funds, the untimely submission of budgets for commission approval after the agencies have borrowed money, advanced funds or incurred debt, and the lack of county representation on the agencies’ boards.

With 18 issues resolved, giant Gables project gets Go, pg. 17

THE ACHIEVER

BY SUSAN DANSEYAR

DETAILING FISCAL IMPACT: The Miami-Dade Economic Prosperity Committee of the county commission has unanimously voted to require the mayor to prepare a written statement detailing the fiscal impact before a hearing for any ordinance. Should the full commission also approve the change in code, the fiscal impact statement will include a description of the anticipated increase or decrease of expense and revenues for the current and subsequent fiscal year; a description and projected value of anticipated expense; a description of government actions that will be required to anticipate future revenues and expenses; a forecast of long-term fiscal implication, covering five years from the expected effective date of the legislation; a description of risk factors that could impact future revenues; a description of all assumptions used to project the fiscal impact; and, in cases the mayor determines an ordinance won’t have fiscal impact, a description of assumptions and analysis used to reach this conclusion. TRI-RAIL BOOST: The Miami-Dade County Commission’s Transit and Mobility Services Committee last week approved $13.9 million to bring Tri-Rail to All Aboard Florida’s MiamiCentral train station in downtown Miami. The full commission is to vote June 30. As part of the development of MiamiCentral – a privately funded multi-modal transportation hub under construction – the addition of two train platforms would allow connection of the current Tri-Rail passenger service west of I-95 ending at the airport to downtown, as well as provide facilities to support the planned coastal link that would ultimately take Tri-Rail service north along the Florida East Coast railway corridor to Jupiter. The full cost to make the Tri-Rail link to MiamiCentral is nearly $69 million, a combination of city, county and state funding. City of Miami officials have yet to vote on final Tri-Rail link funding.

Nelson Lazo

Photo by Marlene Quaroni

Guides Doctors Hospital into Affordable Care Act The profile is on Page 4

On back of dinosaur exhibit, zoo hits visitor high BY CARLA VIANNA

Although Zoo Miami has yet to hit its onemillion-visitor mark – a goal it strived for this year – last month was the best May in zoo history. Some 65,600 visitors were expected in May, but more than 72,000 showed up, said Communications Director Ron Magill. The zoo welcomed about 44,000 more visitors this past December, January and February, which are its peak months, than it did in the same months last year. “We actually surprised ourselves,” Mr. Magill said. “We had expected some increase in attendance, but not the increase we’ve seen.” The zoo has two projects under construction, including the Florida: Mission Everglades exhibit and a new entrance, costing the zoo about $50 million. The entrance is to be completed in December and open during the first quarter of 2016, Mr. Magill said. The Florida exhibit is scheduled for completion mid- to late-2016, with hopes of debuting that winter. Because two construction projects are un-

AGENDA

Plan ahead 20 years is county aim

As Brand USA markets to lure global visitors, Mr. Aedo said the zoo is one of the bureau’s Miami’s attractions to be front and center, pg. 2 top attractions and he sees it becoming a derway, the zoo had predicted a slow season. However, a string of beautiful days and a popular dinosaur exhibit attracted more visitors than expected, Mr. Magill said. The exhibit did so well, in fact, that the zoo extended its stay to July 5. Current visitor projections for this fiscal year (October to October) are 925,000. “I’m telling you right now, we’re going to exceed those projections because, for instance, we had the highest May in the history of the zoo,” Mr. Magill said. He predicts the total to jump to 940,000. The zoo is finally coming back into its own, said Rolando Aedo, senior VP of marketing and tourism for the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. Miami Zoo was awarded with a Certificate of Excellence for the fifth consecutive year, and inducted into TripAdvisor’s Hall of Fame this month. New amenities like the Safari Cycle, which can accommodate up to six adults and two small children, are attracting more visitors.

major platform for southern Miami-Dade tourism. “Zoo Miami is indicative of a larger south Miami-Dade story,” he said. “We’re starting to see a resurgence of a lot of great things in south Miami-Dade. Zoo Miami is that gateway to that experience.” Mr. Aedo said the zoo might play a role in the county’s ongoing transportation discussion. He sees the zoo as a potential transportation hub for that end of the county, noting current limitations in connecting visitors from Miami’s urban core to the zoo. So far Zoo Miami has developed 330 acres of its 740-acre property. Once the new projects come online, an additional 20 acres will be developed, Mr. Magill said. He said the zoo is working with the county and the Parks, Recreation and Open Spaces Department on “different master plan concepts” to further develop more acreage, including possible plans for an Australian and a Caribbean exhibit expected “several years down the line.”

The county commission must take the lead to plan Miami-Dade’s future, probing administration goals and measuring key performance targets, one committee has decided. In a special meeting Monday, the Strategic Planning and Government Operations Committee spent hours on the need to assess long-term impacts of policy decisions. The current five-year strategic plan, said committee Chairman Juan C. Zapata, can be more robust. “We need to set the tone for the entire county,” he said of the commission. “We should be looking at issues the community will be facing in the next 20 years and where Miami-Dade needs to be for meeting its needs.” The committee agreed, saying the county must prepare for population growth with infrastructure, the education system, public safety, the environment, health and human services. “We need to be proactive rather than reactive,” said Daniella Levine Cava. “We need to look ahead to guide the conversation and how we will respond. The committee asked staff about key performance targets in the current strategic plan and progress measurements for crime rates, emergency response times, traffic delays, on-time performance for buses, garbage collection and water usage. Such focus will be ongoing, said Mr. Zapata. He said he’ll ask other commission committees to also probe administration goals as well as their own. “We need to be focused on our future and what our economy should look like,” he said. “My hope is we can continue to discuss this moving forward.” He advised his committee to develop a better process for how to allocate budgeted dollars based on outcomes the commission seeks. Others should be at the table, he said – in a shared future, the commission will need help from such groups as the Knight Foundation and business community.

GABLES WEIGHING HOW US 1 ZONE SHOULD DEVELOP ...

YEAR AFTER VOWED FINISH, PARK CLEANUP MAY START ...

