Developers given shot at city’s 10-acre tennis center land
The City of North Miami Beach is inviting local developers to learn more about a P3 development opportunity and pitch creative ways to reimagine the space.
The city is hosting a private pre-solicitation launch event Aug. 25 at the proposed city-owned development site, which is the Arthur I. Snyder Tennis Complex at 16851 W Dixie Hwy. Developers will get the chance to check out the 10-acre lot and determine what is best for the space.
“The affordable housing crisis in Miami-Dade County is something that we have to solve as a municipality,” said North Miami Beach Vice Mayor Mckenzie Fleurimond. “We’re looking for creative ways to partner with the private sector so that we can address this crisis.”
The development site is also another way to increase economic development and investment in the city, he said.
“With this particular P3 opportunity,” the vice mayor said, “what the city is saying is we welcome developers, creatives to come to our city. Look at this 10-acre piece of land that we own and tell us what the highest and best use for it is, and from there we’re going to make a determination as to what route we’re going to hit.”
A mixed-use proposed development design would be ideal, he said. “But also we want to take into account the utilization of the area by providing a green space for the community as well.”
When considering design plans, the city wants to feed off of and enhance visitation to the Ancient Spanish Monastery, which is right next door.
“At this point, we are going to just see what developers have to offer and then we will go from there to make it accommodating for whatever plan that we as a commission decide on,” Vice Mayor Fleurimond told Miami Today. “Land is very expensive, going for almost $4 million an acre in this area. So, to have 10 acres of land, it’s a good opportunity for any developer to build here in our city.”
luis torrego
August 23, 2022 at 10:14 am
City officials are selling what makes MB a great city. Who wants to leave in NY? I don’t.
Keith I Myers
August 24, 2022 at 9:34 am
I want every developer who reads this post to know that the way the city is going about this is insanely unethical. They lied countless times about this to the public, everything was done in closed door meetings and this is very unpopular with the public. Any developer who chooses to worth with Fleurimond will be met with protests from the members of the public and I assure you that we are exploring legal options, including a lawsuit against the city that will drag the process out as long as possible.
Irene Pilinger
August 24, 2022 at 9:56 am
Some of our city commissioners AND the city manager feel they don’t have to follow the Sunshine laws. This proposal has nothing to do with affordable housing and was devised behind closed doors, never discussed at any commission meeting or workshop and not open for public comment. If you check out the August 16th CRA meeting, Commissioner Fleurimond said that there are OTHER parcels of land owned by the city that are being reviewed for affordable housing opportunities and this event is for developers to present ideas to repurpose our park.
The residents of North Miami Beach will do everything they can to make sure this land is NOT developed. If anything, we want to see the Tennis Center used for tournaments and advertised more broadly to build on its history of hosting famous tennis players.
The additional park land is vital to a healthy community and open land is vital to the health of our environment.
john
August 24, 2022 at 10:03 am
absurd idea.
Karen Harrold
August 24, 2022 at 10:22 am
Unfortunately our (certain ones) commissioners work on their own & speak like they are representative of the constituents voice, but they are NOT!! This wasn’t brought up for public input& not all the commissioner’s/ Mayor even knew of this endeavor beforehand!! So much for caring about our City, from their actions looks like the dollar is doing the talking& presenting it’s golden pull of attraction. So fed up with certain 4 commissioner’s wills being imposed on our City. Ask them why our commission meetings are still being held in the theater!! Moved there during closures and never returned to the commission meeting room. They don’t care about increased costs for this& keeping our city divided& the public as far away from them as possible. Fed up in NMB!!!
Sofia Morycan
August 24, 2022 at 11:39 am
Outrageous. I reside across from the Spanish Monastery and Tennis Court. I am an owner at Woodside Condominium Association.
Sofia Morycan
August 24, 2022 at 11:43 am
Absurd idea
CHARLS
August 24, 2022 at 5:26 pm
If you follow the trail back to 2016/2017 and the illegal contract made with an administratively dissolved corporation. this comes as no surprise.
Hiring and firing certain key positions which then gave way to legal opinions which cleared the way for turning this recreational space into $$$for politicians and developers who played a long game.They win and residents and visitors lose what little recreational space they have.
Joel I KURTZBERG
August 24, 2022 at 6:59 pm
This commission is not representing the community. Closed door meetings? No input from their constituents? Stop the overdevelopment and loss of greenspace and out excellent public tennis facility…
Ima
August 25, 2022 at 6:35 pm
I hope the plans fall through
Asher
August 26, 2022 at 2:23 pm
The highest and best use for this property is to leave if as it is. Leave our green space alone and DO NOT sell it to developers. Refurbish the park and the tennis courts for the benefit of North Miami Beach residents. We have a group of (Johnny comes lately) commissioners and a City Manager, some came from other communities, attempting to sell off our green space to the highest bidder without any input from the community. Making decisions behind closed doors without any input from the resident.