Updated contract for a new City of Miami administration building

City officials are revisiting an agreement with the development company Adler, paving the way for a modern city administration building to rise next to the future Miami Freedom Park.

Today (12/14), the Miami City Commission will vote on a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute the agreements for the development. If approved, Adler Development Manager LLC will manage construction of the new municipal complex for a 5% fee.

The city has been looking to replace its administrative campus for close to 10 years after officials declared the current office tower, the Miami Riverside Center at 444 SW Second Ave., “functionally obsolete” in 2015.

In 2016, the city requested proposals for development of a 375,000-square-foot facility with new Class A office space within city limits to “functionally, securely and conveniently serve Miami’s residents.”

The bid was ultimately awarded to Lancelot Miami River LLC, an affiliate of real estate development firm Adler Group.

After several sites were surveyed, the commission selected city-owned property near Miami International Airport at the former Melreese Golf Course in June 2022 for the new building to rise.

Now, the city is looking to negotiate an amended and restated management and construction agreement.

Under the proposal, the city manager would be authorized to execute an updated contract with Adler in which the firm will manage the development and construction of the facility for a fee not to exceed 5% of actual expenditures for the project.

In September, the commission unanimously approved a resolution declaring the city’s intent to relocate its offices to the former Melreese Golf Course site for $250 million, an amount significantly higher than the $150 million originally allocated for the project in 2019.

The location, 1802 NW 37th Ave., is adjacent to Miami Freedom Park, which is to become home to Jorge Mas and David Beckham’ Major League Soccer stadium and a commercial park slated to open in 2025.