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MIAMI TODAY
TODAY’S NEWS
WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
The Insider CIRCULATORS AGE EXTENSION: A proposed ordinance extending the lifetime of motor vehicles providing circulator or fixed-route service from 10 to 15 years will go before Miami-Dade commissioners. Commissioners in the Transportation and Public Works Committee last week unanimously forwarded the amendment to the county code, which also prohibits vehicle models over 15 years old from entering a transit fleet. “It’s a different type of vehicle that’s servicing our community and it does have a different life span,” said Commissioner Sally Heyman, the item’s primary sponsor, adding the five extra years would aid for-hire transportation programs. SOUTH TRANSITWAY DEFERRED: Citing recent talks, an unsolicited proposer and a request for information about what rapid transit solutions to bring to Miami-Dade’s south corridor, Commissioner Dennis Moss on Tuesday deferred a resolution seeking funds and changes to a South Dade Transitway study to include commuter rail. “I don’t think it would be prudent to move forward on this particular action at this time,” he said. “But certainly, according to how things occur in the future, this is an item that may be brought back.” During a Transportation Planning Organization meeting last week in which Mayor Dennis Moss Carlos Giménez reiterated his support of bus rapid transit along the corridor, Mr. Moss and others argued Metrorail had long been promised to South Dade residents, though he was unable to show where it had been specifically written. On Tuesday, he presented proof. “Just for your attention, because we had a lot of dialogue about [when] people voted in 2002 for the People’s Transportation Plan whether or not we voted for rail along those corridors,” he said, directing commissioners to refer to a copy of a booklet commissioners approved during that time. “In there they talk about, for example, the north corridor: 9.5-mile heavy rail alternative; and the south corridor: rail extension to Florida City. I just wanted to bring this to everybody’s attention so [we] can be clear that when we talk about the People’s Transportation Plan, we talked about extending rail along those particular corridors.” BANC ROLLED VEHICLES: Miami-Dade commissioners could decide to borrow up to $120 million over two years from Banc of America Public Capital Corp. to buy 1,737 county vehicles and related equipment. The company, a subsidiary of Bank of America, offered the lowest interest at the most favorable terms, according to a July 16 memo from Deputy Mayor Jack Osterholt, which included five repayment schedules ranging from five to 15 years, with interest rates between 2.97% and 3.49%. If the resolution to select Banc of America as a capital provider is approved, the first series of funds of about $25 million is expected in fiscal 2018, with $48 million more the next year. At least Jack Osterholt 17 departments will receive vehicles and equipment, including water and sewer, fire rescue, solid waste, juvenile services, internal services, public library, housing and community development, county commissioners and the judiciary. Commissioners in the Government Operations Committee unanimously approved the resolution last week. Dennis Moss, the committee chair, said he’d ask commission chairman Esteban Bovo Jr. to place the item on the commission agenda. DORAL TRAFFIC SIGNALS: The Miami-Dade County Transportation and Public Works Committee has advanced plans to install two new traffic signals in Doral along Northwest 74th Street at 102nd and 97th avenues. The city would pay $187,500, or 25% of the $750,000, with the remaining funds coming from prior developer contributions and road impact fees. “This joint participation agreement between Miami-Dade County and the City of Doral will alleviate traffic in this area and will improve safety for both pedestrians and motorists,” said Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz, whose district includes Doral. County commissioners are set to vote when they return from recess Sept. 5. OPERA CEO LEAVING: The Florida Grand Opera (FGO) will get a new leader in October. Justin Moss, who has been with the opera 25 years, will serve as interim general director and CEO, according to a press release. Susan Danis, who was director and CEO for six years, will leave Oct. 12 to become president and CEO of the La Jolla Music Society and The Conrad Presbys Performing Arts Center in San Diego, CA. According to the release, Ms. Danis “played a critical role in the revitalization and involvement of Broward County patrons; significant growth in the quality of opera produced by the company.” Mr. Susan Danis Moss has delivered 793 pre-opera lectures over the past 25 years with the opera. “We are confident that Justin’s leadership, strength and vast opera experience will continue the positive growth that FGO has experienced under Susan’s leadership,” said Linda Balent, chairman of the Florida Grand Opera board of directors. SIGNALS SPEED BUSES: New transit signal priority (TSP) technology added along the South Dade Corridor has shortened the travel time of two of Miami-Dade’s most widely used bus routes, transportation spokesperson Karla Damian wrote July 19. To date, the county has upgraded 46 intersections with Caltran 2070LX Safetran traffic signal controllers on the dedicated bus lane that runs between Dadeland South Metrorail station and Southwest 344th Street. Recent data showed travel savings of about 17 minutes for Route 34 Express, which runs 20 miles from Florida City to Dadeland South, down from 67 minutes to 50, according to Ms. Damian. Travel time for the other improved route, 39 Express, was not provided. TSP along the South Dade Transitway is part of a five-year, $160 million effort to improve mobility along 10 prioritized corridors that includes 300 smart signals that can detect increased traffic and adjust for flow. “This helps our traffic signals operate more efficiently, and it helps to improve traffic flow for Metrobuses and all other vehicles throughout the county’s main corridors,” Transportation and Public Works Director Alice Bravo said. Currently, 284 traffic signals along the 10 corridors have been upgraded with smart signals. The department is now testing seven signals in Miami Gardens and 31 on US 1 North. CORRECTION: The phone number provided for last week’s Achiever, artist and writer Sebastian Spreng, was incorrect. His phone number is (305) 572-1839.
County transportation chief Alice Bravo speaks as the first of 136 Metrorail cars is finished in late 2016.
