Start delayed on Coral Gables Mobility Hub

Groundbreaking plans for the Coral Gables Mobility Hub have temporarily been placed on hold, according to city officials.

The city is carefully moving forward with the mobility hub, a project that will position Coral Gables at the forefront when it comes to technology and transportation, City Manager Peter J. Iglesias said.

“However, due to the current increases in the cost of construction materials, we will not be breaking ground in September,” he told Miami Today. “We look forward to doing so in the near future.”

In April, city commissioners approved to update design plans for the Coral Gables Mobility Hub that cost an additional $640,000.

Design consultants M. Arthur Gensler Jr. & Associates Inc. were initially paid $2 million to design the mobility hub and now will receive the additional funds to redesign the new renderings.

During the April 12 meeting, Mr. Iglesias explained to city officials that the project’s scope has been increased to allow for an enhanced rooftop park, micro-mobility, and electric vehicle charging infrastructure.

“This fee is based on the original price of $40 million,” Mr. Iglesias said at the time. “We feel it’s an appropriate purchase for the mobility hub and based on a project that’s slightly more complex.”

The Coral Gables Mobility Hub, which is set to be at 245 Andalusia Ave., was projected to be completed by the first quarter of 2024. The city has signed an agreement with Weitz Company to manage construction, including demolition of the existing parking garage where the hub will rise – costing the city an additional $1.5 million.

The hub is to have an internal drive-thru lane for ridesharing services, retail and bicycle storage. It will also offer dockless vehicle parking, bike share docking stations, a wi-fi lounge, e-commerce logistics for drone package deliveries and pop-up coffee shops.

Earlier this year, city staff met with the Florida Department of Transportation, which was reportedly thoroughly impressed and encouraged the city to apply for federal grant monies, including a $6 million grant.

The city is also working with a federal lobbyist, who is actively looking for grants and monies to fund a project.

“It’s very important that we have the time to make sure that we have the proper bidding or the proper GMP (good manufacturing practices) procedures to make sure that we qualify for federal funding,” Mr. Iglesias explained at the April 12 commission meeting.