MIAMI
Miami Beach city officials want developers to "dream big" with plans to redevelop the Miami Beach Convention Center and its surroundings. About 200 people showed up at the convention center Monday to hear what Miami Beach officials expect from those who will compete to become the city's development partner at the 52-acre site.
"We look forward to creative ideas," City Manager Jorge Gonzalez told the group. "We encourage you to dream big and identify the things that make the most sense for this community. The idea is to create activity in the area, day and night.”
City officials are willing to disregard the 100-foot building height limit on the site, he noted, to create a "Miami Beach Convention Center district" that will energize the neighborhood. Still, the main goal remains expanding and improving the convention center, building an attached or nearby large hotel, creating "public and outdoor entertainment space," and providing ideas for redeveloping or replacing the Jackie Gleason/Fillmore Theater, Miami Beach City Hall, a nearby city parking garage and other property.
The hotel size will be up to developers to determine, Gonzalez added, while noting that a minimum of 800 rooms is the norm for such projects.
Courtesy of Miami Today