28 of 136 rail cars, 42 new buses roll slowly into county’s overaged fleets By Jesse Scheckner
As Miami-Dade County adds to its transit system with a new and improved fleet of vehicles, there have been growing pains, according to a July 12 transportation department status report accepted by county commissioners Tuesday. As of May, the county received 42 compressed natural gas Metrobus vehicles and 28 new heavy Metrorail cars. The first new bus arrived in January but it wasn’t added to service until March, along with 10 of 26 additional buses received that month. In April, one more bus arrived while the 16 remaining buses were added to service. Fourteen buses came and were added in May, leaving one bus currently out of service. Despite the additions, Metrobus service fell short of morning peak requirements every month, as between three and 38 fewer vehicles than was necessary were available for service from of an average 759-bus fleet. On average, 184 buses were pulled from service per month due to me-
chanical issues. About 31 buses per month remained in operation with non-safety related malfunctioning issues, the report shows. Metrorail’s incoming 136-vehicle fleet, ordered to replace its more than 30-year-old vehicles, continues to arrive sporadically. Between February and May, the county accepted 28 new rail cars from Hitachi Rail Italy, a subsidiary of Finmeccanica formerly named AnsaldoBreda. Adding the cars in pairs, the transportation department out into service at least two cars per month. As of May 18, seven pairs have been added this year. That replacement rate has failed to keep up with higher Metrorail frequency demands. At the end of March, the county’s transportation department changed Metrorail schedules during peak transit hours from 7½ to five-minute intervals between Earlington Heights and Dadeland South stations – an 18% daily service hike, from 280 to 330 daily trips. Across all routes, Metrorail fleet demands rose from about 57 to 76
cars during peak morning hours as a result of the frequency increase, and the number of available vehicles for the system fell short of what was required. And as with Metrobus, maintenance issues were largely to blame, Transportation and Public Works Director Alice Bravo told Miami Today this month. “We’re still running older trains, so we might have some type of service failures and that causes missed trips when you have to take a train out of service,” she said. “There’s all kinds of testing and thousands of cycles and miles we operate before we put [new trains] into service. But once they’re in service, glitches happen.” According to the July 12 report, from 41 to 55 cars were pulled from service this year through May 18. During that time, about 11 cars per month continued to operate with non-safety related malfunctioning issues. As of early July, 28 Hitachi cars had been delivered, according to transportation spokesperson Karla Damian, who stated the system had made 83.4% of its scheduled trips during peak hours between Dadeland and Earlington Heights stations, up from the 83.3% average maintained under the previous schedule. Each new rail car costs about authority and the city won a $1 mil$3 million, with the first to arrive lion federal grant to design, permit in 2015 and the last expected by and fabricate more than 200 signs early 2020. that, it’s hoped, will cut through the maze of more than 2,000 conflicting signs downtown and make it easier for visitors to find their way around. The wayfinding system A Singular Voice in an Evolving City will extend from the Brickell area to the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Phone: (305) 358-2663 Performing Arts. Staff Writers: The system will include gateJohn Charles Robbins way signs for city entrances and jrobbins@miamitodaynews.com various districts; directional signs to landmarks, attractions and parkKatya Maruri ing; informational kiosks with “you kmaruri@miamitodaynews.com are here” maps; and pedestrian and Jesse Scheckner bicycle trail signs, all with a consistent visual theme. Part of the project jscheckner@miamitodaynews.com seeks to limit the jumble of private People Column advertising signs. people@miamitodaynews.com The Omni and Southeast Overtown/Park West community redeMichael Lewis velopment agencies have both given mlewis@miamitodaynews.com soft commitments to help with the funding, and in return will have signs customized for their districts. The Like us: Miami Today Miami Parking Authority is kicking in $177,000 for signage related to Follow us: parking, according to a downtown @MiamiTodayNews authority memo.
‘After 8 or 9 years,’ signs of life in wayfinding plan By Catherine Lackner
With a fresh infusion of $300,000 from Miami’s Downtown Development Authority, it looks as if a wayfinding system for downtown might finally become a reality. “After eight or nine years, we may be putting signs in the ground soon,” said authority board member Jerome Hollo, vice president of Florida East Coast Reality. The wayfinding system has been on the drawing boards since 2009. Because the project has faced multiple delays, mostly relating to bid issues and permissions needed to place the signs, the project’s cost had risen another $500,000, he said. On July 13, Miami City Manager Emilio González approved a recommendation from the city’s procurement department to award the contract for installing the signs to Florida Engineering and Development Corp. The contract amount for installing the signs is not to exceed $1.7 million, according to a city memo. Several years ago, the downtown
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VIEWPOINT
MIAMI TODAY
WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Miami Today is an independent voice of the community, published weekly at 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133. Telephone (305) 358-2663
Jai-alai in Edgewater would lead to casino complex in Omni Few are saying so, but civic leaders’objections to a gambling incursion on downtown’s north edge must be more about what will follow than about a tawdry jaialai fronton and poker parlor. Those bringing gambling to newly burgeoning Edgewater are well-known local families who nonetheless are wrong to put gambling in any form on Biscayne Boulevard. It’s logical and correct to say, as leaders are, “there goes the neighborhood.” The far larger threat, however, is that an Edgewater gambling blight would open the road for global gambling giant Genting to gain entrance with full-fledged casinos around the county’s Arsht Center for the Performing Arts 15 blocks south. To refresh memories, a few years back Genting bought out the Miami Herald’s headquarters to build the world’s largest casino complex there and then added the adjacent Omni Mall properties for a second casino targeted just to local residents. All of
that was predicated on the state legislature opening the doors to casinos; Genting has been pushing hard behind the scenes for that ever since. Meanwhile, well below the radar, Genting has cut a deal to upgrade a Miami-Dade County bus terminal next door to the Omni Mall in exchange for Genting building a large hotel above it with vast open spaces that have been termed meeting areas – but would be perfect for floors of casinos. The county tells Miami Today that work on that project is about to begin. Roll all that expensive real estate in with space that Genting controls nearby for dormitories for international gambling workers and you have a very large investment even by the standards of the Malaysian juggernaut, which operates major casinos around the globe. And while it’s useful to the community that Genting is now renting tented space where the Herald used to stand to Art Miami and other temporary users, Genting didn’t pay Herald owners $236 million for the land and millions more to demolish the building in order to accumulate vacant waterfront. The gambling resort’s towers there are now planned. The company has marina permits at the site too, all part of the plan. All of this investment waiting in the wings to turn Miami into a casino city might be welcomed in communities with dying
downtowns and economies to match. Miami, however, is booming with, by and large, the right kinds of development to build a global metropolis with long-term promise for Miami’s citizenry. Casinos with cheap imported labor in dorms and all of gambling’s associated problems of crime, drugs, prostitution and social disorders that are almost universally related to big-time casinos – look at dying Atlantic City as example number one, troubled Las Vegas as example two – would drive out the high-income Northeastern executive families and international investors whose welcome arrivals have been fueling our growth. No doubt Genting would parlay a relatively insignificant poker room and jai-alai betting in a project to be built by Russell Galbut and his Crescent Heights into winning a state OK for a community-shaking casino complex in what would be the worst possible location for this city, right in the heart of it all. We don’t accuse would-be operator Isadore Havenick of purposefully serving as Genting’s water boy, but that would be the result. We agree with civic leaders that by the owners of the Magic City Casino opening up gambling at 3030 Biscayne Blvd. they would be debasing a rising neighborhood. Look at the poor people whose pockets
are emptied in the company’s present casino, people who by and large can’t afford to lose and whose presence in Edgewater would definitely not be an asset to the rapidly rising neighborhood. Even though the new Edgewater site, which now has won state approval, wouldn’t have slot machines at its outset, gambling tends to expand in all directions – including into more gaming modes. There is, after all, only one reason to offer gambling: it is highly profitable. The more money lost by customers, the more money made by operators. And the more kinds of gambling, the more money lost. We are pro growth of business, but not of that sort. Not in Miami. Certainly not in Edgewater. And never in the Omni area, which would come next. All that stands in the way of this operation is whatever city and county permits might apply to building a jai-alai fronton in Edgewater and whatever neighbors and leaders can do to dissuade property owner and developer Crescent Heights from building it. Maybe they can find Mr. Galbut a more suitable tenant. Civic leaders who are trying to save us by whatever legal means from this next incursion – which would be followed no doubt by the Genting invasion – are on an honorable track.
