Miami Freedom Park soccer stadium moves closer to breaking ground; key vote is set for September
Inter Miami’s owners are one step closer to transforming a city-owned golf course near Miami International Airport into a $1 billion commercial complex, soccer stadium and park after an appearance late Thursday night at Miami City Hall.
Well into the evening, commissioners voted 4-1 to give preliminary approval to Inter Miami’s “special area plan,” a zoning procedure that allows developers to build bigger and with more density if they agree to provide public benefits, such as cash and parks.
The vote is the just the first of two necessary zoning approvals by the Miami
City Commission as the team’s owners seek permission to build Miami Freedom Park, a retail village, 750-room hotel, office park and 25,000seat stadium to host Inter Miami games.
But it was a crucial hurdle: Under a 99-year lease approved in April, the team would be able to take possession of Miami’s Melreese golf course after a final, non-appealable order by the city approving its zoning plan.
That means Inter Miami is now one key vote away from being able to pull permits, start cleaning contaminated land beneath the golf course and begin construction of a complex that would also include a 58-acre park and playing fields on the roof of a three-story parking garage.
For now, that vote is set for September.
UNRESOLVED ISSUES
The discussion on Thursday showed there are still issues to iron out.
So far, the public benefits in the massive project include $20 million for the city to use on park improvements, $5 million for the Baywalk/Riverwalk project and a living wage paid to workers onsite.
But Commission Chairwoman Christine King cautioned team owners that she would delay the vote if the team did not commit in writing to a requirement for a percentage of minority-owned businesses to operate at the complex and local preference in hiring, among other public benefits.
“If it comes back second reading and it’s not clear, I’m going to defer it,” King told the developers’ attorneys late Thursday night.
Attorneys for Inter Miami and the city are trading drafts of legal documents that would detail public benefits associated with the project. City Attorney Victoria Méndez said the terms that the soccer team has provided are “aspirational” without clear details. Deputy City Attorney John Greco elaborated on the lack of details over public benefits that commissioners are pushing.
“For example, it’ll say that they’ll establish a program, but it doesn’t say what the program is. So, to that extent, that needs to be filled in,” Greco said.
The lease documents approved in April have not yet been signed because new land appraisals have to be finalized. The appraisals could increase the amount of rent owed to the city under the 99-year deal.