Watson Island project awaits permits, financing
By Yeleny Suarez
Development of a planned resort on Watson Island is awaiting marina permits, financing and hotel operators.
"The lease agreement between the City of Miami and developers states all the conditions precedent must be completed by Jan 1, 2007," said Laura Billberry, assistant director of the City of Miami's economic development department.
In addition to the need for pending permits, two homeowners on Venetian Island have filed suit challenging the city's approval of a major use special permit. "Therefore, the timeframe for actually executing the lease is uncertain," Ms. Billberry said.
"We are aware of the lawsuit, and believe it is without merit and will defend it in court. Other than timing issues, we do not believe that the project will be affected in any way," said Flagstone Property Group project director Joseph L. Herndon.
Flagstone's proposed project includes two luxury high-rise hotels, 50 marina slips and more than 230,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space.
On June 24 a state trust that overseas public lands and is comprised of Gov. Jeb Bush, Attorney General Charlie Crist, Chief Financial Officer Tom Gallagher and Agriculture Commissioner Charles Bronson gave the city a deed waiver for use of the land. The waiver was needed to allow development on the island, which was deeded to the city in 1949 for public use.
"While some items such as obtaining marina permits and the waiver of deed restriction have not occurred within the timeframe initially anticipated, these delays are not affecting the outside date for executing the ground lease," Ms. Billberry said.
Mr. Herndon seems to agree.
"The project planned for Watson Island will be built just as all of the governmental agencies approved it and by a majority of voters," he said. "There are no obstacles that will prevent the development of this project. We have most of the major permitting behind us. Any open matters are routine for a development of this size."
According to Ms. Billberry, developer Flagstone Property Group and the City of Miami have diligently met their obligations but negotiation of some items and getting approvals such as marina permits from Department of Environmental Resource Management, the South Florida Water Management District and the Army Corps of Engineers are taking longer than anticipated.
These permits, however, don't have a deadline within the lease agreement so no deadlines have been missed.
"We have secured the waiver of deed restriction and marina permit from the South Florida Water Management District. We are still trying to get the marina permits from DERM and the Corps," Ms. Billberry said.
Securing development approvals including the marina permits and the major use special permit, she said, will pave the way for subsequent steps that include completing the financing package and securing hotel operators.
Mr. Herndon says construction will take about two years once all permits are obtained.
http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/040916/story6.shtml

Island Gardens

Island Gardens is the latest project to join the Watson Island redevelopment initiative. This $400 million waterfront project is being developed as a public-private partnership between the City and Flagstone Properties, LLC. The project was selected through a competitive proposal process that commenced in February of 2001 with the issuance of a request for proposals and concluded in November 2001 with the approval of the voters through a public referendum.


The mixed-use development will combine two luxury hotels, retail, dining, entertainment, cultural facilities and civic art in an intimate village setting facing a 50-slip mega yacht marina in Biscayne Bay. Members of the Flagstone development team include Eric R. Kuhne & Associates, concept architects, Spillis Candela DMJM, architects and engineers, EDSA Landscape Architects & Planners, Eric R. Kuhne & Associates, concept architects, Camper & Nicholsons Marinas, Ltd., SeaSecure LLC, and cultural partners Fairchild Tropical Garden and The Historical Museum of South Florida.

Island Gardens was approved by City Commission on July 8, 2004 and is expected to go in front of Miami-Dade County Commission in September 2004 on the marina aspect of the proposal.