Transit links, not highways, are central to booming cities Miami-Dade County can learn from other regions and cities around the world as we seek to enhance our own public transportation system. It would be prudent to examine cities – such as Amsterdam, Bangkok and Tokyo – that have successfully Xavier Suarez mastered mass transit for their respective populations. Each of these cities is highly dependent upon a distinct and particular form of reliable transportation, and I firmly believe that Miami-Dade has the potential to incorporate features from each of these methods in order to make traveling across our city more accessible and efficient. Our county must follow its own path, but looking to other cities can inspire real solutions, not more highways. Amsterdam: Amsterdam’s mass transit system has elevated the city to being recognized as one of the most environmentally friendly cities in Europe. The most common forms of transportation in the city are buses and bicycles, each of which are provided to residents by the city and its partners. Specifically, the Gemeentelijk Vervoerbedriif (GVB), or Municipal Transport Co., provides bus, train and bicycle access in collaboration with the city of Amsterdam’s Transport Region. Bus and Train fares are kept below 2 euros while daily bike rentals are 1.70 euros. Additionally, Amsterdam’s layout makes it very conducive for cycling. Bike lanes are plentiful, and efficiently-constructed intersections allow bikers to feel comfortable riding around the city. This makes it possible for citizens to live automobile-free lifestyles. Bike lane protectors are found throughout the city, increasing both safety and comfort for cyclists. Pairing this with the GVB’s movement towards solar powered buses and
Transit in Booming Cities Region
Population
Area
Amsterdam
845,000
84.68 miles
GVB
Tram: 50 miles Metro: 25 miles
Bangkok
9.456 million
975 miles
SRT
62.23 miles
Rail
2929 miles
Miami-Dade Transit
Metrorail: 24.4 miles MetroMover: 4.4 miles MetroBus: 1,106 miles
Tokyo (metro) 38.305 million 5240 miles Miami-Dade
2.751 million
2431 miles
metro stations, Amsterdam’s public transportation is well on its way to completely eliminating carbon emissions by 2025. Bangkok: Bangkok’s approach to public transportation differs from Amsterdam’s as a result of the significantly higher population by area in the city (nearly 1,000 more residents per square kilometer). The Asian Center for Transportation Studies highlights that the mentality guiding transportation development in Bangkok is that transportation, while necessary, should not be limited to roadways and automobiles. Although the BBC ranked Bangkok has having the worst traffic problems in the world, the public transportation system has prevented congestion from inhibiting the city’s growth into one of the world’s largest business hubs. The Skytrain, completed in 1998 in collaboration with Siemens, allows over 600,000 individuals to navigate the city, while the underground subway system transports over 275,000 people. Moreover, the city’s Airport Rail Link is capable of transporting 50,000 people to and from the city’s largest airport. In response to rapidly increasing population growth, the network of trains, both above
Transit System
Miles of Transit
and below ground, is expected to be expanded by over 300 miles in the next 10 years. Tokyo: Tokyo’s high population and restricted land availability make its transportation concerns similar to that of Bangkok and they are addressed in a similar manner. Tokyo’s transportation system highly favors the use of trains, as exemplified by the fact that 27 of the world’s 50 largest train stations are in Tokyo. The city’s train system allows approximately 9 million people to travel to and from work every day. Citywide improvements to traffic monitoring and directing have improved the flow of traffic in the city over the last few years. Although the city remains congested due to its booming population, traffic has been reduced thanks to improved bike lanes and sidewalks, the construction of underground commuter and subway lines, as well as the addition of large bus stations. Miami-Dade County has significant room to grow in the area of transportation. Large cities such as Bangkok and Tokyo have addressed increases in traffic congestion by expanding preexisting public transportation systems and providing additional forms of
transportation to reduce reliance upon automobiles and highways. These solutions have not completely eliminated traffic congestion and carbon emissions, however, they have enabled both cities to accommodate extreme rush hour conditions that impact millions of workers each day. In less densely populated cities like Amsterdam, environmentally-conscious efforts to provide sustainable, affordable transportation have been fruitful and provide a shining example of the potentials of eco-friendly public transportation. Improvements in traffic monitoring technology and further expansions to public transportation systems bode positively for the future of big cities like Bangkok and Tokyo as they adjust to meet the needs of a continually growing population and increased dependency on mass transportation. Miami-Dade has much that it must learn from all three of these cities if it is to compete in the 21st century.
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MIAMI TODAY
TODAY’S NEWS
WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Mixed-use complex with 2 million square feet of offices gains By John Charles Robbins
A sweeping mixed-use plan to bring jobs and investment to Little Haiti has just advanced twice on its way to Miami city commissioners. Magic City Innovation District is planned for more than 17 acres at 6001 NE Second Ave. The large project would be built in phases, as part of a Special Area Plan (SAP) under the city’s Miami 21 zoning code. The proposed SAP was recommended for approval, with conditions, on July 18 by the city’s Urban Development Review Board and later by the Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board. The multi-million-dollar project includes redeveloping the site with 2,630 residential units, 432 hotel rooms, 344,548 square feet of commercial-retail uses, 1,987,686 square feet of office uses, and 165,528 square feet, or about 21% lot area, of open space. Current site plans show the highest proposed building would reach about 25 stories and be in the center portion of the property, with shorter heights of new development fanning outward from the center. The developers hope to attract a railroad station to the property, as new passenger rail opportunities grow in the region. Attorney Neisen Kasdin represents the developers, MCD Miami LLC. In paperwork submitted to the review board, Mr. Kasdin said the proposed Magic City Innovation District SAP consists of 37 abutting parcels in Little Haiti, totaling about 17.75 acres. “Development within the SAP will be a unique mixed-use urban campus focused on local entrepreneurship and innovation in technology, the arts and entertainment, sustainability and resiliency, and health and wellness,” he wrote. “The proposed development program will create an integrated urban campus of residential, commercial, office, research and entertainment uses, anchored by 3.8 acres of public open/civic space, including a grand pedestrian central promenade,” Mr. Kasdin wrote. The project site is generally bounded on the north by the Little Haiti Soccer Park and Northeast 64th Terrace, on the east by Northeast Fourth Court and Northeast Fourth Avenue, on the south by Northeast 60th Street and on the west by Northeast Second Avenue. Mr. Kasdin said the largest portion of the site is the location of the former Magic City Trailer Park. He told the review board of the strong development team whose members include Bob Zangrillo, Tony Cho, Neil Fairman, and Cirque de Soleil founder Guy Laliberté. This project will be the intersection of technology, arts and entertainment, said Mr. Kasdin. Architect Bernardo FortBrescia of Arquitectonica said the property is home to many large mature trees that they are
Magic City Innovation District is planned for more than 17 acres at 6001 NE Second Ave. in Little Haiti.