ART MUSEUM VOW OPENS DOOR WIDE FOR ZONING OK ...

A REPLACEMENT BRIDGE GAINS CONDITIONAL SUPPORT ...

VIEWPOINT: FREE SPEECH TRUMPS SCHOOL GAG RULE ...

COUNTY’S PAY LEVEL CONCERNS STALL SUMMER JOBS ...

CHAMBER TRIP TARGETS NORTHERN ITALY’S BUSINESS ...

COUNTY SEEKS ECONOMIC JOLT SELLING ELECTRICITY ...

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

THE INSIDER PREPARING FOR EMV: A shift in credit and debit card technology might impact your business. The US Small Business Administration has teamed up with Square to help small businesses navigate the transition of payment cards with magnetic stripes to chip card technology, also known as EMV. SBA Administrator Maria Contreras-Sweet and Square CEO Jack Dorsey will offer a free presentation on what small business owners need to know about payment security, including the switch to chip cards and the rise of other new, more secure payment systems such as Apple Pay. The 9:30 to 11 a.m. June 25 event is at Rokk3r Labs, 1680 Michigan Ave., Room 815, Miami Beach. Registration is required. Details: Kim.Prenter@sba.gov PUSHING THE PROCESS: Frustrated by the length of time some recent projects have taken to win city approval, Coral Gables Commissioner Frank Quesada directed planning and zoning staff Tuesday to specify how long it takes for a project to get from application to decision. “It shouldn’t take three years,” he said. “Whether we like it or we hate it, they should be able to find out. It’s unfair; carrying costs are expensive. If we want to be a city that attracts quality projects, this needs to be seen Everglades National Park is one of the metropolitan area’s two national parks, unique among big cities. as an equitable process.” LUNCH HONORS DUO: Both Robert Hill, general manager at the InterContinental Miami, and William D. Talbert III, president and CEO of the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, were recognized by the Greater Miami & the Beaches Hotel Association at its summer luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables last week. The duo was celebrated for Robert Hill support of Wendy Kallergis, Wendy Kallergis president of the hotel association, during an event in which she received an Ambassador Award for her work engaging new partners in New Americans Workforce. The New Americans Workforce is a program now in eight cities promoting new American citizenship, Ms. Kallergis said. The National Immigration Forum and New American Workforce hosted an event in May at the InterContinental. POWERHOUSE PARTNERSHIP: Key players with Terra Group and The Related Group gathered June 11 to officially break ground on a major mixed-use project that has Coconut Grove’s waterfront as a front yard. A line of shovels turned soil at 2701 S Bayshore Drive, to mark construction of Park Grove. The project is to include three residential towers offering about 300 units total, a new office building for Coconut Grove Bank and a multi-level clubhouse with public amenities. Two of the towers are to offer “luxurious” residences, while the third is to have less high-end units. The site – about 6 acres bounded by Southwest 27th Avenue, Tigertail Avenue, Mary Street and South Bayshore Drive – has been home to the community bank for decades. PUBLIC HEALTH: Miami-Dade’s Economic Prosperity Committee has unanimously voted to approve $1,133,000 for the county’s fiscal 201415 contract with the state Department of Health, retroactive to Oct. 1, 2014. The money supports public health needs in the county. The resolution, if passed by the full commission and approved by the county attorney, authorizes the mayor to execute the agreement; execute future ones; and apply for, receive and spend additional funds for fiscal 20142015 should they become available for the program. NEW AMERICANS: Miami-Dade County Commission Chairman Jean Monestime, the county commission and the MiamiDade Office of Community Advocacy hosted a naturalization ceremony last week in the commission chamber as scores of new citizens took the citizenship oath in conjunction with World Refugee Day celebrations in the Stephen P. Clark Center lobby. Mr. Monestime recalled his own journey from immigrant to county leader as he urged the new Americans to give back. “As you become successful and enjoy the opportunities offered by this great country of ours, I pray that Jean Monestime you find it in your heart to give back to the next generation of Americans, and strive to be a model citizen to all immigrants and refugees that may arrive in this country.” COUPLE TO BE HONORED: Philanthropists Patricia and Phillip Frost will be jointly honored next year in the Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce’s Sand in My Shoes awards dinner. The announcement was made at the chamber’s goals conference this month. DANGEROUS DRYWALL: Miami city commissioners are seeking federal legislation to deal with unsafe and unhealthy Patricia and Phillip Frost building materials. On June 11 commissioners urged Congress and President Barack Obama to require that imported construction materials meet the same standards as domestic materials, and to promulgate rules for imported and domestic construction materials to ensure they don’t endanger human health. The resolution notes that a construction boom nationwide led contractors and builders to buy imported drywall to offset a short supply. Some imported drywall, referred to as “Chinese drywall” due to its place of manufacture, caused electrical, mechanical and plumbing failures in homes due to very high amounts of hydrogen sulfide gas emanating from the product and corroding metal, it said. Substandard imported construction materials can severely impair health of those working and living nearby, the resolution said. CORRECTION: Bonds issued for $830 million to support expansion of the Jackson Health System are to be repaid as a general obligation of Miami-Dade County. A June 4 column misstated the repayment obligation. CORRECTION: The Knight Foundation’s office is downtown. A June 11 profile incorrectly stated its address as Brickell.

