Arts Center Signs Agreement For Parking Management

By Deserae del Campo
Officials of the Miami Parking Authority and the Miami Performing Arts Center have signed a memorandum of understanding that would have the authority assist with the center’s parking before its October opening.

An operations agreement is the next step.

Mark Trowbridge, parking authority deputy director for business development, said an operations agreement will be drafted after properties to be used for patron parking are "lined up."

Sites in question include land owned by the county school board, Miami-Dade County and the Florida Department of Transportation.

"The School Board’s properties represent approximately 1,000 spaces and would be the largest portion of the parking inventory we propose to assemble and manage for Miami Performing Arts Center," said Art Noriega, authority executive director.

"Last week, we sent a proposal to school board staff for review and comment," he said. "They will forward it to the school board for consideration once it’s agreed to in principle. We anticipate that this proposal will be met with positive reaction and are optimistic that it will be approved following due diligence."

"We don’t foresee any major obstacles in executing the parking plan for Miami Performing Arts Center," Mr. Trowbridge said. "We are staying in close contact with the arts center with weekly conference calls and we are pleased to be able to lend our expertise to this important initiative."

An operations agreement, once finalized, will highlight the total number of spaces available for patron parking along with a price structure, said Suzette Espinosa, publicist with the arts center.

Center board members signed the memorandum of understanding March 23. The center has no parking of its own for its two buildings, which are to open Oct. 5. Center officials and parking representatives have said that their agreement would be temporary, until center operators could make their own permanent parking arrangements. Advertisement