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Front Page » Communities » Brickell City Centre to build fire station for city

Brickell City Centre to build fire station for city

Written by on June 7, 2016
  • www.miamitodayepaper.com
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Brickell City Centre to build fire station for city

The developer will build a fire station at billion-dollar Brickell City Centre as part of a public benefits program of the City of Miami.

The deal, worked out between city officials and Brickell City Centre Project LLC, is on today’s (6/9) commission agenda.

Commissioners are being asked to authorize City Manager Daniel Alfonso to execute the public benefits agreement with developers of the sweeping mixed-use project, which is transforming the heart of Brickell.

Under the agreement, the developer, a subsidiary of Swire Properties, will build a 6,500-square-foot fire station within Brickell City Centre bounds and lease it to the city at $2 per square foot per year, rising 1.5% yearly in a 50-year lease. That would total $13,000 the first year.

The developer will pay to build the fire station and the city will pay for interior finishes and interior build-out.

A memo estimates furniture, fixtures, and equipment costs at $500,000. The city commission will vote on that spending later on.

The resolution notes that construction of Brickell City Centre as well as surrounding development “has increased the need for additional Fire-Rescue services including a fire station.”

A representative of the developer said the company hopes to set an example for others by providing a public benefit as part of a private project.

“We are very excited about a new fire station at our future north development at Brickell City Centre, as it is the first of its kind in [the] Downtown and Brickell area,” said Chris Gandolfo, vice president of developments at Swire Properties.

“We hope this will encourage our fellow developers to follow suit by supporting public benefit within private developments,” he said.

Brickell City Centre is a $1.05 billion mixed-use development from Hong Kong-based Swire Properties Inc., bringing office, residential, hotel, retail and entertainment uses to several blocks south of the Miami River along South Miami Avenue between Fifth and Eighth streets.

As part of the city’s zoning code, Miami 21, the public benefits program is intended to allow bonus building capacity in exchange for the developer’s contribution to specific programs that benefit the public, including affordable housing, parks and recreation, civil and civic support and more.

A developer may provide the public benefit on-site, off-site, or pay directly into the public benefits fund.

At a May 2015 meeting, Commissioner Frank Carollo brought up the need for another fire station in the booming neighborhood. A deputy city manager said then that talks with Swire might lead to a new fire station within the project’s north block.

The northern block is east of South Miami Avenue, bordered by Southeast Fifth and Sixth streets. Initial site plans identified the site as North Squared at 529 S Miami Ave., and showed it set aside for development of a low-rise structure shown in renderings as retail and dining.

In October, Mr. Carollo pursued the topic again, asking for a status report from staff. The commission was told a deal was being negotiated but details still needed to be worked out.

5 Responses to Brickell City Centre to build fire station for city

  1. DC Copeland

    June 8, 2016 at 7:26 am

    Miami could use more civic minded companies like Swire Properties doing business here. They help make it a better, people-friendlier city. One thing I’d like to see is the company installing permanent or semi-permanent public sculpture in Brickell City Centre’s public spaces. As an example, here’s a rendering of what it might look like if they brought J. Seward Johnson’s 25′-tall “Forever Marilyn” statue to the City Centre’s MetroMover station platform: http://bit.ly/1rcO5QB

    • marc

      June 8, 2016 at 11:15 am

      That’s hideous.

  2. William

    June 8, 2016 at 1:07 pm

    This is a good thing for the neighborhood. They will probably place it in a less desirable location on the ground floor.

    Most all developments include a donation in exchange for additional rights or even zoning waivers. 6500 SqFt ground floor shell is probably worth 8-10MM over 50 Years. I may be wrong but I”m guessing its in that neighborhood. The additional rights by the developer can be significant. What will the COM give to them in exchange? Hmm?

  3. Dan M

    June 8, 2016 at 8:33 pm

    What is going to happen to the firehouse #4 at 1105 S.W. 2nd Avenue? It’s 4 blocks away. Looks like some backdoor deal to move them out so the city can lease/sell the land under it for development. The next news item to come…

  4. kora

    June 9, 2016 at 8:45 pm

    We’re in need of a police station as well
    Downtown and little Habana can’t deal with the increased demand
    Also traffic lights around the main city, like coral way and the bridge
    There is a six incoming lanes always having accidents, even a deadly one a few months ago
    the city is making big money from developments, so they need to put that money into the city

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