Virginia Key marina project voted down
Ever since Ken Russell joined the City Commission, good things have been happening. Wednesday afternoon, the City Commission voted against the RFP for the Rickenbacker Marina project which has been hotly contested. Commissioners Russell, Frank Corollo and Francis Suarez voted to have the RFP redone from scratch. Competitors felt that the RFP process was not done in the proper manner and they were contesting the current RFP.
From Ken's Facebook page: "It's never easy to make a decision to reverse an action or process in which many people have worked very hard and invested time and money. Today I brought a motion to throw out a bidding process for the Marina on Virginia Key. After hours of discussion a majority of the Commission voted in agreement that we should start over with a process that includes the public and the boards that help us decide the best use and scale of this property. this will help us bring the Marine Stadium back to life in a cohesive plan that prioritizes public participation and the environment. We also directed the City Manager to study the feasibility of the city owning and managing the Marina as we do in other parts of the city. I'm very excited to be a part of this process and to work with the community and administration on the new Request for Proposals."
In the past, this whole issue would have gone through the motions and it would have been rubber stamped and approved. Ken is making a difference.
The RCI Group, based in Miami Beach was pushing for themselves to build the $100 million project at Miami Marine Stadium.
According to The New Times, "Ahead of the vote, it appears the two main groups bickering for control of the project — RCI and Dallas-based group Suntex — have been posing as fake grassroots activists on Facebook to covertly attack each other."
Both pages were fronts for the developers. Who now have to go back to the drawing board.
From Ken's Facebook page: "It's never easy to make a decision to reverse an action or process in which many people have worked very hard and invested time and money. Today I brought a motion to throw out a bidding process for the Marina on Virginia Key. After hours of discussion a majority of the Commission voted in agreement that we should start over with a process that includes the public and the boards that help us decide the best use and scale of this property. this will help us bring the Marine Stadium back to life in a cohesive plan that prioritizes public participation and the environment. We also directed the City Manager to study the feasibility of the city owning and managing the Marina as we do in other parts of the city. I'm very excited to be a part of this process and to work with the community and administration on the new Request for Proposals."
In the past, this whole issue would have gone through the motions and it would have been rubber stamped and approved. Ken is making a difference.
The RCI Group, based in Miami Beach was pushing for themselves to build the $100 million project at Miami Marine Stadium.
According to The New Times, "Ahead of the vote, it appears the two main groups bickering for control of the project — RCI and Dallas-based group Suntex — have been posing as fake grassroots activists on Facebook to covertly attack each other."
Both pages were fronts for the developers. Who now have to go back to the drawing board.
posted by Tom Falco at 2:48 PM
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6 Comments:
AGREED!...WELL DONE COMMISSIONER !
Yes, Congratulations Commissioner Russell!
I sat through from start to finish and spoke with many others for throwing out the RFP and starting over. But I have to say, Arquitectonica's presentation was excellent and very convincing IF you are in favor of intensive development on this site. If instead, you favor a "Central Park" low density approach, then the main battle is ahead, since a new RFP will most likely be very revenue conscious. That would mean more proposals like RCI's but very possibly not as well done or thought out. We all want the Marine Stadium restored. Now we have to come up with a plan to pay for it because the City, understandably, will want it to be self-funded and self-sustaining. Without funding, any compromise is likely going to favor Big over Small.
Great job Ken! That huge marina would have created an ecological disaster in the nearly enclosed basin. A much lighter footprint is needed to preserve the area for future generations.
Terrific,AMEN, well done. TIDE ferrari racing, palm beach. NATIVE, P.H.S. 61, U.M.65. Youngest OWNER / DRIVER TO WIN HYDROPLANE CLASS in the Orange Bowl Regatta' 48 HYDRO 1965, also Le Mans 24 IMSA CLASS 1981 WINNER 5th. O.A. tom I. davis, Jr.- T.I.D.E. pozzi ferrari FRANCE. Erin Profita, Rickt Mills. Save the MIAMI MARINE Stadium from the hit & run carpetbagger builders, AGAIN ????
Great job to all that were involved and made the correct decision. There is no need to turn that beautiful location into a concrete destination to be filled with yachts that sit there all year long and only the rich can enjoy. We do not need more boat slips that is only for the owners "developers" to make income. The stadium should be used for what it was meant for: Boat regattas, concerts in the ocean, special events (imagine a cirque de sole floating in the water)...... Make green spaces!!!!! We also need to keep in mind the impact of over development and how it will affect the area. Look at the Grove developers build make money and leave they do not want to live in what they built nor would they like it if some one would do it to the property next to which they live. I think the city should own and operate the location and bring in the revenue as a business why would the city give up control and the revenue.Yes it is easier to lease it out and forget about it but then in falls in the hands on one person that is looking for their interest money and notoriety.
I remember in the 1980's when both Dinner Key and the Miami Marina at Bayside were both run by private companies, at the same time.
A State Senator was one of the principles at Miami Marina and her Nephew was a principle at Dinner Key.(Funny, they had publicly claimed that they both had been owners for a good period of time before realizing, over a Holiday meal, each one had an interest in a marina in Miami.)
There was some kind of scandal, I think that some of the other principles were lawyers and booked a lot of time and expenses to their firms in order to substantially lower the bottom line profits of the Company....thus paying the City a meager amount for the concession/lease.
That did not last long.
Bob Deresz
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