working to keep and incorporate into the new development. Another representative of the development team said they plan to keep about 100 trees and relocate about 80. “They are quite dynamic,” Mr. Fort-Brescia said of the mature trees on the property. Mr. Fort-Brescia showed an image of the former Lemon City pharmacy office building of Dr. DuPuis, which is to be restored as part of the project. The project has stirred some concern and opposition, with some people troubled by the size of the project and others worried about it adding to traffic congestion in the growing city. At the review board meeting, attorney Meena Jagannath a co-founder of Community Justice Project Inc., wanted her objection put on the record to the proposal being heard by both city review boards on the same day. Ms. Jagannath alleged the developers have sown division into the community, and she said the project being “fast tracked” was upsetting. She said the developers are offering a fairly weak community benefits package, and she asked that the matter be deferred. She said a broader community review of the project’s impact is needed. Ms. Jagannath said the plan is insufficient when it comes to traffic, infrastructure support needed, and impacts on the community including displacement. “This is a big deal,” said Neil
Regarding site plans showing the retention of trees and planned public walkways, Mr. Marston was complimentary. “You’ve created the pedestrian space in a wonderful fashion. As a master plan, you’re going in the right direction. I commend you,” he said. “We had this asset. We wanted to make it a focal point,” Mr. Fort-Brescia said of the trees and vegetation existing on the property. Review board member Fidel Perez said it looks like they are trying to create a park-like development by incorporating existing vegetation, and he called the project “a big positive change.” Mr. Perez said, “Miami is a great city, one of the best cities in the world. It’s because of this – development. I think you’re trying to do the best thing.” However, Mr. Perez mentioned, other large mixed-use projects are planned for the same general area, including Miami Jewish Health Systems and Eastside Ridge Special Area Plan. “We need to see more,” Mr. Perez said, directing his comment to the planning department staff. “We’re only looking at it piece by piece.” One of the developers, Mr. Fairman, said the Magic City Innovation District will serve to activate the Little Haiti neighborhood. “It needs the lifeblood of something new. We want to be a part of the community … this
‘The proposed development program will create an integrated urban campus of residential, commercial, office, research and entertainment uses, anchored by 3.8 acres of public open/civic space, including a grand pedestrian central promenade.’ Neisen Kasdin
is our goal,” he said. Miami 21 says the purpose of a Special Area Plan is to allow 9 abutting acres or more to be master planned to allow greater integration of public improve‘We had this asset. We ments and infrastructure, and wanted to make it a focal “greater flexibility so as to point.’ result in higher or specialized quality building and Streetscape Bernardo Fort-Brescia design.” At the zoning board meeting the night of July 18, Mr. Kasdin Hall, acting chairman of the said: “I think you’ve seen, this review board. has been as comprehensive a Mr. Hall said there needs to plan, as deep an outreach, and an outreach from the developer as innovative and thoughtful I “so the community feels a part think of an idea basis for creatof it.” ing a special area plan as any Representatives of the develthat I can think of in the city. opers’ team said there has been “We have this opportunity to extensive community outreach, have this wonderful technolincluding three meetings that ogy and innovation center with attracted 80 to 100 attendees. leaders in the industry like Bob The developers have also been Zangrillo, but more particularly, backing and supporting arts have a Guy Laliberté to do his and music programs in Little next great thing in that area here. Haiti, and sponsoring business And all it takes is us being able leadership training programs. to go forward, getting the apReview board member Gerald proval, so we can begin starting Marston said there seems to be work on this great initiative.” a disconnect when it comes to The zoning board was concommunity outreach. “You say sidering two resolutions, which there’s been no outreach, you were approved on a 7 to 2 vote say you have,” he said, gesturwith modifications. ing to Ms. Jagannath and then The first is a resolution recthe developers’ team. ommending approval of amending the city’s land use map by changing the future land use designation from “light industrial” to “restricted commercial” of properties at Northeast 61st Street, 62nd Street, 60th Street and Fourth Avenue, and by changing the future land use designation from “medium density restricted commercial” to “restricted commercial” of the acreage at 6001 NE Second Ave. The other resolution is recommending approval, with conditions, of rezoning some parcels for the development of about 17.75 acres for the Magic City Special Area Plan at approximately 6001 and 6041 NE Second Ave.; Northeast Fourth Avenue, Fourth Court, 60th Street, 61st Street and The developers say they plan to keep about 100 trees as part of the project’s 21% total of open space. 62nd Street.
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MIAMI TODAY
TODAY’S NEWS
Interim president takes Florida Memorial reins as Barry starts its hunt By Katherine Lewin
Two Miami-Dade universities are facing leadership change. Florida Memorial University is welcoming a new interim president this month. Barry University has one year to say goodbye to its president before a new one is appointed. Jaffus Hardrick became the interim president of Florida Memorial starting July 16, replacing Castell Bryant. Mr. Hardrick said he didn’t know why Ms. Bryant left the position of interim president after serving only seven months. Ms. Bryant stepped up after thenpresident Michelle Howard-Vital took emergency medical leave. Mr. Hardrick will be the third president of Florida Memorial in less than two years. Florida Memorial University is a private, historically black college
at 15800 NW 42nd Ave. in Miami Gardens. It serves about 1,300 students and is South Florida’s only historically black college. It offers 28 undergraduate programs and three master’s programs. Mr. Hardrick said he hopes the position turns into something permanent and that the trustees of Florida Memorial did not lead him to believe that they are looking for another candidate for president. “I’m excited about the opportunity to elevate Florida Memorial in this community. It is truly an institution that has significant impact in terms of educating students not only in South Florida but also in the state and the nation,” Mr. Hardrick said. “I want to be able to talk about the great activities and great research that is taking place at Florida Memorial. We have outstanding students and we’re not talking about it. Under
WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Amusement games spice pizza parlor By John Charles Robbins
Jaffus Hardrick, a former Florida International University vice provost, has been named new interim president of Florida Memorial University.
my leadership, it won’t be hidden any longer.” Barry University’s president, Sister Linda Bevilacqua, announced her pending retirement on June 1, with retirement effective in June 2019, after serving as the university’s president since 2004, according to a press release on the Adrian Dominican Sisters’website. Barry University opened in 1940 as an all-female school at 11300
NE Second Ave. in Miami Shores. Men were not accepted until 1975. It has about 9,000 students and 1,200 faculty and staff, with 54 buildings and indoor and outdoor athletic facilities spread over 80 of 122 acres, according to the university’s website. Arepresentative from Barry University, Christine Bucan, declined to comment on the progress of the search for a new president.
Transportation
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A family-style pizza business has been granted special permission to install nearly 30 amusement games in its part of Central Shopping Plaza on busy Northwest Seventh Street. Miami city commissioners on July 12 approved a resolution allowing up to an additional 25 amusement games or machines, where four are allowed by right. The applicant is Peter Piper Pizza Inc. The vote will allow 29 amusement games or machines within an existing building within a property zoned Urban Core Open Transect Zone, which allows for a family dining and entertainment destination at 3749 NW Seventh St. The shopping center is just west of Northwest 37th Avenue and north of Magic City Casino. Peter Piper Inc. and Hayday Inc. own the property at 3749 NW Seventh St. The business applied for the code exception to allow for more than four amusement games or machines – also referred to in the zoning code as arcade machines – in conjunction with the operation of a restaurant. The resolution approved by commissioners says “the Applicant seeks to establish a restaurant that would provide Arcade Machines for kids and their parents to enjoy in a family setting.” The restrictions to a maximum of 29 machines includes one kiddie ride, 19 skill games, five video games, two bill changers and two ticket counters. Planning staff analysis of the request says the planned configuration of the added games and machines will be similar to Chuck E. Cheese restaurants. Staff said the request is consistent with the goals of the Miami Comprehensive Neighborhood Plan, and the requested use, design and layout is compatible with the surrounding neighborhood. The move would further reinforce the goals of the neighborhood plan by creating additional job opportunities within the immediate neighborhood, the analysis noted. Staff wrote: “The use will benefit the area by providing a service to the community for family fun and by creating additional jobs along a major thoroughfare.” Installing the additional games and machines as part of the restaurant may lead to providing 20 to 30 new jobs in District 1, the resolution says. The resolution points out that approval of the added machines “shall not be construed to grant approval to amusement game machines in contravention of Section 12-6 of the City Code, which prohibits certain amusement games or machines, such as those used for gambling or as a game of chance…” The planning department had recommended approval of the additional machines, with conditions that included following a submitted dimensioned floor plan.
