MIAMI | Development Thread

[vasklar]

I really hope the stadium doesn't get built. Not that many people care about baseball down here, and it would be a waste od CBD land to build yet another stadium/arena. The park west/ east overtown area would be an sports complex wasteland, effectively inhibiting the earea from developing any real street life. Stadiums and arenas are drains on economies and on neighborhoods and on tax bases. This is the latest understanidng of sports economics in opposoition to the previously held wisdom about such complexes. I hope our tax dollars are spent on much more worthwhile ventures (although with the corruption in Miami.. ie public health trust, affrodable housing scam, fire fee scandal, Jackson Hospital no bid contracts, etc.... I doubt anything good will happen).

[BornInTheGrove]

I''d rather have my money go to building a stadium for a team that brought us not one, but two World Series championships in a matter of 13 years than going into the pockets of corrupt politicians.

[vasklar]

Corrupt politicians make money through wasteful projects like the stadium. The money taxpayers give for a staudium would flow directly to the contractors and developers who build the stadium and sell the land, as well as the corporate heads of MLB and the Marlins. Politicians make money by being in power and being able to support projects that they in turn stand to gain from. They do not care if a huge chunk of concrete will forever ruin the prospects of a developing area of downtown. The will always frame their private ventures as "serving the public good." Read this next story i will post from the MiamiTodayNews to see the process at work.

[vasklar]

v=City shouldn't give a $200 million gift for an urban eyesore
By Michael Lewis
Such temerity: The developer of City Square at the Miami Herald site is asking Miami's government to fund the full $200 million cost of the retail mall's parking garage - nearly $50,000 per parking space.
Last year, the entire project of 641,104 square feet of retail, the parking and two 62-story residential towers was reported to cost $370 million. So the city is being asked to contribute more than half of everything, just to build parking for the developer.
What's wrong with this picture? Everything.
Of course, construction costs have risen. Yet a May report the developer commissioned said the cost of constructing the retail plus parking is $277.3 million, of which government is being asked to pay $200 million for the privilege of - what?
Well, if the city's Omni Community Redevelopment Agency were to put up $200 million, Maefield Development of Indiana would put up a 130-foot-tall mall plastered with 90-foot-tall electronic billboards next to the county's new performing-arts center. Just think, a taxpayer-supported eyesore rising where government took pains to keep out high-rise condos that could mar arts center patrons' view and where it sought to sink an expressway below grade to keep the vista clear.
But we'd be getting more. There'd be 1,528 parking spaces that would meet more than half the arts center's needs - presumably at high cost to patrons and great profits to developers. There'd be 1,780 spaces for shoppers. And there'd be 744 spaces for the Miami Herald, whose parking lots developers would buy for $190 million as the project's site.
Why, now that I think of it, a $200 million city subsidy would cover all the land cost and then some. And the Herald's owners would be able to unload the site, which has languished under a sell agreement since March 2005 as the condo boom evaporated. The city's $200 million would funnel cash to the McClatchy Co. to trim debt it just incurred in buying the Herald.
See how well all of this can work out? The developer gets the city to pay for the land, the Herald's parent gets the money, the Herald gets its parking spaces and the property on which the Herald building sits - which is being rezoned for massive residential towers - would become saleable, too.
It's a win-win for everybody - unless you consider the public. But, hey, you can't please everyone.
Project plans long had been announced when Maefield wrote to the city this month asking for $200 million. Until a few weeks ago, not a penny of government money had been under consideration.
Why should government fund an eyesore?
Well, the developer wrote, "Maefield Holdings, LLC, is interested in your participation with a direct financial contribution to offset the high costs associated with delivering a world-class development for the benefit of the City of Miami. As such, the Omni CRA financial commitment will maximize the benefit delivered to the residents in the current environment of increasing construction costs and high land prices."
I didn't know the project was to benefit the City of Miami at all. I had imagined it was an investment from which developers expected to profit, not a public service. Silly me.
And how much exactly have the land prices risen since the contract to buy was cut 18 months ago? Seems like $190 million then is the same as $190 million now - far too much. But why should the city bail someone out of a bad deal or rescue McClatchy?
In fact, government has no business paying anyone to build on a $190 million site, some of the community's most expensive land. Though it's in a redevelopment zone, the area has been booming with buildings that were paid for by developers, not the city. This is not urban renewal.
In fact, it may not even be good for Miami. Looking at a mall the equivalent of 13 stories covered with nine-story electronic billboards, the city's planning report says, "the quality and location of signage in the project is excessive and does not meet Zoning Code." It calls the billboards "large-scale advertisement panels."
Two issues intersect here: Should the city allow the project at all, and should the public finance it?
The Omni Community Redevelopment Agency is to address city funding Sept. 5, though commissioners would have final say as to whether the city would enrich developers to gain nothing more than they were promised at no public cost six weeks ago.
Then Sept. 7, a special commission meeting will consider zoning approval that McClatchy, the Herald's owner, requires for the mall's building permit.
We're no fans of massive billboards, now barred here for good reason. Making them electronic is worse. Sticking them outside the performing-arts center is doubly offensive.
But that's aesthetics. Presumably, some people like highways with billboards every 20 feet. Somebody somewhere must like 90-foot electronic signs. There's no accounting for taste.
But there should be accounting for public money. This community has a history of cutting atrocious deals with developers of public projects, but a big-box mall is no more a public project than is an office building or a condo tower. There is no reason to consider a subsidy of any amount.
Then again, considering those who would benefit from the deal, you never know, do you?