Miami to be front and center in ads as Brand USA seeks global visitors BY CARLA VIANNA

Brand USA, which serves as the nation’s international marketing engine, has set a goal to reel in 100 million international visitors by 2021, and with Miami being a major gateway for international travelers coming to the US, the city will be heavily represented in the organization’s global marketing campaigns. Christopher Thompson, CEO and president of Brand USA, presented the organization’s goals and upcoming marketing campaigns at the Greater Miami Beaches Hotel Association Summer Luncheon at the Biltmore Hotel in Coral Gables last week. “If you look at how we as a nation are going to achieve the goal, Miami is going to have a huge play in that,” Mr. Thompson said. Mr. Thompson, who was CEO and president of Visit Florida before taking his talents to the national level, said Miami is the only city that can claim 50% of its visitors are international. To continue that trend, the key to successful marketing seems to be successful partnerships – on a local and state level. “We have had a marketing partnership with Brand USA from day one,” said Rolando Aedo, senior VP for marketing & tourism at the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau. The bureau, the Greater Miami & The Beaches Hotel Association and Visit Florida consistently work with Brand USA to promote the city. In turn, Brand USA provides platforms for Miami to share its story. “When everybody is working together, it’s amazing what happens,” said Wendy Kallergis, president of the hotel association. Platforms Miami has used for marketing include in-language videos, which market a destination through narrative-like videos in a traveler’s native language, and the Discover America Global Inspiration Guide, which is created in 10 languages and distributed in more than 20 international markets. Mr. Thompson announced an iMax film in-the-making that is

‘If you look at how we as a ‘We have had a nation are going to achieve marketing partnership the goal, Miami is going to with Brand USA from have a huge play in that.’ day one.’ Christopher Thompson

Rolando Aedo

to focus on the nation’s National Parks to commemorate the centennial of the National Park Service. “The film will hold this community up high,” Mr. Thompson said at the luncheon, considering that Miami is the only major metropolitan area to border two national parks – Biscayne National Park and Everglades National Park. The film is expected to launch in February 2016. Miami is promoting its parks from the local level as well, Mr. Aedo said, adding that the bureau is working directly with the National Park Service to do so. Another campaign highlighted at the luncheon, USA Through Film, was formed via a BBC partnership and features wellknown film directors telling the narrative of a city of their choice. In the Miami version of the film, David Frankel, director of the film “The Devil Wears Prada,” highlights the city’s tropical and urban mix. Other initiatives include the Miss Universe pageant held in Doral this year, which Visit Florida and Brand USA co-sponsored. Miami was also the endpoint destination to Brand USA’s 2014 MegaFam with British Airways and American Airlines – a multi-destination tour for international travel agents, Mr. Thompson said. In the future the city can expect a partnership between the organization and Miami Inter-

national Airport for a “Market the Welcome” campaign, which creates a warm welcoming experience within the airport for international travelers. Mr. Aedo said the bureau will use the airport as its stomping grounds for the first step in its local national park promotion. A video featuring the Everglades, Biscayne Park and the Big Cypress National Preserve will be playing on the airport’s TVs within 60 days, he said, along with the installation of new graphics and billboards.

We want to hear from YOU! Phone: (305) 358-2663 Staff Writers: Susan Danseyar sdanseyar@miamitodaynews.com John Charles Robbins jrobbins@miamitodaynews.com Carla Vianna cvianna@miamitodaynews.com Letters to Editor editor@miamitodaynews.com People Column people@miamitodaynews.com Michael Lewis mlewis@miamitodaynews.com

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

MIAMI TODAY

Gables weighs how the US 1 corridor should be developed B Y C ATHERINE L ACKNER

As a proposed mixed-use development on US 1 wends its way through the approval process, Coral Gables officials are weighing how the entire highway corridor – with a Metrorail line running through it – should be developed in their city. Paseo de la Riviera is planned to replace the current Holiday Inn at 1350 S Dixie Hwy. Developer NP-International applied in November to put two 12-story buildings on the 2.66-acre site. They would contain 224 rental residential units, 252 hotel rooms, more than 4,000 square feet of restaurant space and about 14,000 square feet of retail. The project would be built around a two-story “paseo” that is 325 feet long and 72 feet wide, and would serve as a shaded gathering space. The first hearing by the city’s planning and zoning department is to be late next month, and if there are no delays, the matter could come before the city commission in August.

The proposed development will sit across US 1 from the University of Miami’s new 200,000-square-foot ambulatory health care center. A pedestrian overpass is being constructed to provide a safe way to cross the six-lane roadway, which is 100 feet wide. Recognizing that all sites along rail lines will be targets for development, Ramon Trias, city director of planning and zoning, last month conducted a peer review study of the project and the entire corridor. Architects, planners and neighbors attended. “There were some good ideas, but it’s a departure,” he said at Tuesday’s city commission meeting, acknowledging that the proposed project has some opposition. Regardless of its fate, he said, the US 1 corridor has been long neglected. “Things there have not changed since the 1940s; there has been no significant master plan, no vision on US 1. There hasn’t even been a charette.” The city conducted a charette – a meeting or series of meetings for stake-

holders to express ideas and concerns – recently in the area of North Ponce de Leon Boulevard and it was fruitful, Mr. Trias added. “We wanted to see what we could do better,” said Chuck Bohls, a University of Miami architect who took part in the peer review. “US 1 is very auto-dominated; it’s hostile to bikes and pedestrians. There is no connection between the neighborhood and UM. There is nothing there that represents George Merrick’s vision,” he said, referring to the city’s founder. Because it’s generally held that transitoriented communities are the wave of the future, it is likely that some development will occur on the site at some point, observers say. Jeannett Slesnick “This is an opportunity for Coral Gables to set the tone for what is to come, both in the city and outside of it,” Mr. Bohls said. “This is where most of our popula-

tion should be living,” said Commissioner Jeannett Slesnick, referring to transit-based housing. She suggested that the area around the Douglas Road Metrorail station be added to the master-planning process. “Anywhere that’s near Coral Gables.” “If you live in South Florida, you’re conditioned to drive,” said Commissioner Frank Quesada, “but we’ve had success with our Frank Quesada trolley program.” The city estimates that 1.3 million cars have been removed from city streets because so many people use the trolley to get to the Metrorail station or to run errands during the business day. Though representatives of NP-International insisted that they have met numerous times with the project’s neighbors, it was decided that a charette would be launched to run concurrent with Paseo de la Riviera’s journey though the city’s approval process.