MIAMI TODAY
WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
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Commercial Real Estate & Office Space $4 billion American Dream mall rolls along road to OK By Katherine Lewin
The $4 billion American Dream Miami mall mega-project is one step closer to fruition. The vast mall and entertainment complex planned for Northwest Miami-Dade has been approved by the reviewing agencies in MiamiDade County and now the next step, administrative site approval, is under way, said Nathan Kogon, assistant director of development services for Miami-Dade County. Before the developers can pull building permits, they must get administrative site approval, Mr. Kogon said. This next step is a detailed plan of the mall, including ground elevations, floor plans, parking, landscaping, storm water management, wetland mitigation and environmental considerations. The site plan has not been submitted yet, according to Mr. Kogon. “There are still several steps before they can approve building permits. If the developers submit the administrative site plan today, they probably wouldn’t pull building permits for another nine months,” Mr. Kogon said. “It takes a while.” Along with administrative site approval, the property must also be “platted,” which is the process of legally subdividing land to create a legal description for the clerk of courts, Mr. Kogon said. Platting is the method used to insure proper sewer, roadways and water management. For the American Dream mall, it will probably be submitted as one
American Dream Miami is to be a 7.2-million-square-foot entertainment complex that may open in 2023.
big parcel, Mr. Kogon said. “They’re going to show all of the dedications of roadways that will go to the county. Once that tentative plat is approved, then they start pulling permits and get their site plan approved,” he said. “Before they get the final plat, which means it can be occupied, all of the roads have to be in, and water and sewer have to be in or be bonded for 110% of the cost. When the final plat is recorded with the clerk of courts, it is either built or it is platted to be built. It’s a real close step in the process.” For this project, the timeline of beginning construction and completion is still uncertain. The developers have already jumped through a number of hoops in order to get it this far, including discussing a major sticking issue with community members and
nearby Broward County: potential gridlock. Broward is only a few miles north of the project and leaders previously threatened litigation unless the developers, International Atlantic LLC, addressed the county’s concerns. After multiple meetings, the developers agreed to pay the county a lump sum of $650,000, according to a letter from the developers’ lawyers. This money would be used solely for an “adaptive signal control system” along Miramar Parkway east and west of I-75. It would consist of six signalized intersections from and including Southwest 160th Avenue to Monarch Lakes Boulevard. A “fiber-optic system connection” was also in the agreement, starting at Monarch Lakes Boulevard and going east to Broward County’s programmed fiber-optic extension
point at University Drive. In addition to the $650,000, the developers are to build on-site transit facilities, including three bus bays, dedicated to Broward County transit for its use “on a priority basis.” The date when the payment will be due to Broward County is not yet known, said Josie Sesodia, director of the environmental protection and growth management department for Broward. The American Dream Miami project, 7.2 million square feet of entertainment and an amusement park, won final zoning approval in May from Miami-Dade County in a 9-1 vote. The project boasts an indoor ski slope, a walk-through aquarium, restaurants, retail stores, a skating rink, an ice-climbing wall, live theater venues for Russian ballet and Chinese acrobats and 2,000
hotel rooms, if approved by a series of groups. It could be completed in a single phase and opened in 2023, if all goes according to plan. It’s been in the planning stages since 2013. Developer International Atlantic LLC, part of the Triple Five Group, predicts the mall would draw over 300,000 visitors daily and receive 40 million annual visitors. The project would create about 15,000 permanent jobs but Triple Five estimates about 60% of the jobs would offer salaries under $25,000 a year. Triple Five Worldwide also developed the West Edmonton Mall in Canada and Mall of America in Bloomington, MN. In about 15 months, Triple Five Worldwide is to open American Dream Metropolitan New York in the New Jersey Meadowlands, Robert Gorlow, an attorney for the complex, previously told Miami Today. On May 17, Miami-Dade County commissioners approved the rezoning and accepted the development agreement, which set out the square footage and the responsibilities of the developers, such as roadways and infrastructure. The backers of the American Dream Miami mega-mall predict that the County Commission will approve their concept in October, Mr. Gorlow previously told Miami Today. The zoning hearings will continue through the fall and the agreement will be final toward the end of the year, said Jerry Bell, Miami-Dade’s assistant director of planning.
More downtown Miami tenants look for offices in suburbs By Rebecca San Juan
Commercial vacancy rates are inching higher in the central business district as more tenants search for smaller office spaces in the suburbs. Despite the migration outside the city center, brokers say the market is holding relatively steady countywide with leases increasing per quarter. A Jones Lang LaSalle (JLL) market report for the second quarter of 2018 shows vacancy rates on the rise in certain areas. Total vacancies in the central business district are 17.8%, with 13,807,520 square feet of inventory. Suburbs Aventura, Coconut Grove, Coral Gables, Kendall, Miami Airport, Miami Beach and Miami Lakes show a healthier market. Offices in these neighborhoods show that with 23,907,593 square feet of inventory – more than in downtown and Brickell combined – these areas have 12.2% total vacancy. Price per square foot is about the same re- Marc Miller gardless of neighborhood. JLL research manager Marc L. Miller says tenants pay $43.90 per square foot on average for spaces within Class A
buildings and $30.77 per square foot for those in a Class B building. The average is $38.27 per square foot. More tenants are ditching the larger spaces typically found in downtown and Brickell for a cozier layout in Coral Gables, Coconut Grove, Doral and Miami Beach for practical reasons. “What we’ve noticed this year is not that there’s a large move out here or there. It’s more a collection of tenants needing small amounts of space,” Mr. Miller said. He says tenants are focusing on getting more for less: “Occupiers are using their space more efficiently, moving from those historically large [and] window-lined offices to more of a space that requires less square footage per employee. Before, in some of the older models you would have 250 to 270 square feet per employee; we’ve seen that ratio come down to sub-200 in some cases.” The desire for fewer square feet makes sense for the local market, says Thomas J. Dixon of Dixon Commercial Real Estate. “If you Thomas Dixon were in an office in Atlanta you would have your corporation with 30 or 40 employees,” he said. “Here, you have smaller companies with
10 employees. We have more smaller tenants in this market.” The same JLL report shows Miami Lakes and the central business district, including downtown and Brickell, with the highest vacancies. Mr. Miller says Miami Lakes lacks big corporate names and offices that would normally attract others to move into town. He credits Brickell and downtown’s dip in popularity to the area offering what most tenants are turning away from – large spaces. Downtown’s popularity dip may be short lived with Brightline at MiamiCentral, says Mr. Dixon: “We may see a rebirth of offices near the government center because of the interconnection with Brightline and the transit system.” Regardless, of trending submarkets for office space, occupants are shopping smarter for unconventional conveniences. “Before, an office was an office,” Mr. Dixon said. “Now, it needs to be an office with some extra features.” Tenants seek access to amenities within buildings including conference centers, gyms, health clubs and restaurants. Randy Olen The more amenities the more convenient the location, says
Randy Olen, principal with Foundry Commercial. He said, “They want amenities that they can have in the building so they don’t go too far to find them.” Mr. Olen says good quality ownership and management remains key. Tenants want to know the building and their space will be maintained. A short walk to the Metrorail or trolley stop also ranks high on many a tenant’s wish list. “Because of congestion, access to the transit system is very important,” Mr. Dixon said. Time and money spent at the parking garage are motivating many to swap driving for public transit. And while nearby parking space still concerns tenants, technology and the capability of many employees working from home reduces the need for as many spaces as in the past. Tenant migration to different zip codes and smaller spaces aside, brokers say the office market remains steady for months to come. “I’m noticing good activity in all of the submarkets,” Mr. Olen said. “Prices are remaining strong and occupancies are certainly getting healthier every month with not a lot of construction of office buildings. We expect occupancy to continue to climb, and when occupancies climb, rental rates climb.”