[MiamiSpartan]

Totally disagree with your views. A downtown ballpark would just enhance the downtown core with another attraction to get people downtown. I've been to Baltimore recently, and you would not believe how the Orioles ballpark brings THOUSANDS of people to the downtown area even on a Sunday. You can't tell me that Camden Yards has not helped the downtown economy. Sorry.

[vasklar]

Point taken. However, let's examine an example closer to home-- the American Airlines Arena. Every time there is a game or a concert, downtown Miami fills up with people and with traffic. Unfortunately, most of them jam pack the area right around the arena during game time, mainly spending money on parking in the surrounding lots. Once the game is over, they get right back in their cars or on the train, and depending on whether or not the home team won, they will either head to South Beach/the Grove to celebrate, or to their homes depressed that their team lost.

Sports venues do bring people to downtown, and there may be a modest increase in the downtown economy due to the rare sportsfan that may stay in the area to shop or eat. But most will be too tired and too drained economically after a game to stay in the area. Their stomachs will be full with pretzels and hot dogs, and they will be tired from a long game and lots of beer.

Instead of attaining the modest gains that a stadium would bring the downtown economy (not too mention the huge eyesore that a stadium creates without any real pedestrian/street-level commercial venues) it would be better to put that ammount of land to use retaining residents in the area 24/7. Given the current lack of any affordable housing downtown, it may be wiser to develop middle and low income subsidized housing in the area. These people will shop and live in the area, utilizing its grocery stores, hamburger joints, parks, restaurants on occassion, delis, etc. A thriving city cannot be built for the economic elite alone, nor solely for pilgramaging sports fans.

[Topher1]

^^

It's a bit unfair to use American Airlines Arena to say that a downtown ballpark would be unsuccessful in Miami. The fault in this instance is not with Miamian's in general, it's with AAA...

AAA is a beautiful structure no doubt, but it is not typical of the newest trends in sports facility construction. It was designed to be an icon from the bay... not from the street. Huge stairs and wide plazas detach the arena from the city. If architects look to structures like the AAA for inspiration, then you're right, it will be a waste.

The design is a complete contrast from new successful ballparks, like Baltimore, Pittsburgh, and San Diego. These parks truly are integrated into their neighborhoods and include lots of street level amenities (mostly restaurants and sports-themed stores).

From a recent trip to Pittsburgh, here's a few points that I thought illustrated PNC park's amazing success.

-Downtown filled up hours before the game. Pointe Park was very busy, large crowds strolled downtown, businesses seemed very busy. The bridge to the stadium had been closed to auto traffic and lined with vendors. The stadium itself is lined with outdoor restaurants and vendors, and there were people everywhere. The great atmosphere downtown even attracts a good number of non-game attendees. Even during the game, the city seems more alive. Intanglible things, like the roar of the crowd across the river bring so much energy to the town.

- Spin-off development abounds in the area. The design of the stadium encourages people to stay in the area after the game, rather than funneling them to their cars, and thus the neighborhood can support a lot of new businesses. In turn, the increase in amenities has made the area more attractive for residential development.