A 100-foot set back along the water’s edge will be maintained as a public promenade to ensure that the dramatic views of downtown Miami, the Port of Miami, and Biscayne Bay are preserved. Throughout the property, landscaping, performance venues, and art installations will add intrigue and excitement for visitors. An added attraction of the project will be the mega yachts themselves - majestic-floating castles. Upon its completion, Island Gardens will become a unique destination, unsurpassed in all of South Florida.
http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/economicdevelopment/Projects/IslandGardens.asp

Oh No!....did the project design change!

this is the pic from the link above

http://www.ci.miami.fl.us/economicdevelopment/Projects/Images/Rendering_011504W.jpg



but this is the design that I thought was the one to be executed

http://miamirealestatetrends.com/images/StarterImages/IslandGardensMainPic.jpg

Yeah It was Changed a while ago...The old Rendering has been floating around still for a while

Yes STREET, the design had been changed to the one on top, BUT any design, this is going to be Great! THIS will be Built and READY for SuperBowl 2007 Tourists in Both Hotels. MIAMI Wants it and They'll get all the permits to do it. THE STATE has given the City of Miami the wavier for the Project. There's just 2 homeowner lawsuits against it, but the developer thinks he can fight it in court. This will Upgrade Watson Island and the Parrot Jungle.

I'm not a big fan of this project. I think it's too much and it's on public land. This could be a great park, with great views of the city, but all we can think to do with it is build this monstrosity.

Although I really like the building itself...and am all for new development.........I do feel that Miami does not have enough public parks....in fact Miami was ranked one of the lowest cities re. parks sq.ft per capita in the United States. Land such as the Watson Island project should be reserved for something that benefits the general public......or atleast...the funds should be openly used for the public benefit eg. other parks/public facilties. Wouldn't it be great to have a huge park like Central Park in NYC either in Brickell or downtown surrounded by huge tall buildings!!

Greenwich Group, BF Capital To Finance Nearly 2M-SF Project
By Melissa Bogdany
Last updated: Monday, October 18, 2004 06:19am

MIAMI-The developers of Island Gardens, a 1.6-million-sf, mixed-use project proposed for Watson Island, have retained Greenwich Group International LLC and BF Capital Partners LLC, both based in New York, to provide equity, mezzanine and debt financing to develop the more than $450-million project.

The firms are financing 65% of the project cost, or an estimated $294 million, through construction debt. The other 35%, or about $158 million, is to be funded with equity. Flagstone Property Group LLC; its managing partner, Flagstone Development Corp., and its project subsidiary, Flagstone Island Gardens LLC are developing the project. The financing terms are to be negotiated.

Flagstone has committed to contributing equity of at least $22 million to the project capitalization, or nearly 14% of the planned equity. Through Sept. 30, the company already had invested and committed about $12 million of the committed equity capital to fund expenses, a figure expected to grow to $14 million by the end of the year. Flagstone is looking to raise about $136 million in equity from investors for the capitalization.

The waterfront development will consist of a 345-key, four-star business/resort hotel; a 135-key, five-star luxury hotel that also will provide services to the fractional residences above the hotel floors; 105 units of luxury fractional ownership, with seven fractions each unit; 221,000 rentable sf of high-end retail and dining space; a 43-slip deepwater mega-yacht marina; a 30,000-sf, upscale, holistic spa; and a five-level parking garage for more than 1,600 cars. In addition, public spaces and amenities will include gardens, a promenade, an expanded and enhanced fresh fish market, and water taxi service to Downtown and cruise ship terminals.

“In today’s marketplace, this is probably the most unique property in the country,” says Thomas P. Kennedy, managing director of the Greenwich Group International. The project site is on 10.8 acres of uplands and 13.5 acres of submerged land.

“In most real estate projects, location, location, location” are what make them successful, Kennedy says. “It’s a unique opportunity to create a landmark project. You don’t have a lot of opportunities” like that. "It’s on an island between the City of Miami and South Beach, directly across from where the cruise ships come in.”

Currently, the land houses a children’s museum and a bird zoo, which will stay, according to Kennedy. Infrastructure work has begun on the new project, and it has an anticipated completion of September 2007.
http://www.globest.com/news/139_139/miami/127632-1.html

If it is public land, then surely the city or county is making a boodle on the land sale or lease. Those funds should at least be used to pay for the creation of a park elsewhere.

I am only sad about fishmarket since i wont be able to get my oysters to get my groove on with the ladies

I like it, I'm sure they can build a park somewhere else, Hey any news on how tall te towers are gonna be?