Art museum’s pledge opens door wider for city zoning OK BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

An attorney representing developers of an art museum abutting a historic neighborhood promised publicly to deliver a covenant – basically a legal promise to use the land in the way they say they’ll use it. If the museum isn’t built as proposed, underlying zoning would revert to its original classification. Talk of a covenant came when a rezoning and land use change that will open the door for an art museum on the edge of the Design District won preliminary approval June 11 from Miami city commissioners. One lone ‘no’ vote was cast by Marc Sarnoff, who kept asking for a covenant from developers. He indicated he might support the plan on second reading if a covenant is offered. “You’ll get your covenant,” said attorney Stephen Helfman, who along with attorney Tony Recio was on hand to represent developers of the Institute of Contemporary Arts, Miami, Inc. The land is at 53 and 61 NE 41st St. and 50, 58 and 68 NE 42nd St., on the edge of the booming Design District. The developers plan an art museum on the southern part of the property and a sculpture garden on the northern portion. The new museum structure is backed by auto dealer Norman Braman and his wife Irma, both noted art collectors. It would move from a temporary home at 4040 NE Second Ave., where it set up shortly after the board of the City of North Miami’s Museum of Contemporary Art splintered when director Bonnie Clearwater left in 2012 and the choice of a new director caused a row. Part of the collection stayed in MOCA and part left with directors who formed the Institute of Contemporary Art. The new museum is to be three stories, 37,500 square feet in all, with a 15,000-square-foot sculpture garden to the rear. But

Photo by Maxine Usdan

A sign across the street from the planned Institute of Contemporary Art building opposes rezoning effort.

some neighbors in the adjacent Buena Vista East neighborhood opposed to the change in zoning and land use argued that the change and the museum would be out of character with their historic residential area. Opponents also said it would constitute spot zoning. They asked the commission to either reject the request outright or defer a vote on first reading. Mr. Recio and Mr. Helfman fought against a deferral and asked commissioners to support the change. Mr. Helfman said it was a complex application and that the developers have worked hard since November meeting with community members and had done their best to “strike a balance” and agreed to a number of concessions. Schiller Jerome, president of the Buena Vista East Neighborhood Association, said he negotiated an agreement with the museum developers that he feels best protects the interests of the

residents. Mr. Jerome also said of the planned museum, “This is not a commercial structure.” Mr. Helfman asked for a yes vote on first reading, noting that many steps remain before a museum can rise on the site. “We have a long road ahead of us,” he said. Planning Director Francisco Garcia said the matters on the agenda were about changing the zoning and land use, not a decision on a specific site plan for the museum and proposed accompanying sculpture garden. Mr. Garcia said the site plan, with details on height, width, mass, setbacks and so forth, would have to be reviewed and voted upon by the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board. The final reading on the zoning and land use change is to be scheduled in a few weeks before city commissioners. The commissioners learned that the city’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board recently approved a certificate

that will allow demolition of three older residential buildings on the site’s northern portion. Many property owners in the historic neighborhood oppose the re-

moval of the buildings and oppose the land being used as a park. A staff analysis presented to commissioners reads in part: “This proposed zoning change is intended to accommodate a contemporary art museum and a sculpture garden. This use is appropriate in the context of the Design District, and with proper treatment, can be appropriate abutting a single family neighborhood.” While the new zoning that the application sought could accommodate an art museum and sculpture garden, the city’s planning staff recommended that the entire site be rezoned differently, to the Civic Institution category. The city then became a co-applicant on the proposed rezoning. Civic Institution zoning is “a zone with uses primarily dedicated to functioning for community purposes such as, cultural, educational, environmental, governmental, public transit, public parking and religious facilities.” The applicant agreed to that zoning.

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national buyers seeking to simplify their lives and free up their time and energy. Years ago, people would move into hotels and resorts semi-permanently seeking these types of services. To escape the hassle of having to self-manage a staff and run an estate. This latest crop of condominiums offer the opportunity to live in a resort type atmosphere year round where someone else runs the staff and manages affairs for you. No longer is the owner responsible for overseeing maintenance and repairs. In essence, residents can live in a vacation type setting year round.

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The condominiums are essentially turnkey living quarters offering the best from design to service to even art collections and private beaches in the haute couture world of Miami. It is luxury streamlined and simplified for sophisticated, connected and savvy individuals living along the shores of the gateway to the Americas. For professional advice on all aspects of buying or selling real estate, please contact me at aross@miamirealestate.com or 305-960-2575, or come by the office at 355 Alhambra Circle, 9th Floor, in Coral Gables.

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

Zuli Marval, right, who is interested in the mission, and Erika Naranjo in their Design District showroom.

Italy-America Chamber mission targets Northern Italy’s business BY CARLA VIANNA

The Italy-America Chamber of Commerce Southeast is paving the way for new business relationships between Italy and South Florida with a business mission to Northern Italy this September. Unlike the chamber’s previous trips abroad, which were mainly focused on and funded by Italian trade shows and solely open to professional buyers, this mission is open to all members of the Miami business community – accountants, lawyers and investors welcome. “It’s our independent project,” said chamber Executive Director Nevio Boccanera, adding that one of the chamber’s main objectives is to improve business relations between Italy and the US. “The idea is to create roundtable [discussions] of Florida investing opportunities for Italian companies looking to expand here,” Mr. Boccanera said. The five-day trip, from Sept. 14 to 19, will include roundtable discussions and seminars with various associations, including Assolombarda, the Association of Industries in Lombardy; and the chambers of commerce of the cities Mantua and Como, according to the chamber’s travel program.