- The stadium itself is an attraction. It generates foot traffic on non-gamedays. Tourists walk across the bridge to see the stadium. They take pictures, they check out the baseball memorabilia. It's obviously nowhere near the gameday traffic, but enough business is generated to support area businesses when there is no game.

- Possibly most importantly, it's a point of pride. Pittsburghers are very proud of the success of their stadium. It's something that they can rally around and support whole-heartedly. Civic pride is huge for the allure and draw of a downtown area. The park gives Pittsburghers another reason to be proud of and support their great city.


Going back to AAA, I still think it has the opportunity to be a positive catalyst for the area. As more entertainment venues come online downtown (such as Met Square), there will be reason for more and more fans to eschew places like the Grove and the Beach for the emerging downtown scene. Currently it feels almost like a detached entity from the rest of downtown, but the area is filling in more and more, and becoming the kind of place that fans will actually want to stay around.

[BornInTheGrove]

bump

[MiamiJR]

Work to begin early in '07 on Watson Island's Flagstone project
By Deserae del Campo
Groundbreaking for the $480 million Flagstone Island Gardens hotel-retail development on Watson Island is due early next year. Chairman and CEO Mehmet Bayraktar said Flagstone Property Group plans to open the project in late 2009 or early 2010.
No leases are signed for the 221,000 square feet of retail, he said. "As far as the retailers or restaurants coming to the project, we are talking to many that are interested. But I'm unable to disclose any information at this time. No one has signed leases yet."
He said there could be about 50 stores.
Island Gardens is to showcase two luxury hotels and a 50-slip marina accommodating yachts up to 450 feet long.
Miami commissioners granted Flagstone a 75-year lease in 2001. The Miami Beach developer received its major use special permit in July 2004.
Two hotels signed on last year. The Westin Miami at Island Gardens is to feature 350 rooms and the Shangri-La Hotel 147 and about 100 timeshare units of two and four bedrooms and a 20,000-square-foot spa.
"The Shangri-La tower is going to have fractional residential units, also known as residents club units, that are fully furnished but not considered condos," Mr. Bayraktar said.
"Basically, the unit is going to be offered at a one-seventh-price share," he said. "There can be potentially up to seven owners for each unit, and the owners can schedule the time they want to be there. It will be very flexible. You can decide to stay for the weekend or two weeks at a time under a reservation system."
The project is running smoothly, he said. "There have been no hurdles considering the pure size of the development. We don't have just one building but mixed-use projects consisting of six or seven different parts that include retail, dining, a marina and hotel. We have pulled all the major permits for the project."

[NewAtlantisMiami]

Is the Shangri-La tower still planned at 535 feet tall? Emporis has yet to list it, but what else is new. Steve

[bobdreamz]

Developer to Break Ground on Luxury Mixed-Use Development in Miami
By Kelly Sheehan, Online News Editor

AUGUST 29, 2006 -- Miami -- Cabi Developers, a local construction company, is scheduled to break ground at the end of the year on Capital Brickell, a luxury mixed-use community, designed by Fullerton Diaz Architects, located here. Construction is slated for completion in 2009, Cessie Ceratto, a spokesperson for the project, told MHN.

Nick Luaces Design Associates will design the project’s interior and marketing and sales are being handled by Marka-Tech Associates. Units have been on sale since the summer of 2005.

The cosmopolitan development, which is in the Brickell financial district at 1420 South Miami Ave., will have views of Simpson Park, Biscayne Bay and the Miami skyline. The development will consist of two residential towers that have been designed with contemporary architecture. The 53- and 57-story towers will also be located on 2.6 acres of land.

The towers will feature 864 condominium studio, loft, one-, two- and three-bedroom units. The development will also include more than 97,000 square feet of office space along with more than 47,000 square feet of retail space that will include restaurants, shops and service-oriented businesses.

“Our neoclassical skyscraper design is reminiscent of the Chrysler Tower and the Empire State Building which gives Capital at Brickell a true New York look and feel,” said Jacobo Cababie, principal of Cabi Developers. “This lavishly indulging recreational deck will bring home the South Florida touch of resort-style, luxury living. It’s our way to combine the best of both worlds.”

