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Week of November 23, 2000 |
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SWIRE MARINA: Miami commissioners agreed to be co-applicant for a long-planned marina at 701 Brickell Key Drive. Developer Swire Properties needed the OK before the project could go to the state to ask to use a portion of submerged land. Swire head Stephen Owens said of 120 boat slips proposed, six would be used by the city's marine patrol. The city would not get rent, he said, but Swire would build a 3.6-acre public park. Commissioners questioned how public the park would be if it's built behind a Brickell Key's gate. LENGTHY REVIEW: Commissioner Wifredo Gort said development on 44-acre Claughton Island is worth about $15 million in taxes "without including the Mandarin Hotel." Commissioner Arthur Teele said the commission would have 108 days to withdraw its motion if the city doesn't reach an agreement about the park. The marina proposal has been discussed for more than four years and Mr. Owens said the project would have be reviewed by 13 state, federal and county agencies before it could return to the city commission. Details: (305) 371-3877. A MATTER OF ROADS: Miami commissioners have denied Argentinian Construction Group & Estates of Elvira Pollak a permit to incorporate parts of two dead-end public roads in a planned 24-story, two-tower office buildings in the Roads. Developers wanted to part of 18th Road between Southwest First Avenue and Interstate 95 and part of Second Avenue between I-95 and Molinari Park so cars in the complex could turn around, said Vicky Garcia Toledo, attorney for the developer. Ms. Garcia Toledo said a Roads resident had a permit in 1968 to close part of those streets when I-95 was built. Because the streets had been closed since, they were no longer considered public rights-of-way. MORE ROADS: More than 60 neighbors showed up to press commissioners to vote down the closure. The Roads is a neighborhood of about 1,600 single-family homes. "We urge you not to close the roads," said Linda Koenigsberg, president of the Roads Homeowners Association. "We are always outside walking our dogs or riding bikes." Commissioner Johnny Winton said constructing office buildings without buffers separating them from the houses would also destroy the property value of the homes. PARK COALITION: The Miccosukee Tribe has joined Save Brickell Park Coalition's effort to keep the site as a city park. That brings to 14 the number of groups pushing to undo a settlement between the city and Brickell family that calls for sale of a 4.7-acre property. The park is recorded with the state as a Native American burial grounds, said Steve Terry, spokesman for the Native American Graves Protection and Representation. Details: (305) 755-9034. FOCUS ON MEXICO: The outlook for changes in Miami's ties with Mexico after the inauguration of new president Vicente Fox will be the topic of Miami Today's International Roundtable at 7:30 a.m. Dec. 7 at Union Planters Bank, 2800 Ponce de Leon Blvd., Coral Gables. Reservations requested. Details: Jody Bray, (305) 358-2663. HOUSE ISSUES: Miami-Dade Community College's Mortgage Finance Program and the Fannie Mae Foundation are holding a conference Dec. 4 in the Wyndham Miami Biscayne Bay Hotel, 1601 Biscayne Blvd., on increasing the number of people who own homes in the US. Under the banner, "Expanding Homeownership in a Multi-cultural Context," organizers say they expect leaders from housing finance organizations, government, nonprofits and academia to participate. Martin Fine, partner with the law firm Holland & Knight and co-founder of Greater Miami Neighborhoods Inc., is keynote speaker. Among topics, "there are still some stubborn disparities in homeownership rates," said Teddie Lang, director of the program at M-DCC. Sessions are free and open to the public. Details: (305) 237-3733. TRAVEL MERGER: TravelLeaders Group announced a merger with Irvine,CA-based Sundance Travel International. The combined company keeps the TravelLeaders name and will employ 650 people in 50 offices nationwide, according to Keith St. Clair, TravelLeaders chairman and CEO. Combined revenues, he said, would exceed $550 million. Mr. St. Clair said the merger will give his Coral Gables-based company a West Coast presence and strengthen its bid to become a national heavyweight in the travel services field. NEW EAGLE: Eagle National Bank this week announced the grand opening of its new Doral branch, 9600 NW 25th St. The branch had a soft opening in October, said Robert L. Brookes, president and CEO. He said the office will be headed by Rosie Huc, assistant vice president, and features an ATM, drive-thru and night depository. On Eagle National's horizon, Mr Brookes said, is a branch in Bay Harbor. BUILDERS GIFT: The Building Association of South Florida donated a custom-designed and -built children's playhouse for the Dan Marino Center at Miami Children's Hospital in Weston. The center offers integrated neuro-development medical services for children. A ribbon-cutting ceremony for the gift was held this week. BRAZIL OFFICERS: The Brazilian-American Chamber of Commerce of Florida on Brickell Avenue elected Lucio Amorim, consul general of Brazil in Miami, honorary president; Louana d'Oliveira, executive with Sky3, is president and Roberto Barroso with Banco do Brasil executive vice president. Details: (305) 579-9030. GLOBAL LINKS: The Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce is hosting "Americas Linkage 2000," a two-day program, Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 to promote business between high-level executives from Miami, Latin America and the Caribbean. The by-invitation-only conference will take place at different locations. Details: Larissa Ramos, (305) 577-5433. HOSPITALITY HERE: New York University is host for a "Latin America Hospitality Conference" Nov. 30 and Dec. 1 in the Loews Miami Beach Hotel. For the meeting, Jones Lang LaSalle Hotels, a leading hotel investment banking services group, put together a panel to discuss investment and acquisition opportun="TLs in Latin & South America. Details: (213) 680-7964. |
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