The trip will also feature a visit to Expo 2015, the six-month Universal Exhibition hosted in Milan featuring products and technology from more than 140 participating countries. The event addresses the issues of sustainable nutrition and food security across the globe. Expo 2015, carrying the motto, “Feeding the planet, energy for life,” was a catalyst for the trip, Mr. Boccanera said. This is not the chamber’s first business mission abroad. Last June, on a trip to Rome and Florence organized in conjunction with the Miami Association of Realtors, 15 local realtors participated, he said. “What we’ve seen in the past is every time we connect Miami businesses with Italian business, things happen, because we open new doors, let’s say, for Miami businesses to get in touch with the market,” Mr. Boccanera said. The outbound mission needs 15 participants to take place. A few individuals have already expressed interest. One of those is Zuli Marval, who displays her affinity with Italian design at her interior design and furniture store – Casa Interior in the Design District. All that she sells is imported from Italy, Ms. Marval said. “All the lines I like to offer are from Italy. I want to keep that

concept,” she said. “These types of missions are very good because I can network with different and new providers and have a wide selection to offer for my designs.” Ms. Marval is currently working on launching an online store, and is hoping to find accessories and pieces of furniture on the trip to offer online. The trip mixes business with pleasure, Mr. Boccanera said, as participants will not only network in business settings but also have leisure time available. The program costs for chamber members are $1,995 for single occupancy, $1,459 for double occupancy and $747 with no hotel package. Nonmembers will pay $2,165 for single occupancy, $1,630 for double occupancy and $918 with no hotel package. Program cost includes participation in all business meetings and networking sessions, a four-star hotel in Milan, daily breakfast and a welcome dinner, a private coach to Mantua and Como, a boat tour of Lake Como and lunch at a lakeside restaurant, an admission ticket to Expo 2015 and additional guided tours. Details: Martina Maione or Elena Orlando at the ItalyAmerica Chamber of Commerce, (305) 577-9868.

CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING A public hearing will be held by the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida on June 25, 2015, at 9:00 A.M. at City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, for the purpose of granting the following: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, DECLARING SURPLUS AND APPROVING THE SALE OF A CITY-OWNED CLUC 90 PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1620 NW 71 STREET, MIAMI, FLORIDA (“PROPERTY”), TO HELEN SPENCER, (“PURCHASER”), ESTABLISHING TWO THOUSAND SEVEN HUNDRED THIRTY DOLLARS ($2,730.00) AS THE AMOUNT TO BE PAID TO THE CITY OF MIAMI BY THE AFOREMENTIONED; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT FOR PURCHASE AND SALE (“AGREEMENT”) AND TO EXECUTE SUCH OTHER DOCUMENTS AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO CONSUMMATE SUCH TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE AGREEMENT, WHICH TERMS MAY BE AMENDED BY THE CITY MANAGER AS MAY BE NECESSARY IN ORDER TO MEET THE BEST INTERESTS OF THE CITY. All interested persons are invited to appear and may be heard concerning this item. Should any person desire to appeal any decision of the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, that person shall ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including all testimony and evidence upon which any appeal may be based (F.S.286.0105). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than two (2) business days prior to the proceeding or at (305) 250-5472 (TTY) no later than three (3) business days prior to the proceeding.

Todd B. Hannon City Clerk

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CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING A public hearing will be held by the City Commission of the City of Miami, Florida on June 25, 2015, at 9:00 A.M. at City Hall, located at 3500 Pan American Drive, Miami, Florida, for the purpose of granting the following: A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE AN AMENDMENT TO RESERVATION OF EASEMENT (“AMENDMENT”) BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI (“CITY”) AND FLORIDA EAST COAST RAILWAY, L.L.C (“FECR”), TO AMEND THE LOCATION OF THE EASEMENT RESERVED TO FECR ON THAT CERTAIN SPECIAL WARRANTY DEED DATED JUNE 6, 1988, AND RECORDED IN OFFICIAL RECORDS BOOK 13782, PAGE 502 OF THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA, WITH TERMS AND CONDITIONS MORE PARTICULARLY DESCRIBED IN THE AMENDMENT. All interested persons are invited to appear and may be heard concerning this item. Should any person desire to appeal any decision of the City Commission with respect to any matter considered at this hearing, that person shall ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, including all testimony and evidence upon which any appeal may be based (F.S.286.0105). In accordance with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, persons needing special accommodations to participate in this proceeding may contact the Office of the City Clerk at (305) 250-5361 (Voice) no later than two (2) business days prior to the proceeding or at (305) 250-5472 (TTY) no later than three (3) business days prior to the proceeding.

Photo by Maxine Usdan

“It’s our independent project,” said Executive Director Nevio Boccanera of the Italy-America Chamber.

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Todd B. Hannon City Clerk

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

$86.9 million bridge replacement wins conditional support BY JOHN CHARLES ROBBINS

It never hurts to ask for more. That may be the lesson to come out of talks between Miami River advocates and design engineers hired by the Florida Department of Transportation for replacement of the Southwest First Street Bridge. Persistence has led to a larger public walkway on the river. Early plans to replace the aging drawbridge included no public walkway on the river’s edge. The Miami River Greenway Action Plan calls for an improved public riverwalk on both banks of the river. Reminded by river advocates of the growing riverwalk, the design engineers came back in May and reported that $5 million has been added to the replacement project to construct a public riverwalk. Members of the Miami River Commission’s Urban Infill and Greenways Subcommittee were happy to see plans for the riverwalk, but expressed concerns that it would be too narrow in some spots. The plan showed the walkway as narrow as 6 feet in places. Committee members asked for more. Design engineers considered the request and reworked the plan again to see how far they could go in a wider riverwalk. When the design team met with the full river commission in June, the plan showed an expanded riverwalk, which at its narrowest point would be about 10 feet wide. The Southwest First Street Bridge carries eastbound traffic into the heart of downtown. The 86-year-old bascule bridge rises and opens to permit water traffic to pass. More than 8,500 cars a day traverse the span, owned and operated by the state. But the bridge is considered structurally deficient. “It’s safe to travel upon but reaching its limits,” said Michael Sileno, from the infrastructure engineering firm Hardesty & Hanover, hired by the state for the bridge replacement. Mr. Sileno is with the design team that’s been meeting with local officials as the project progresses. Work to replace the bridge is to begin in 2018 and be done in 2021. A project list from the state shows the estimated cost is $86,962,459. The bridge was built in 1929 at a cost of $300,000. Mr. Sileno presented a PowerPoint on the status of the project and explained some challenges posed by the endeavor. After his presentation, the river commission voted to support the project, with five conditions: a riverwalk as wide as what Miami 21 calls for (a standard minimum 25-foot-wide riverwalk featuring a minimum 15-foot-wide unobstructed pathway); signage directing motorists and pedestrians to the riverwalk; artwork associated with the project to be top of the line (porcelain enamel); mechanical equipment used to open