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WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
Mixed-use Wynwood office building gets a city thumbs-up By John Charles Robbins
A New York based development company has teamed with a globally-recognized and awardwinning architect to bring a standout mixed-use office building to the heart of the ever-growing Wynwood Arts District. RedSky Capital plans to construct an eight-story mixed-use building called Forum at 2700 NW Second Ave. in Wynwood. The developer’s team presented details July 18 to the city’s Urban Development Review Board, which recommended approval of the project with some suggestions. RedSky Capital LLC and its affiliate RS JZ 2700 NW2 LLC own the 1.25-acre site north of Northwest 27th Street, south of Northwest 27th Terrace, and west of Northwest Second Avenue. Forum is designed to include up to 144,781 square feet of offices, about 36,072 square feet of commercial-retail space, parking for 370 vehicles, and significant outdoor amenities and plaza spaces including pedestrian paseos connecting all frontages through the site. Steve Wernick, an attorney representing RedSky, said the site is long and narrow; it extends more than 495 feet. The goal in designing the building was to emphasize public space, he said, and give as much attention to the public space as the private spaces. Forum will be an open and communal gathering space, and “visitors will be drawn into the building,” Mr. Wernick said. “It unlocks the potential of this part of Wynwood,” he said. Shari Neissani, senior vice president with RedSky Capital, told the board her company has a reputation of investing in emerging neighborhoods. In a letter to the city, Mr. Wernick wrote: “With RedSky’s experience in the evolution of neighborhoods in Brooklyn, they have paid special attention to understand the surrounding context of the neighborhood and put together a top-notch design team, spearheaded by Enrique
Norten, award-winning architect and principal of TEN Arquitectos. Forum is a testament to RedSky’s commitment to the long-term revitalization of Wynwood. The Project elevates the public realm through the building, while delivering class A office space that will attract creative office tenants looking at Wynwood as Miami’s emerging office district and help support the continued evolution of new retail, F&B, hotel, and residential buildings within the district.” Since 2013, RedSky has acquired and now owns and operates roughly five acres in Wynwood, with a significant footprint along Northwest Second Avenue. Wynwood Block is a fully renovated warehouse at 2621 NW Second Ave., and one of the first legacy structures in Wynwood under the NRD-1 Neighborhood Conservation District zoning. Current tenants include prominent retailers, the Wynwood Diner, and well-curated artisanal boutiques, contributing to the success of the Northwest Second Avenue corridor, Mr. Wernick said. RedSky’s first ground-up new development, CUBE Wynwd, currently under construction, will be the first boutique officeover-retail building in Wynwood, he said. CUBE, at 222 NW 24th St., will include about 80,000 square feet of class A offices with a rooftop terrace for tenants’ use, and is targeted for completion this December. RedSky’s investment in the Second Avenue corridor extends to 2407 NW Second Ave., where the company is designing an adaptive reuse project that will preserve the traditional character and façades of the building while adding a second story for more expansive retail and restaurant options. “Finally, RedSky is developing a parking garage with over 400 spaces on NW 22nd St., which will help expand on parking supply in Wynwood and furthering the creation of a centralized parking program that facilitates the evolution of a walkable, pedestrian-oriented district, while providing parking
A long, narrow Wynwood site for Forum extends more than 495 feet.
options for surrounding future development in the neighborhood,” Mr. Wernick wrote. Mr. Norten is the lead design architect on the Forum project. He said Forum recognizes the very distinctive environment of the evolving Wynwood neighborhood, which is destined to be “a walking city of the future.” Mr. Norten showed the site plan and renderings of Forum, with its inclusion of retail and a small public square off of Northwest Second Avenue, serving to activate the space. An open area with stairs will also help activate the space, along with up to three levels of retail, he said.
The building is to incorporate colorful art on ceiling areas exposed to the exterior. “Forum is punctuated with carved outdoor zones pulling the streetscape up and through the building, prioritizing the pedestrian experience with multi-level open terraces, plazas, passageways, and accessible retail frontages,” wrote Mr. Wernick. The developer is requesting several waivers, including loading berths with on-street turning movements, varying vehicular entry spacing, allowing parking in the second layer, and up to 30% reduction in required parking spaces (from 506 to 369 spaces).
The project impressed board member Ignacio Permuy, who called it beautiful and very positive for Wynwood. “I like the design, and your approach to the pedestrian realm. You hit it out of the ballpark. Great job,” he said. Board member Fidel Perez also complimented the developer’s team, saying the project is very well put together. He did question if there might be conflict between the rising retail and the private offices, and how the stairs would be secured after hours. RedSky representatives said they are working out the details of security for the building, and noted there are two lobbies dedicated to the private office spaces. Cameras and roving guards, and perhaps a security gate, are being considered. Mr. Perez also asked about parking mechanics. Ms. Neissani said the parking levels will have a combination of valet parking with lifts, and self-parking areas with no lifts. Board member Anthony Tzamtzis asked about the painted ceilings and the need for adequate lighting to make the artwork pop at night. He was told there will be lighting. Mr.Tzamtzis said the building’s long design and the planned façade was a bit monotonous. “The long facades need to be a little more playful,” he said. Mr. Norten said they would consider the suggestion. Board member Gerald Martson, a landscape architect, said he was pleased to see the developer’s team spend so much time on improving the building’s public space. Acting Chairman Neil Hall agreed. “I appreciate the idea of respecting the public space.” The Forum project must also be reviewed by the Wynwood Design Review Committee, which was mentioned as a condition of the city review board’s recommendation of approval. The other condition is for the developer’s team to study ways to vary the long articulation of the façade.
Condo and home re-sales fall as prices are rising countywide Prices of Miami-Dade residential re-sales are rising countywide as luxury sales increase while demand at lower prices is strong, but re-sales are falling in both condos and single-family homes, according to the Miami Association of Realtors. Condo re-sales fell 5% in June, from 1,323 in June 2017 to 1,257. Total Miami home re-sales fell 2.8%, from 2,669 to 2,492. Single-family home sales fell 0.8%, from 1,346 to 1,335, due to a lack of inventory in lower and mid-price homes, the realtor association said. Re-sales above $1 million rose 21.5% from 181 transactions a year ago June to 220 this June. Condo luxury sales led the surge, up 28% to 96 transactions. Monthly supply of inventory for single-family homes increased to 6 months, which indicates a
balanced market. Existing condominiums have a 13.9-month supply, which the realtor association said indicates a buyer’s market. “We continue to see a divided real estate market in Miami-Dade with strong overall demand for local properties,” said George C. Jalil, chairman of the realtor association. “There is limited inventory available under $600,000. And while luxury sales have significantly increased over the last few months, high supply in the luxury sector offers great opportunities for buyers.” Total sales volume in June rose to $1.3 billion from $1.2 billion in June 2017. Existing condo sales rose from $508.5 million to $552.5 million, up 14.4%. Single-family home dollar volume rose 17.1%, from $682.5 million to $799.0 million. Lack of access to mortgage
Luxury sales rose but inventory is building up, says George Jalil.