I like it, I'm sure they can build a park somewhere else, Hey any news on how tall te towers are gonna be?
BHK, :) This could be the Latest news coming up at the CITY Commission Meeting THIS MONTH, THE HOTEL TOWER, the Smallest One could reach 45 Stories, BUT the TALLER ONE, A CONDO-HOTEL TOWER Could REACH 80 STORIES, But this Might Not Be True, BUT we will FIND OUT SOON, After the Meeting. There is NO FAA :bash: HEIGHT LIMIT ON WATSON ISLAND !!!, Which could allow these TOWERS to go HIGHER !!! :cheers:

i doubt they would build an isolated 80 story tower on this island, but still wouldnt that b great

also, wouldnt this have been a great place for a marlins stadium? i mean, u cant beat the view on watson island, and baylink should have a stop rite on the island, its publicly held land, i wonder y that never hapnd, i really dont think that next to the orange bowl was really the best place for that

is wouldnt have been good park land at all. although i agree that miami is in desperate need of more parks, a park on an island that has nothing but a amusment park (parrot jungle), a enclosed indoor childrens museum surrounded by parking lot, and a major highway, worst place for a park ever, although the view is amaxings, going bak to my idea y this would have been a great place for the marlins stadium

miami keeps offering watson island for a spot for the ftaa headquarters, where would it go? isnt pretty much all the land taken up by the children's museum, parrot jungle, the japanese gardens, and this future monster hotel complex

^^That's what I was thinking...however, Miami Today News points out that all of these projects can fit on the island!!

^^That's what I was thinking...however, Miami Today News points out that all of these projects can fit on the island!!
YES, Its TRUE STREET :) , and the 53-Story ISLAND GARDENS HOTEL has got the City Permits and Approved to start Building the HOTEL Part. Next is the PROPOSED 80 Story CONDO TOWER to go up next to the Hotel, Thats the HUGE ONE going to the City This Month ! :cheers:

wow now watson island is getting a skyline of its own loll,

i guess miami and miami beach skylines are gonna merge together, lool

LOL MIAballinboi :) , Like the CHINA WALL, I guess the WALL of Towers between Both Cities would kind of look that way if BOTH Watson Island Towers Get Built and Maybe more planned in the Future, THE MIAMI WALL, lol. :cheers:

If I'm not mistaken, the condo tower on Watson Island was to go before the city this month....Anyone have any news on this?

Yea whatever happened to the 80- story hotel/condo??

Check out this website:

http://www.ftaa-alca.org/tnc/candidate_e.asp

Click on Miami and then click on:SUBMISSION REGARDING THE ELEMENTS FOR CONSIDERATION IN THE EVALUATION OF
CANDIDATE SITES FOR THE FTAA SECRETARIAT

Its an Aobe Reader Document describing why Miami should get the FTAA but towards the bottom starting on page 61 it shows the Watson Island proposed site and it shows renderings of it next to the proposed Island Gardens. For all the hoopla it really is a small little thing and won't take up that much space..

ok when do we findout whetther we got the bid for ftaa,and if the 80 story is going up

Check out the "Atlanta vs. Miami - The Bid for the FTAA Headquarters" thread in the Southeast forum.. We won't find out for a little while. The document hasn't even been drafted up yet and it was projected to be done around January but the date has been pushed back. They also need 34 signatures from the countries involved once the document is done and that will take even longer with some countries holding-out. Once all that is done then the FTAA will start thinking about picking a headquarters city..

so safe to say atleast a year

Pretty much, but what about this Island Garden project?? If the 80-story tower was proposed this month shouldn't it be in the City Council meeting minutes? I think Chuck said something about it being done before the 2007 superbowl. Wow! That would be awesome!!

doubt it it would, probably be topped out in 2007 if it started soon

Does anyone know who to contact if interested in buying a unit at the proposed island gardens? I've heard they will mainly be hotel, with a few condo units...any new updates on the project????
Thanks from downtowner!