River Commission’s team conditioned its support on this choice as a design for a new First Street Bridge.

the bridge be state of the art to open and close as fast as possible; and the architectural design to be the Hybrid Control House Alternative 1. “You’ve accommodated some of our concerns,” said commission member Dr. Ernie Martin, who then asked if cantilevers could be built over the water to widen the riverwalk. Mr. Sileno said engineers would look into it, but it might not be possible because the US Army Corps of Engineers requires a certain width for the navigable federal waterway. Although commission members seek a wider riverwalk, there are many constraints to the bridge replacement, riverwalk and the new roadway on Southwest First Street. The width of the river itself is one factor, said engineers. Two other major factors are that North River Drive and South River Drive hug both sides of the river, and an elevated I-95 with several associated ramps is close by. Mr. Sileno described the interstate as “a big constraint,” noting that the project includes rebuilding a stretch of Southwest First Street from Southwest Sixth Avenue under I-95 to Southwest Second Avenue. The bridge bed is elevated over North River Drive and South River Drive. Complicating the project is that county, state and federal layers of government are involved in the approval process for the replacement. Roadway and waterway officials also are involved. So many pieces of the puzzle are crammed tightly into a small area, and one item impacts all the others, Mr. Sileno explained. He mentioned that if the northern pier supporting the new span were moved any closer to North River Drive than in the current layout, it would trigger other regulatory and safety measures and require guardrails along portions of the road, interrupting a plan for a cohesive greenway (the road) and riverwalk. Through the Project Development & Environment phase, the state transportation department determined it would: Design the project to avoid

permanent construction impacts to historic properties. Ensure that design is compatible with the historic and architectural qualities of the National Register-listed South River Drive Historic District. Create a Bridge Aesthetics Review Committee consisting of property owners, residents, the City of Miami, Federal Highway Administration, state transportation department and State Historic Preservation Office to

advise the Federal Highway Administration and state regarding appropriate design elements for the replacement bridge. Ensure that historic catwalks associated with the three Miami River Inn buildings, 104 South River Drive, 428 SW First Street and 438 SW First Street, located within the South River Drive Historic District, are incorporated into the design. The design is to maintain the historic physical connection be-

tween the buildings and the bridge. Be responsible for Florida historic markers through the Florida Division of Historical Resources Marker Program. Prepare a brief multimedia DVD as an educational tool for local schools, HistoryMiami, the Florida Room of the MiamiDade County Main Library and interested agencies. Perform archaeological monitoring during bridge replacement and for any grounddisturbing road reconstruction. The project will reduce the current four lanes of traffic on the bridge to three and add a 5foot 5-inch wide dedicated bike lane. Mr. Sileno said the three vehicle lanes would match the three on Southwest First Street near Sixth and Second avenues. He said the new bridge will have open railings that afford views of the river. The bridge is one of several bascule bridges on the river. It is a companion to the West Flagler Street Bridge one block to the north, which carries westbound traffic out of downtown. Eastbound traffic on West Flagler Street is separated at Southwest 24th Avenue, through Little Havana, and ends at Biscayne Boulevard.

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MIAMI TODAY

Model for medical office space gets facelift, stays healthy BY CATHERINE LACKNER

Medical office space is changing, and some of the must-haves are different than in the past, but it’s still an attractive investment, sources say. Several new prototypes have emerged in recent years. “Baptist pioneered the model of the ambulatory care center, and everyone else followed suit,” said Jack Lowell, executive vice president of Pointe Group Advisors. Baptist Health South Florida has an extensive network of urgent-care clinics that handle everything from cuts and scratches to diagnostic procedures. Most patients have private or HMO insurance. Not only are the co-payments rates less than what a hospital emergency room would charge, but the wait is generally shorter. The Cuban model, Mr. Lowell said, is a clinic-type medical office specializing in senior care that offers preventive testing and a chance for patients to socialize. “They have those little vans you see all over town,” he said. “It’s very successful.” Most patients have managedcare insurance via an HMO, Medicare, or a Medicare HMO. Many hospitals, and some medical practices associated with them, offer concierge-style care. Details such as transportation and paperwork are handled for patients by specially trained representatives. “For this, you need to have private, premium insurance,” Mr. Lowell said. Many medical

Photo by Maxine Usdan

A purpose-built Doral office at 3125 NW 84th Ave. knocked others out of the running, said Carmen Bigles.

tourists – some wealthy people from abroad – favor this arrangement, observers say. For a variety of reasons, many medical practitioners are interested in purchasing space, said lawyer Efraim Gutierrez. In late May, he represented Rieti LLC, the buyer of the former headquarters of BUPA Insurance Latin America. The new owners paid $4.9 million and plan to use the 33,046-square-foot building at 7001 SW 97th Ave. as medical

professional offices. The seller was Onup Group Corp., said Mr. Gutierrez, principal of Efraim R. Gutierrez P.A. “I’ve noticed a trend in my practice toward doctors wanting to buy office buildings,” both to house their own practices and for investment, he said. Because out-patient procedures are up and hospital stays down, physicians no longer need office space near the hospitals at which they have admitting privileges, as in years past, Mr.

Gutierrez said. Nor do they really care if the building is a highrise or a sprawling suburban office park. The thing they insist upon, however, is ample parking. “Whether they are expanding their practices or buying for investment, they are looking for buildings that have enough parking spaces. Nothing else is as important.” For Carmen Bigles, co-owner of Caribbean Radiation Oncology Center at 3125 NW 84th

Ave. in Doral, a purpose-built office knocked the competition out of the running. The new 9,000-square-foot facility is the company’s first outside of Puerto Rico. “I went to see so many places,” said Ms. Bigles, who operates the facility with husband Pedro Serrano-Ojeda M.D., who is the center’s CEO and chief radiation oncologist. “There were always problems, with the structure, or the wall height for shielding radiation. Every time I looked, there were restrictions.” A year-long search led to the purchase of their new building, which is specially designed for heavy radiation machines and the protective devices that shield them. A radiation facility requires a mat that spreads the weight load over whole foundation, as well as modifications to the air conditioning, heating and ventilation systems, Ms. Bigles explained. “In our case, we now have a boutique center and I can bring in the latest, most effective equipment,” she said. The center features the TomoTherapy Hi-Art treatment system, “the most integrated, advanced system for comprehensive cancer treatment,” according to a release issued to celebrate the center’s grand opening today (6/18). “Advances happen every day and we want our facility to be open to them,” Ms. Bigles said. “It would have been difficult to retrofit an existing building. Having something that is purpose-built makes more sense economically.”

