Southplace City Center replacing sleepy Southland mall
Southland mall in Cutler Bay is on track to its $1.5 billion renovation as active leases from stores in the mall are moved in order to continue demolition.
In place of the mall will stand the Southplace City Center. This project will include housing, dining and medical buildings.
The idea of creating a walkable community that would include jobs first began in 2005.
“Back in 2005, Dade County held a charrette and they reached out to the citizens of the area, which at the time was unincorporated Dade County, but we were just starting our incorporation process,” said Cutler Bay Mayor Tim Meerbott, “And the citizens realized that we needed to bring a change to South Dade. Urban sprawl was just not making it very livable South Florida … especially when all the jobs are up north. Traffic getting anywhere out of Cutler Bay … was unbearable, and so they envisioned a walkable, livable community … with housing, jobs, shopping all in one area. And that was the charrette that we have today.”
Southland mall was an underperforming mall, Mayor Meerbott said. “The brick-and-mortar buildings were starting to struggle a little bit and that gave the opportunity for the area to be redeveloped. We started working for the last, I guess, five years almost, since I’ve been mayor. The town manager and I have been actively recruiting people to come in and redevelop that area to make it something better.”
In May 2022, Electra America, a real estate private equity firm, and BH Group, a Miami-based private real estate investment firm, purchased Southland mall. In May 2022, the preliminary plans of the redevelopment were unveiled and showcased the Southplace City Center.
“The first thing they did [Electra America and BH Group], which we were grateful for, is they reached out to us, the town mayors, to … discuss what our vision for the town was in that area, and what their vision was,” said Mayor Meerbott.
“We kind of had a meeting of the minds,” he said. “They’re very cooperative to ensuring the vision of the charrette was fulfilled.
“That was the first step, and then the second step they obviously had to bring their architect in and start sketching out some rough ideas of what they wanted.… The next step, of course, was moving forward with the demolition of the old mall. And they had some components they had to move around.”
“They have a number of active leases there that they have to work with,” he said. “Though the mall was underperforming, there are still some profitable stores in there. They have to work with them, and it’s a slow process as they go forward trying to move their leases around to continue as they do their demolition. And right now … the Sears building has already been demolished, and soon they’ll go ahead and demolish buildings on the north side of the property, and that’s when they’re going to start building the units and the other housing.”
As a result of past events, the building process is expected to move quicker than it normally would.
“The really great part for them [Electra America and BH Group] is, because where they’re building and the charrette has already been done, they don’t need to come to the council for approval,” said Mayor Meerbott. “It’s an administrative process for them. As long as they build within the guidelines of what the Town of Cutler Bay has outlined for them, they don’t need to come for us; they can move a lot quicker than what they normally would.… So far, their building plans are in line with what the vision of Cutler Bay is.”
Based on Electra America and BH group economic impact analysis that the developers provide to the Town of Cutler Bay, 2,727 permanent jobs will be created and 3,092 additional jobs will be created during construction. In addition, Southplace City Center will bring more facilities to the residents in the area.
“They’re going to be doing a one and a half billion-dollar renovation on this,” said Mayor Meerbott. “They’re going to bring in … an additional 150,000 square feet of retail space, a 150-key hotel, 60,000 square feet of medical office space.
“Right now, if you need an MRI or, you know, anything like that, you’ve got to go to Kendall and get it. So, hopefully, with them bringing in more medical buildings, more office space, we can start bringing all those jobs that are up in Kendall and Downtown Miami into Cutler Bay so our residents don’t have to go so far.”
Seena lundstrom
December 20, 2023 at 4:06 pm
Hoping you will leave the regal theater!!!
Violet
January 7, 2024 at 8:34 pm
Hopefully the movie theater, and T.J.Maxx will remain open. But I’m look forward to the outcome of Southplace City Center. Southland is dead and isn’t much of anything, we need a replacement! It needs new stores and fresh ideas!
Richard isrel
December 21, 2023 at 8:34 am
We are looking forward to seeing the project unfold. Is there any time line toward completion?
Pedro Gonzalez
December 21, 2023 at 12:38 pm
Whatever remarks i will make will be worthless, but at least i can speak my mind ..as all citizen in the area of cutler bay can see the super congestion we have in this area due to overpopulated city..bringing people and business wont make a difference. But at the end of the day u wont be able to live in peace. Due to too many people. Got to the point that u can’t even go out to go to places if it is not clug of people and vehicles ..good luck finally me on the personal side u can keep this congestion city ..loving to the north side of Florida where is not too many people and u can breathe !! Good luck
Randolph Molt
December 21, 2023 at 5:33 pm
That’s just what we need, replacing Sleepy Southland mall with a 1.5 Billion dollar city center.and 10,000 more cars for poor Old Cutler road. I’m glad I’m retired and don’t have to drive it every day.
Margaret
December 21, 2023 at 6:34 pm
Will Macy’s and TJ Max remain?
Hope in addition better stores are coming in. Hate having to go to Dadeland!
Ignacio Fernandez
December 22, 2023 at 11:54 am
Cutler Ridge Town Center
Old Cutler Ridge Center
Town Center of Old Cutler Ridge
Is a better option of names. To provide a historical example for the area. Changing names is not the way to go.
I was never a fan of the name Cutler Bay. They should have kept Culter Ridge. Cutler Ridge was built on the Dade County Ridge not on the Bay.
Jeff Cintron
December 22, 2023 at 12:21 pm
I’d like to see the road and highway improvement plan (and the transit improvement plan) to go along with this project. US1 must be six lanes all the way through Florida City. The turnpike must be six lanes (at least) all the way through Florida City. Traffic lights on US1 and on Krome must be replaced with overpasses and/or traffic circles and/or tunnels. I propose a high toll elevated highway and/or tunnel right down the center of Biscayne Bay from The Keys all the way to Aventura with exits to East/West arteries and high parking fee pull-offs/overlooks. This will NOT destroy Biscayne Bay. It will create habitat for fish just like all the bridges in The Keys. How about aerial trams all over Miami-Dade County to supplement Metro Bus, Metro Rail and Metro Mover? Other cities have them! I would not even be against and elevated highway and/or tunnel through the Everglade. Nature will adapt. It’s a shame that we need to do these things, but if we do not stop building, Miami-Dade County will become unlivable in 5-10 years.
Gary
December 26, 2023 at 6:39 am
There has to be something done to move all the extra cars that are already jammed up everywhere and really hurting our environment because the cars are running standing still and nobody can move anywhere and breathe. Bringing more people down there. It’s just gonna make a bigger mess. How about just making the mall a green space with maybe a couple of restaurants but mostly green not concrete and overpopulated people the plans just not gonna work too good for the future
Catherine
January 28, 2024 at 10:45 pm
What a disaster. But, hey. Tim finally got what he wanted. Too bad Cutler Ridge had to join the bandwagon along with its name change. Cutler Ridge was great the way it was before 2005. The good ‘ole days of the Ridge. Thankful for the great memories of living there from 1969 until 2012. Now, it’s one big congested nightmare, about to become even worse. Imagine that.