Chuck should know... he knows everything... :)

Chuck should know... he knows everything... :)
YES JZ :) , We Have to KNOW THE FACTS :) here in the SkyscraperCity Forums, Its one of the Rules to GIVE FACTS, But the Years for this ISLAND GARDENS to be Completed Have Changed, the 53 Story hotel will be Completed in 2009, Instead of 2007, Due to Design Changes and Maybe a Change to the 80 Story Condo Tower Also. I will Try again to talk to the Men closer to UGO Columbo at his GROVENOR HOUSE Tower in Coconut Grove Condo Tower, and GET MORE FACTS and Updates.I'm sorry again, BUT I will find out MORE INFO soon., ALSO there's a CITY of MIAMI Meeting coming up at the end of January, I'll be there !!! :cheers:
BY the Way :) , the Grovenor House Condo Tower :) has just completed the 12 th Floor, Only a Third from Completion of 32 FLOORS, and VERY BULKY, This Tower will piss off many Tigertail Avenue Residents :bash: When completed,, LOL. :cheers:

yea grovenor house is one fat tower,it like the size of santamaria and jade.and chuck that commision meeting around the 26 of january is going to be jamed pack with new developments,paramount park,and paramount edgewater,miami riverfront west parcel,miami rivertown,lynx,silverton project,pinnacle,and so many others that we don't know about.so i'm going to be watching on t.v.

anyone who wants to see it,its on comcast channel 9-starts at 9am-8pm.

http://img10.exs.cx/img10/9906/background641es.jpg

good pic uptown,

hey chuck whatever hapned with that 80 story structure!! were in suspense, come on ugo u can do it lool

NOw that's awesome!. Great find uptown

Good News Uptown-Midtown :) , It will be a ALL-DAY MEETING and I believe Every Tower :) will pass this time Around. MIAMI WANTS More Towers and MANNY DIAZ will Push for every TALL TOWER :) , He wants it to look like NEW YORK CITY, Where's DONALD TRUMP ??? :cheers:

chuck trump if u noticed started with those 3 towers in sunny isles, then slowly lol moved south with the trump towers, and in a couple months will keep moving south to fill up the land and make the scrapers touch the height limit lool and even pass it by 1 foot

actually it was williams island in aventura

Does anyone know who to contact if interested in buying a unit at the proposed island gardens? I've heard they will mainly be hotel, with a few condo units...any new updates on the project????
Thanks from downtowner!
OKAY DOWNTOWNER :) EVERYONE ELSE :) , Here WE GO, its BEEN RE-Approved, :cheers: in Yesterday's Miami Herald, Wednesday, MARCH 2nd, 2005, Business SECTION Page3C, Business BRIEFS Column,> " WATSON ISLAND " :) DEVELOPER WINS BATTLE OVER HOTEL :cheers: , A Four Judge Panel handed a VICTORY :cheers: Tuesday, MARCH 1st, To FLAGSTONE " Island Gardens " , the Developer of a HOTEL and MARINA Complex on MIAMI's WATSON ISLAND. :cheers:
The MIAMI-DADE Circuit Panel :) ruled MIAMI :) Officials FOLLOWED Proper Procedure in APPROVING :) the 450 MILLION PROJECT !!! :cheers: , Which is to be built on CITY Owned LAND !!!. :cheers:
A Lawyer :bash: for the Plaintiffs, TWO FREAKY :weirdo: NIMBY RESIDENTS :bash: of Nearby Biscayne ISLAND Said NO Decisions have been made About an APPEAL !!!
:cheers:
OK< LETS BUILD IT NOW !!!, GO CRANES !!! :) , 53 FLOORS ONE Tower, the Other is in question, BUT at 450 MILLION :) Dollars , I'll bet thats the OTHER Close to 80 Story Condo Tower UGO Columbo was talking about. We'll have to WAIT and SEE . :cheers:

WATSON ISLAND

DEVELOPER WINS BATTLE OVER HOTEL

A four-judge panel handed a victory Tuesday to Flagstone Island Gardens, the developer of a hotel and marina complex on Miami's Watson Island.