Commute times, mixed-use concepts spur suburban offices BY CATHERINE LACKNER

Many forces contribute to the popularity of master-planned mega-complexes like Downtown Dadeland and Downtown Doral, but there will always be a market for suburban office space, observers say. “The simple answer is economics; the cost of office buildings has risen quite dramatically over the past few years,” said Jay Massirman, president of Rivergate Companies. “The dynamic has changed.” Large complexes that adhere to the “work, live, play” model are appealing economically because Jay Massirman they are diversified, and also offer an alternative to long commutes on Miami’s traffic-clogged streets, he said. Outsourcing and the ability of many to work remotely have also had effects, he added. “There is not the need for people to be in an office. You can have a virtual office with an iPhone.” Add to that millennials’ lack of desire to commute, and trends can rapidly shift.

“That said, there is still a demand for the good old-fashioned office building with plenty of parking and other amenities,” Mr. Massirman said. He points to far south Miami-Dade County, which is experiencing a resurgence. Many corporate headquarters – most notably Burger King – moved out after Hurricane Andrew. But now buildings are filling back up, usually with companies that have employees living in the area or further north, making for a reverse commute. “At the end of the day, hardship commutes wear you out,” Mr. Massirman said, as do multi-story parking garages that require a 15-minute hunt for a parking space. Some companies, mostly small businesses, are “taking little chunks of space, 5,000 to 7,000 square feet,” in Coconut Grove, South Miami and other non-traditional office markets. Rents, however, can reach and exceed $40 per square foot, he said. “You need to be able to make it work.” “Employers follow employees” when searching for office space, confirms Jack Lowell, executive vice president of Pointe Group Advisors. Most people don’t want to commute more than one hour, he said, and because there are major population centers in Kendall and

other suburbs, there will always be demand for buildings there. On the other hand, he said, “The mixed-use phenomenon is the hot thing right now. It’s the New York model, in which you have everything you need within walking distance.” Developers can build with less parking, he said, a decided advantage. Main Street in Miami Lakes – which has residential units atop shops and cafes – was an early example of the trend in South Florida. Though it was ultimately successful, “I told [the developer] he was crazy” when the idea was proposed, Mr. Lowell admits. “I don’t think there’s a conflict,” between the old and new scenarios, said Carter McDowell, a land-use attorney at Bilzin Sumberg. “What you see is a changing trend in the overall development pattern.” People still want to work near home. “What’s changed is that the home is not a traditional single-family house anymore.” It may take time to get there, he added. “If you look at current downtown Miami, most of the buildings are not mixed-use, although there is often companion high-rise rental next to the

office buildings.” But the marketplace is responding, he said, because Americans’ love affair with their cars is fading. “Car ownership is way down,” Mr. McDowell said. “The average age to get a license used to be 16; now it’s in the mid 20s and going higher.” Even millennial families who own a car don’t want have more than one, and family members don’t want to commute. He points to Brickell as an example. “Years ago, there were no residential units to speak of, and now the whole dynamic on the street has changed. There are restaurants, bars and shopping. The seeds were planted with the inclusion of residential, and it’s becoming a really viable space. “The same thing is happening in Doral, just in a different location,” and will occur along transit corridors and close to downtown, he predicted. “South Florida does not have a lot of greenfields,” he said, referring to viable land that has never be used, “so development is moving toward the interior. “It’s exciting to me that we’re doing it,” Mr. McDowell said, “and I think it will have a very positive long-term impact on our urban center.”

WEEK OF THURSDAY, JUNE 18, 2015

COMMERCIAL & OFFICE SPACE

MIAMI TODAY

With 18 issues resolved, Mediterranean Village finally a Go BY SUSAN D ANSEYAR

The developers of Mediterranean Village at Ponce Circle finally have the go-ahead from the Coral Gables City Commission for their mixed-use project after years of work that included 20 public meetings, others before various boards, peer reviews and conversations with city staff as well as business and neighborhood associations. Last week, commissioners unanimously approved the project “in concept” but disagreed, 3-2, on allowing the main building’s height of 218 feet to accommodate a twostory, roof-top restaurant. Vince Lago and Jeannett Slesnick cast the opposing votes, voicing concern about a building higher than the 190.5 feet of habitable space the city currently allows. Should the two-story restaurant not work out as planned, developer Agave Ponce LLC is to come back to the commission for acceptance of another use. When the commission voted approval of the $500 million project on first reading April 2 with conditions, 18 issues were to be addressed and each has been resolved, said attorney Mario Garcia-Serra, who represents the developers. At the start of the eight-hour special meeting June 10, Mr. Garcia-Serra highlighted changes, including reducing size and massing by eliminating 109,798 square feet; reconfiguring the entry for the

Photo by Maxine Usdan

Mediterranean Village on Ponce Circle is to rise on 6.74 vacant acres a few blocks from Miracle Mile.

hotel driveway so that it’s off of Malaga Avenue instead of Ponce de Leon Boulevard; adding plazas and open spaces; and lowering the scale of buildings near the Art Center Building, a central feature in the project, to give it more prominence. Prior to the commissioners’ first reading, the developers had already agreed to eliminate a movie theater, daycare center and third residential tower. Now, the project on 6.74 acres – a few blocks south of Miracle Mile and the central business district – has about

300,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space and about 300,000 square feet of office along with the 184-room highend hotel and about 230 residential units. The development agreement has been further refined to better define the public benefits and off-site improvements, including a $1.4 million contribution for police and fire services. The developers are giving the city $27,829,000 in public benefits. All are above and beyond what the code presently requires: an additional $2.7 million for art

in public places, along with the required 1% of construction costs ($5 million); $2 million each for neighborhood streetscape east and west of the project, Ponce de Leon (north); $125,000 for University Drive streetscape (south); $200,000 for Santander Avenue streetscape; $1.5 million for publicly accessible rooftops; $16,990,000 for trolley service enhancement; $100,000 for a trolley stop; $100,000 for bicycle support facilities and parking; and $114,000 for electric vehicle charging stations.

