Redevelopment area adds Watson Island, Allapattah as blighted

An agency responsible for the redevelopment of some of Miami’s downtown neighborhoods has been renewed for another 15 years with expanded boundaries including areas of Allapattah and Watson Island, both now officially listed as blighted.

On July 13, City of Miami commissioners who double as board members for the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (Omni CRA) authorized its continued existence throughout 2047. The resolution also broadened the agency’s reach after a finding of necessity showed inadequate facilities, unsafe and unsanitary conditions in Allapattah and Watson Island.

In 1987, the city formed the Omni CRA to carry out renovation and revitalization activities within the boundaries of the designated redevelopment area. Its stated purpose is to breathe life back into Miami’s neighborhoods, alleviate slum and blight, encourage the creation of attainable housing and foster successful development projects in both the public and private sectors.

The agency’s added life and expansion was approved in a 4-1 vote, with Commission Manolo Reyes dissenting over concerns that including Watson Island in the Omni CRA boundaries would take revenue away from projects in other areas of the city.

“Allapattah I wholeheartedly agree with, but I don’t want to compromise the future of the tax increment on this area that could be very well used by other parts of the city like Liberty City, Overtown, Little Havana, etc.,” Mr. Reyes said.

He suggested the tax increment generated by the development of Watson Island should go to the city’s general fund to benefit all of Miami’s neighborhoods.

“I’m looking to the future … there is a lot of development that could come and if we play our cards right, there is going to be billions of dollars of development that could come into the city in additional tax. That additional tax, I want it to be used towards the whole city,” continued Mr. Reyes.

Larry Spring, the city’s chief financial officer, stated a few parameters of the new interlocal agreement with Miami-Dade County hat permit the Omni CRA to continue. Selling points include $1.4 million for the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts, $22 million for ongoing capital improvement costs at Maurice Ferré Park, support for the Underdeck, assistance in the redevelopment of school board properties and $300 million to create and rehabilitate workforce and affordable housing through the end of the CRA.

The agency’s finding of necessity showed that Allapattah and Watson Island have lagged in redevelopment, revitalization and economic growth compared to other parts of the city.

The expanded Allapattah area constitutes 2,730 acres bordered by I-95 on the east, Northwest 27th Avenue on the west, Northwest 39th Street on the north and Northwest Seventh Street on the south. The Watson Island expansion includes 35 acres on the barrier island just off the MacArthur Causeway.

The Florida statute chapter on blight determination lists 15 criteria, two of which must be present for a designation.

The finding of necessity for Allapattah met eight of those conditions, revealing multiple commercial and industrial areas with inadequate parking and street layouts, outdated buildings, underutilized lots and dead-ends.

The analysis also found that while there seems to be a good transit system, the expansion area lacked adequate stops with shelter from the weather and seating.

Watson Island met only three of the blight criteria. The study showed inadequate parking facilities, which the city said creates unsafe conditions for pedestrians. It also depicted exposed debris, garbage and evidence of illegal dumping.

Deeded to the city in 1919, Watson Island is a man-made isle on Biscayne Bay, connected to the mainland and Miami Beach by the MacArthur Causeway. Today, it is home to Jungle Island, Miami Children’s Museum, Miami Yacht Club, Ichimura Miami Japanese Garden and several restaurants.

During public comment, one concerned resident questioned how the island’s blight designation would affect the area’s development and surrounding properties.

“Last time I checked, Watson Island, a beautiful place, is not blighted. And if you’re going to go ahead and make it a blighted place to release monies for development, I would like to see if you could put protections for the Miami Yacht Club. That is a gem for us here in the city and I would hate to see that be part of the bargaining chip with regards to negotiating their lease,” said Albert Gomez.

District two Commissioner Sabina Covo asked her colleague Commissioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, who chairs the Omni CRA, about environmental infrastructure plans, protections and resiliency projects for the island.

“We’re still working on the finer details of our interlocal agreement on where the dollars are going to go, so that is definitely a concern for me too… we’re on the same page on that one and I commit to doing some investment in the environmental concerns that we have for that area,” said Mr. Diaz de la Portilla.

The Watson Island improvements are budgeted under the Omni CRA’s seven-year priority projects. Other redevelopment efforts east of I-95 include the former Miami Herald properties, city and county school board properties, affordable housing, streetscape and infrastructure improvements.

Priority projects in Allapattah include the revitalization of commercial corridors at Northwest Seventh, 17th and 27th avenues and Northwest 20th and 36th streets.

The Omni CRA is also to offer small business incentives, like commercial rehabilitation and beautification grants and merchant assistance programs, to continue establishing the area as a hub for entrepreneurship.