Miami and Freedom Park developers hammer out deal’s benefits

Miami Freedom Park is one step closer to becoming a reality.

At its last meeting, the Miami City Commission approved on first reading two planning and zoning requests related to Miami Freedom Park, the planned home for David Beckham’s Inter Miami CF soccer team.

The vote was 4 to 1, with Commissioner Manolo Reyes casting the lone no vote. In April, he also voted no to a new lease of the city-owned property next to Miami International Airport to Miami Freedom Park LLC.

The private company is composed of Mr. Beckham and his business partners Jorge Mas and Jose Mas.

Second and final readings and votes may be scheduled in September.

In the meantime, the city attorney’s office is to work with the developers’ team and hammer out details in a public benefits package tied to ultimate approval.

The initial public benefits promised by the developers includes a $20 million contribution to the city for park improvements and $5 million for the city’s baywalk-riverwalk project.

Commission Chairwoman Christine King is vowing to delay a final vote unless the public benefits package is clarified, including her push for minority participation in the sweeping commercial complex that is part of the large mixed-use development.

Ms. King wants assurances that the company will commit to having a percentage of minority-owned businesses at the complex, along with a local preference in hiring.

“If it’s not clear, I’m going to defer it,” she said of the public benefits package.

City Attorney Victoria Mendez said she and her staff are working to get more details into the public benefits package but many of the promises being made by the developer are “aspirational.”

What is to become home to a Major League Soccer team’s stadium, along with an expansive commercial park, hotel and new 58-acre public park, is the former Melreese golf course, on land owned by the city.

The first resolution approved on first reading would rezone about 130 acres for the development of the Miami Freedom Park Special Area Plan (SAP) at 1400 NW 37th Ave. and a portion of 1550 NW 37th Ave.

The SAP consists of the approval of a soccer stadium, new lodging use (hotel), commercial space, office space, parking spaces, pedestrian promenade, plaza, green civic space, and a public park, says the resolution.

The second resolution would approve a development agreement between Miami Freedom Park LLC and the City of Miami “to govern the leased portion of the Miami Freedom Park Special Area Plan comprised of approximately 73 acres of property …for the purpose of redevelopment of such property for a soccer stadium, parking garage, and other uses.”

The development agreement would authorize the following uses including, but not limited to: “commercial, lodging, retail, and office, and any other uses authorized by the SAP; specifically providing for the sap to consist of a 25,000-seat soccer stadium, a parking garage containing 4,960 parking spaces with rooftop sports fields, mixed use retail and commercial, a hotel, and offices; the sap development shall contain a minimum of 6.55 acres of civic space.”

If approved, the resolution would authorize City Manager Art Noriega to negotiate and execute the development agreement.

At its June meeting, the city’s Urban Development Review Board recommended approval of the first components – the stadium, garage and 58-acre park – with one condition: to reconsider breaking up the mass of the parking structure.

The site plan presented to the board showed a long linear three-level garage on the western edge of the site, with enough room for 4,900 vehicles.

While review board members had plenty of praise for the overall master plan and design of the stadium and park, several members said the proposed garage is massive and should be redesigned into two structures.

The current master plan includes creation of a soccer village integrating shopping, dining, and entertainment as an extension of Miami Freedom Park recreation and Inter Miami CF.