The Miami-Dade Circuit Court panel ruled Miami officials followed proper procedure in approving the $450-million project, which is to be built on city-owned land. A lawyer for the plaintiffs, two residents of nearby Biscayne Island, said no decisions have been made about an appeal.
http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/business/11025126.htm

Thats great news. When do we get the details on the 80 story tower?

^^again i've never heard of a 80 story tower anywhere in miami.

Uptown, look at your own Nov. 16 posting on page 1 of this thread. :) The 80 story tower is the Watson Island condo tower proposal. Check out the prior articles posted and Chuck's commentary. The 53 story hotel-- apparently was approved at 53 stories. The condo tower-- we don't know yet.

Chuck, since there's no height limit on the island, maybe they can get it thru.

again jz,no developer has ever mentioned an 80 story tower,i know chuck has mentioned it but i still wanna see more info on this.and if it were to be proposed there is no where to put it and zoning will never allow it becuase its state land and the public can rightfully oppose,a tower of this size would also not be allowed to go here becuase a 520 is already going to go up and traffic on the causeway is alrweady terrible so to me this is a pipedream for a developer or anyone who wants to build this.but one thing i do think could happen is an observation tower on watson island but thats just something i want to happen.

An observation Tower would be awesome. Anyway an 80 story building probably means a new tallest.. and IF that's the case I'd love to have it in the cbd or brickell.

Uptown, look at your own Nov. 16 posting on page 1 of this thread. :) The 80 story tower is the Watson Island condo tower proposal. Check out the prior articles posted and Chuck's commentary. The 53 story hotel-- apparently was approved at 53 stories. The condo tower-- we don't know yet.

Chuck, since there's no height limit on the island, maybe they can get it thru.
TRUE JZ :) , Altho the 53 Floor Island Gardens HOTEL :) has been approved and getting started SOON :) , to be Completed in 2009 :cheers: , the CONDO Building has NOT been designed YET, But the rumor at the Sales center in Coconut Grove was UGO COLUMBO :) is planning a Close to 800 FOOT CONDO TOWER :) on Watson Island, This was back in NOV. , 2004, :cheers: We have to WAIT and SEE :) , His Dupont Plaza Twin Tower PROJECT is NEXT, :cheers: And I went by there today in Dupont Plaza, and the SITE is Cleared NOW and Ground Preparation is being Done on the OLD Dupont Plaza SITE. :cheers:

but has it been approved chuckster?

I still hate the project. I think it should be left as a grand park for us all to sit and watch our skyline.

but has it been approved chuckster?


its hasn't because if it would, it would be in the city development report

Very interesting. I was not aware of that. However, I will say this, I personally think a Condo tower would more likely be approved over an observation tower ONLY b/c the visiting traffic to the structure would be less (residents vs. tourists). But, an observation tower is considered a public place...

I think controversy could be alleviated if the developer put money towards widening the bridge from Watson to the mainland either with a dedicated lane or with improved ramps. I just don't know how much something like that would cost.

old design
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/enyers/watson3.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v289/enyers/watson1.png

Wow ! It looks like a CN Tower encased in glass ! what will they think of next ?

Yeah! It has an uncanny resemblance to the CN Tower cut an pasted onto the Children's Musuem. What a clever rendering :cheers:

loool,

thats just the cn tower copied and pasted, and the one who did this sucked @ photoshop so you can see the outline of the sky around it :hahaha:

gosh you guys are mean,i wasn't trying to make it look all real and stuff,anyways something like it would look cool on watson

lol na uptown, but that would seem kinda cool an observation deck on watson island, over 1000 feet would kick ass, best views of miami and the beaches!