“Mediterranean Village will be a centerpiece project, along with the Miracle Mile streetscape improvements, for the resurgence of downtown Coral Gables,” Mr. Garcia-Serra told Miami Today. “The project’s residences and shops will bring new customers to all Coral Gables businesses and will provide an increased variety and quality of retail and service options to existing Coral Gables residents.” He said the office component will add “more prestigious names to the city’s already impressive roster of major multinational office tenants.” Most importantly, Mr. Garcia-Serra said this project will be well incorporated and welcomed into the area. “As is indicated by the many generous financial commitments that Agave Ponce is making to improve neighboring residential areas, control car traffic and enhance trolley transit and accessibility by cyclists, this project will be a ‘win-win’ for the developer, the neighboring residents, and the community as a whole,” Mr. Garcia-Serra said. According to a July 2014 fiscal impact analysis by economist Hank Fishkind of Fishkind & Associates Inc., the project would generate an estimated $3.9 million in net annual tax revenue to the city, generating 16,600 construction jobs and 2,700 permanent jobs. The data were based on a previous and slightly larger development program but are close enough to provide a good estimate, Mr. Garcia-Serra said.

With space tight, Coral Gables retail and office rents rising BY SUSAN D ANSEYAR

Rental rates for Coral Gables commercial space are trending up and some vacancies hovering in the single digits, say industry experts, who expect more demand as additional residential units come online in the city. The city’s retail sector is strong, with a 6% vacancy, according to Barbara Tria, commercial broker-associate for Kerdyk Real Estate. It’s fluid and fluctuates over time, she said, but historically the rate has been between 6% and 9%. Most retail space is a rental market in Coral Gables, Ms. Tria said, with rates at $60 to $70 per square foot where there’s the heaviest foot traffic and in the mid-$30s per square foot in destination locations not driven by pedestrian traffic. Leases in both price ranges are triple net, she said, which includes real estate tax, insurance and a common area maintenance charge on top of the amount per square foot. Also the vice president of the Coral Gables Business Improvement District, Ms. Tria pointed to an upcoming streetscaping to expand sidewalks and create an environment that she said will allow retailers to engage with shoppers. Another benefit for the retail market, Ms. Tria said, is the project will alter the traffic structure to a ratio closer

Barbara Tria: retail vacancy is 6%.

Mario Garcia-Serra: offices gain. Diana Parker: offices 11% vacant.

to 60% cars and 40% pedestrians compared with the current 80% to 20%. Moreover, Ms. Tria said, the city is in the process of looking for private development of two city-owned garages in the central business district that will add 1,000 public parking spaces. When the garages and streetscaping are completed, she said, more people will come to dine and shop in the Gables. Retail follows residential, Ms. Tria said. The city has more than 1,000 luxury rental units either already available or in the process, which will bring more desire for retail. When the rental units are all finished, along with several condo developments now being planned, Ms. Tria said Coral Gables will be able to absorb the demand for additional retail. Ms. Tria said one challenge in the central business district right

now is accommodating retailers looking for spaces between 15,000 and 35,000 square feet. “If we could commit to larger spaces, we’d have those tenants today,” she said. Ms. Tria said the recent approval of Mediterranean Village – the mixeduse project that will be built on 6.74 acres of bare land a few blocks south of Miracle Mile and the central business district – will bring larger spaces. The project, when completed, will include some 300,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Mediterranean Village demonstrates there has to be a critical mass in order to meet the rising demand of retail, said Mario Garcia-Serra, an attorney with Gunster’s Miami office who specializes in real estate, land use and zoning. He represents the project’s developers, Agave Ponce LLC.

Miracle Mile has been falling short on its own with a lot of small shops, he said. “The city needs the larger spaces, too.” The office market is strong, Mr. Garcia-Serra said, and still in a good stretch with increase in value and development. Most Class A buildings are at least 90% occupied, he said, and rental rates are rising. He said prices vary but high-end rents are about $50 per square foot, triple net. “There’s a good amount of demand, fueled by more residents and businesses moving into the Gables,” Mr. GarciaSerra said. “The current real estate boom started with all residential, but the office market has caught on, with development still in the upward cycle.” Currently, the Gables office market has 6,806,428 rentable square feet, according to a presentation CBRE senior Vice

President Diana Parker gave during the Miami Realtor’s Commercial Alliance midyear update June 3. Ms. Parker’s data showed overall average direct vacancy for the first quarter of 2015 was 11.4%: 13% for Class A, 9% for Class B and 14.4% for Class C. Quoted direct rental rates for office space in Coral Gables were $36.04 per square foot overall: $37.76 for Class A, $32.67 for Class B and $24 for Class C. Top tenants signed in the first half of 2015 include Codina Partners, for 28,572 square feet at 2020 Salzedo; Regus, for 17,700 square feet at Columbus Center; and Catalyst Pharmaceuticals Partners Inc., for 15,741 square feet at 355 Alhambra, according to Ms. Parker’s data. “Coral Gables has been giving Brickell and Downtown a run for its money in terms of attracting high-profile tenants,” Ms. Parker said.”We have seen a lot of companies relocating from the central business district to Coral Gables because they like the ample parking, accessibility to Miami International Airport and abundant dining, entertainment and shopping options along Miracle Mile.” Coral Gables might also be a lot closer to where executives and staff live, Ms. Parker said, so they can avoid the congestion and hassle of downtown traffic.

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