loans continues to inhibit further growth of the existing condominium market, the realtor association said. Of the 9,307 condominium buildings in Miami-Dade and Broward counties, only 12 are approved for Federal Housing
Administration loans, down from 29 last year, according to Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation and FHA. Miami-Dade single-family home prices rose 6% in June, from a $335,000 average to $355,000. Miami single-family home prices have risen for 78 consecutive months. Existing condo prices rose 2.1%, from an average $235,000 to $240,000. Only 6.3% of closed residential sales in Miami were distressed last month, including bank-owned properties and short sales, compared to 9.2% in June 2017. In 2009, distressed sales comprised 70% of Miami sales. The median number of days between listing and contract dates for Miami single-family home sales was 43 days, down from 48 days last year. The median number of days between the listing and
closing for single-family properties was 94 days. The median time to contract for condos was 74 days. The median between listing date and closing date was 115 days. The median percentage of original list price received for single-family homes was 95.7%. The median percentage of original list price received for existing condominiums was 93.7%. Cash transactions comprised 38% of June total closed sales, up from 37% last year. Inventory of single-family homes rose 2.5% in June from 6,052 active listings last year to 6,206. Condominium inventory rose 1.3% to 15,264 listings. The increase in inventory is for properties above $300,000 for condos and for properties above $600,000 for single-family homes.
WEEK OF THURSDAY, JULY 26, 2018
COMMERCIAL, OFFICE SPACE AND RESIDENTIAL
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Doral awaits residential projects approved before this year By Rebecca San Juan
Almost every block in Doral awaits a new residential and mixed-used project approved prior to 2018. The centralization of a live-work-play lifestyle only fuels a higher demand for a growing inventory. Among these projects: ■Atrium will situate 350 multi-family, residential units by 80,465 square feet of retail and office spaces. The 11.23 acres sits at northwest corner of Doral Boulevard and Northwest 79th Avenue. ■Doral 4200 Apartments offers 250 multi-family dwellings at 4200 NW 107th Ave. The 9.6 acres dedicates 30% to community space plus a lake spanning more than two acres. ■Mixed-used project Downtown Doral sits between Northwest 79th and 87th avenues on both sides of 53rd Street. Chief Executive Officer of Codina Partners Ana-Marie Codina Barlick says that the 250 acres offers 5,000 residential units between 5350 Park Condo Tower and Canarias in The Residences. 5350 Park includes 238 units – studios with 464 square feet up to 1,878 square feet for condos with three bedrooms. Prices start at $250,000.
Midtown Doral is adding 500 condos over 10 acres for its second phase. Construction is due in 2019.
Canarias consist of 50 townhomes and about 400 single-family properties with layouts ranging from 1,800 to 5,200 square feet. Prices start at $590,000 and reach $1.5 million. Urbana, also at Downtown Doral, offers 903 homes. Condos from 1,129 to 1,509 square feet list from $343,990 to $398,990. Two- and four-story townhouses sit on the land too. Buyers find 1,129 square feet for the smaller layout up to 2,940 square feet if opting for a four-story townhome. Prices range between $433,990 to $490,990 for a two-story home and $681,990 to $699,990 for four-stories. ■Grand Doral I and II is undergoing construction of 195 units and 11,771 square feet for retail set to be completed by 2020. The project spans 8.46 acres at Northwest 112th Avenue and 82nd Street. ■Landmark at Doral continues ‘If you wanted to exconstruction of 1,518 units of perience entertainment, two-story townhouses at 6500 you had to get away from NW 105th Place. Prices range $404,990 to $484,990 for Doral, and what we did from 1,634 to 2,383 square feet. Dewell, including Codina, pending on the design, a home may have three to four bedrooms with CityPlace Doral and two or three and a half baths. is developing everything Homes are near the community at your fingertips, truly clubhouse, with amenities such as an amphitheater for movies creating walkability.’ under the stars, a miniature waJessica Suarez terpark for children, and rooftop bar above a fitness center.
■Mansions at Doral by Century Homebuilders Group sees great interest as 50 of its 66 units are already sold. Properties range from $1.3 million to $2.5 million for the 6805 NW 107th Ave. gated community. ■Midtown Doral, at 107th Avenue and 78th Street, adds 500 condominiums over 10 acres for its second build-out phase. Condos offer 800 square feet with price points between $229,000 and $350,000. Sergio Pino, president and founder of Century Homebuilders Group, says residents can enjoy 80,000 square feet of retail space and the community’s clubhouse. The list for presale contacts exceeds 1,000 people. Construction and sales are to start during the first quarter of 2019 with an estimated completion by 2022. ■Sanctuary at Doral gives 226 multi-family residential units proximity to 29,400 square feet of retail and restaurant space. Julian Perez, director of the City of Doral Planning and Zoning Department, said by email that residents feel satisfied that no new residential development has been approved this year, expressing concern about the traffic impacts from rising developments, especially during peak hours. Regardless of traffic, brokers observe that inventory is meeting
demand, with properties selling faster than before. Eli Santurio, regional sales manager for the Keyes branch in Doral, said inventory on the market for re-sale increased 27% from the second quarter of 2015 to now. There were 589 homes listed for re-sale three years ago compared to 750 today. Written contracts for single-family homes have increased 35% since a year ago, with 120 today compared with 89 a year back and a drop in the average number of days a home sits on the market from 117 then to 95 now. Condo re-sales also are a stable market, she said, with 1,173 in the second quarter of 2015 compared with 1,287 in the first quarter in
2018. Ms. Santurio cites a 20% increase of stronger closings compared to three years ago. Jessica Suarez, vice president of development at the Related Group, said she isn’t surprised at the growing interest in the area. She said of her team’s CityPlace project, “If you wanted to experience entertainment, you had to get away from Doral, and what we did well, including Codina [with Downtown Doral], with CityPlace Doral is developing everything at your fingertips, truly creating walkability.” While deals are up, buyer demographics are changing, reflecting the economic and political turmoil overseas. The market shifted from mostly Colombian buyers to Venezuelans after Hugo Chávez took power in 1999. Now, the focus is coming back to Miami-Dade and looking toward other nations in South America. “Right now, it’s a little slow because a lot of those projects were geared to the high-end market to the Venezuelan, wealthy individuals that would pay any dollar amount to live there, but at this time Doral needs homes priced to the local market,” Mr. Pino said. Ms. Santurio agrees: “The challenge is finding buyers.” Developers, she says, target untapped markets including Argentinean and Brazilians buyers, no longer concentrating solely on Colombians and Venezuelans. The shift in marketing strategies shows that as the residential market expands, so does the type of person calling Doral home.
Doral needs more homes priced to the local market, said Sergio Pino.
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20-year clock to redevelop Gables garages ticks to deadline By Katherine Lewin
The clock is ticking on a deal Coral Gables has targeted for 20 years to redevelop two cityowned Andalusia Avenue garages into multi-use buildings. The city commission on June 4 extended its deadline for the chosen developers and city staff to agree on a project outline, but the new Sept. 1 deadline is nearing. If the city and those developers don’t agree on a project by then, City Manager Cathy SwansonRivenbark can direct staff to start negotiations with the runner-up developer, Terranova. On June 3, the city received an updated proposal from the developers, Coral Gables City Center LLC (CGCC), a joint venture between the Allen Morris Co. and The Related Group. One of the garages, called “Garage 1” by the developers at this stage, would have 282 parking spaces total, with 210 permitted and 72 open for daily use. The second garage, called “Garage 4” would have 349 parking spaces total, with 285 permitted and 64 for daily use. According to the parking study completed by the city, between 2013 and 2018 vehicle traffic increased 9.5% during peak hours.