Units are priced from $400,000 to over $1 million and range from 1,000 to 2,2000 square feet. Amenities will include private balconies with glass or metal railings, nine-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, washing and drying machines, Smart Technology panels and assigned parking. Units’ kitchens will feature stainless steel appliances, European cabinetry and granite countertops. Master bathrooms will have marble floors, designer fixtures and frameless shower enclosures.

Residents will have access to a gated entrance to the complex’s garage, security system, 24-hour valet service, three-level fitness center and health spa, basketball court and lounge with party, card and billiards room. The towers will also feature a theatre, pool deck, cabanas, pool bar, whirlpool, café, gourmet grocery store, beauty salon and dry cleaners.

Copyright 2005 Multi-Housing News





finally this is good news since supposedly this project was rumored to be dead!

thanks to dave8721 for the article.

[Dale]

This is why you can't listen to the doomsayers.

[BornInTheGrove]

as it was pointed out in SSC, the article says the development is scheduled ... we won't know for sure until it actually happens

[dave8721]

The new 6-building Omni Mall redevelopment project has started its way through permitting. They are going before the planning board on the 20th. The tallest of the 6 towers will be 644 feet tall and the shortest will be 584 feet. It will total 4208 condos and 350k sqft of retail.

(On the Park and Related's Mercy Hospital condo tower will be going for approval as well)
http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/meetings/...enda_Short.pdf

The omni redevelopment:

[dave8721]

Here is a pdf of the Mercy Hospital development (300 Grove Bay Residences). It will top out at 411 feet tall (in that neighborhood?):

http://egov.ci.miami.fl.us/Legistarw...ents/28263.pdf

[The Mad Hatter]

The omni mall looks way to reminiscent of one miami...or atleast the renderings of one miami. And i personally don't like it, but its not like its going to get built anyways.

[Paul305]

I've never seen that pic of the Omni Mall project before. It really shows how small the towers will make the 33 floor Venetia (on the far right) look. But as long as they don’t block Patty’s view of Downtown (or…um… “put the historic Venetian causeway at serious risk of decline”) I think they have a decent chance of being built.

Also, I cropped a photo from the pdf Dave provided of the Mercy Hospital development:


Btw, Dave, how was your trip?

[arch photographer]

How does the OMNI drawing look like ONE Miami? It looks a little bit like Canyon Ranch, or a little like ICON Brickell, but nothing like One Miami. Anyone know the architect? Arquitectonica? It would be nice to take some attantion away from the uninspired 70's? designs of the Venetia and the Grand. That cluster of buildings has none of the dynamism, or elegance that the new Miami is bringing.

[dave8721]

The floundering Met project just received financing from a new investor....Shaq?!?!?

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/15556864.htm

Shaq enters Miami real estate market

BY MATTHEW HAGGMAN
[email protected]

Shaquille O'Neal is taking his game to downtown Miami, but in the real estate market rather than the hard court.

The Miami Heat star announced Tuesday the formation of The O'Neal Group, a real estate company, to organize his current property holdings and invest in new projects. His first venture: investing in a real estate development called Met Miami that encompasses three blocks in the heart of Miami's downtown.

''People sometimes ask me who is my favorite athlete. They expect me to say Chamberlain, Russell, Kareem,'' said O''Neal, ticking off the names of former basketball greats. ``But I say Dave Bing, because he did great things after basketball.'' Bing, a prolific scoring guard now enshrined in basketball's Hall of Fame, runs a multimillion-dollar steel business in Detroit.

O`Neal said he wants to make a similar mark in Miami, and intends to keep a home here after his basketball career ends. However, the big man destined for the Hall of Fame said his primary residence will remain in Orlando, a central Florida city he has called home since launching his professional basketball career with the Orlando Magic.

Neither O`Neal Group Vice President Christopher Handy nor Met Miami developer Luis Pulenta would provide specifics about the financial arrangement between O'Neal and the developer. But each said it involved a significant financial investment by the Heat center in the project.

[The Mad Hatter]

Am i suppose to laugh or what? shaq a real estate investor is this just MDM trying to get more PR? BECAUSE IF IT IS THEY'RE DONE STICK A FORK IN UMMM...

arch it reminds me of the first released rendering of one miami, which featured the same glass and similar details, but the final product was hedious, the first bulding on the left looks almost like a replica., also it looks very similar to there project at 1400 biscayne which is scary since arquitectonica is basically designing every building on biscayne, yet im not looking anything there doing except marinablue.