The study noted a parking shortage of about 1,081 spaces, though the two garages would provide only 631 spaces. The new proposal also lays out a building smaller than previous proposals. The garages will be 190 feet tall, down from 232 feet, and total 540,000 square feet. Several key issues remain to be worked out between the city and the developers. According to a presentation at the meeting, no official agreement on the number of public parking spaces had been reached. There was also no clear idea if the project would be a land lease or sale, and the official appraised value of the property and garages hadn’t been completed. The developers still needed to analyze detailed cash flows and development costs. The 2014 appraised value for both garages worked out to $81 per square foot, or $25.6 million, said Leonard Roberts, Coral Gables’ assistant director of economic development. A new appraisal could be done within 45 days, the meeting was told. In the latest proposal, a City Development District (CDD) would be created that would receive the parking revenue and put that toward paying down the debt service, Mr. Roberts said. The
‘I’m hearing more and more people are trying to live near where they work, trying to minimize the use of cars.’ Vince Lago CDD would receive roughly $1 million per year in base rent from the city, according to the latest proposal. Rent would be $400,000 for Garage 1 and $600,000 for Garage 4. If the developers decided to build condominiums, the city would “participate in those sales” at 3.75% of sales price less closing and cost of sales. Along with parking, there would be “vertical subdivisions”
similar to condominiums with independent ownership of each unit. The potential construction sequence that Mr. Roberts presented at the meeting would begin with demolishing and starting the construction of Garage 4. Demolition and construction on Garage 1 would start once the parking portion of Garage 4 was completed. Garage 4 would be completed first and Garage 1 afterward. According to the CGCC, each parking space would cost $31,311. Smart Parking technology that would help the city manage parking better would cost $300,000. Demolition, buying the paseo properties, site work and alley improvements would all cost roughly $5.9 million. In this proposal, Coral Gables could potentially pay 50% for the demolition, buying the paseo properties, site work and alley improvements, with a total cost of $12 million. The paseo walkways would be on the 300 block and 200 block and probably center-based so people who are exiting the new buildings would have direct access to Miracle Mile, Mr. Roberts said. The developer does not want to share detailed information about the paseo properties because it may impact the future seller, but
there are discussions between the developers and property owners, Mr. Roberts said. An update to these garages has been pending since 1998, said Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark. But developers and the city could not agree on a project that was eight stories or less, so it was “shelved” in the 2000s. The city commission brought the two-garage development back again after 2009 and requested proposals. The then-commission stopped and gave some additional direction for the city staff, Ms. Swanson-Rivenbark said. “So you see different iterations that happened over 2009 to the most recent issuance. So if it doesn’t perfectly blend together, it is reflecting the conversations that we had with the commission on the creating of the request for proposal,” Ms. SwansonRivenbark said. “I’m hearing more and more people are trying to live near where they work, trying to minimize the use of cars,” said Commissioner Vince Lago. “I know transportation has been a promise for many years and we’ve fallen way short of the community. We’re doing everything we can as a city to pick up the slack from the county.”
Hyatt redevelopment on city’s riverfront in planning again By John Charles Robbins
It will probably be another year or more before there is real action to redevelop the Hyatt hotel and Knight Center property in downtown Miami. Earlier this month, proposed legislation pending before the Miami City Commission was scheduled to be heard but was withdrawn – by Hyatt. Hyatt officials were planning to get the matter to city voters – as required by city charter – for the August or November ballot. That will not happen. The city owns the 4.2-acre riverfront site at 400 SE Second Ave., home to a Hyatt hotel and the James L. Knight Convention Center. Hyatt Equities LLC wants an extended lease in order to build a new Hyatt Regency hotel and two residential towers, a plan that includes demolishing the convention center. Hyatt officials were met with some resistance when they brought the latest deal to city commissioners May 10. After some general discussion and a few concerns voiced by commissioners hoping for a better deal, the matter was deferred to May 24. When that meeting date arrived commissioners deferred the matter to July 12, without discussion. At the July 12 meeting, the agenda included the two resolutions involving Hyatt Equities, however, the administration told commissioners the items had been withdrawn. Miami Today inquired about the status of the Hyatt site with questions to Daniel Rotenberg, director of the city’s Department of Real Estate and Asset
Hyatt wants an extended lease to build a hotel plus two residential towers, razing the convention center.
Management (DREAM). “The Hyatt Equities Ballot Question is not going on this year’s election,” Mr. Rotenberg wrote in an email response. “The item was pulled by Hyatt so that Hyatt could continue to work on plans, with their architect, and work on the actual lease agreement, and the development process (including their own selection process for a developer, a formal development order, an operating agreement with their future development partner, etc.),” he said. “Once their process moves ahead with more substance, Hyatt will be in a much better position to present a master plan to Commission, and working with the public, with Commission, the Waterfront Advisory Board, and the Miami River
Commission, to present a more matured project.,” Mr. Rotenberg wrote. The latest proposal is similar to an idea considered last year, which the commission put off with a directive to staff to negotiate further. The new conceptual plan would clear the site of all buildings, including the convention center, making room for a new 900-room hotel and two mixeduse residential towers with 900 units each, about 50,000 square feet of retail, some office space and parking. The key to opening up the site to many new possibilities would be the demolition of the old convention center, said to be outdated and past its prime. The building open in 1982 and includes an auditorium, a
4,569 seat theater, 22 meeting rooms, and a 28,000 square foot exhibit hall. In comments to city commissioners in May, Mr. Rotenberg explained the city’s giving up the convention center land for the redevelopment. “Let them [Hyatt] use it to go vertical, so the city can increase their revenues at the site and have an iconic hotel and residential complex,” he said then. The deal would mean more revenue to the city, with a minimum guaranteed rent of $2 million a year plus a percentage of gross profits from other uses. In the summer of 2017, Commissioner Ken Russell was pushing for a new master plan for the riverfront and suggesting added open greenspace for the public, and perhaps including
the redevelopment and reopening of city-owned Fort Dallas Park just to the west. When the revised Hyatt plan came to commissioners May 10, Mr. Russell stressed how the city’s role in redevelopment of this site is unique. In most cases of a major mixed-use project, a private developer comes to the city with their own land and their own plan, and the city doesn’t have much involvement other than building and zoning matters. “In this case, this is our canvas on which to paint and it can be our best example of our best foot forward, of what the city should be in terms of urbanism, green space, affordability, a place to work and live, transit connected,” Mr. Russell said then. He pushed for affordable housing and mixed income housing as part of the redevelopment. Mr. Russell’s other specific request was designed to gain as much open space as possible. He suggested adding a requirement for a 150-foot setback at the widest, eastern side of the property and a 50-foot setback at the narrower, western side of the property for an unobstructed public riverwalk/greenway at the same elevation as the connected riverwalk. The site is on the north side of the Miami River, abuts Brickell Avenue on the east, and is connected by the riverwalk to Fort Dallas Park. A key feature of the latest plan being touted by Hyatt was to raise the three towers 45 to 50 feet above ground for open vistas and a type of town square green space connected to a landscaped public riverwalk.
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