Very visionary. You know what, I could see them building the world's tallest tower on that island-- barring FAA backlash. It would be the perfect place for the perfect tower--and then build a people mover that would shuttle people to the mainland ($$$). It would be spectacular.

watever they put here is always gonna luk kinda awkward cause its just gonna be sittin there by itself inthe middle of the ocean surrounded by downtown and south beach... but w/, hope it luks kik ass and awkward at the same time

wat if they scrapped this idea... put the mcarthur underground, and made watson island a nicely sized theme park incorporating parrot jungle and the children's museum... kinda like a year round youth fair... in this kik ass location... now that would kik ass... we just gotta raise about a billion dollars and its done

i got 10 bux... everybody contribute their part... roark, mr south beach, i no ur pockets r nice and deep... give a little for your fellow man

25 cents here. :okay:

"roark, mr south beach, i no ur pockets r nice and deep"


loool, comeon give up a couple of gs, to build this

good idea, a theme park would be nice there, with a 1000 foot observation deck, like the stratosphere las vegas, lol that would really kick ass and get all the tourists

:2cents: roark we all know you're the big money spender with units at bor,and riverfront and on revueltas payroll
25 cents here. :okay:

gosh you guys are mean,i wasn't trying to make it look all real and stuff,anyways something like it would look cool on watson

you know we luv ya, uptown.

Now where's that Lynx pic ?! :bash: :)

I've got a quid left over from my eurotrip.

Now where's that Lynx pic ?! :bash: :)


I too have been waiting on the big surprise...the one you mentioned in one of your phototours...Cough it up Uptown! :poke:

oh yeah, i forgot about that. stop being such a tease, uptown, & give it up!

wait, that didn't come out like i meant it...

you guys kill me. :)

JZ :) , its LIKE the GREAT Man , Himself, RODNEY KING, " Why Can't we JUST GET ALONG " LOL. :cheers:

I want that 80 story condo built. is that so wrong? :)

Heres The Updated Renderings thought id post some renderings since its been a while i had done so....


http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/6321/0100014rc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img476.imageshack.us/img476/8445/hotel06shangrilabiztmc3tk.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

That rendering has been around since atleast the 6th of October. I think there are two threads going for this one topic. Someone posted that rendering on the thread titled "Construction firm to start work on Island Gardens".

check again

I'll say it again. Miami is leading the way in breaking out of the American pinstripe mold this development cycle. I don't even care if it gets the odd Chinese-looking skyscraper out of it (not talking about these).

I like the Shangri-La rendering better. It had a gold strip running down the taller building while in this rendering, it is white.

Really nice buildings! Imagnine the views from each of those rooms! By the way, are they going to set up a little helipad on top?

I like the Shangri-La rendering better. It had a gold strip running down the taller building while in this rendering, it is white.

The rendering I was talking about:
http://www.shangri-la.com/miami/shangri-la/en/index.aspx

Posted on Sat, Nov. 19, 2005

WATSON ISLAND
Hotel plan bashed for communist ties

BY OSCAR CORRAL
ocorral@herald.com

They billed it as paradise's newest address in Miami: Shangri-La, a luxury hotel on Watson Island, the city of Miami's most precious piece of waterfront land.

There's just one catch. The company that owns the hotel chain, Shangri-La Hotels and Resorts, is based in Hong Kong, now part of communist China. The majority of the company's holdings are in mainland China. And the chain's goal is to cater to Chinese executives looking to do business with Latin America.

Now some Cuban exile activists and politicians are wondering why the city of Miami, the capital of the anti-communist exilio, would dare offer its best land to a hotel chain based in a communist country and catering to business people who purportedly have to toe the Communist Party line to stay in business.

http://www.miami.com/mld/miamiherald/news/local/13208054.htm

Ahhh, miami just wouldn't be miami without the right-wing cuban exiles...fidel fidel fidel, commie commie commie....blah blah blah.

Are they going to sit down and stop traffic on the MacArthur and protest over this pissing off every single non-cuban in the area when they don't get their way like they've done before?

I like the Shangri-La rendering alot better.. Hopefully we'll get that one. We'll just have to wait this one out and see.

Ahhh, miami just wouldn't be miami without the right-wing cuban exiles...fidel fidel fidel, commie commie commie....blah blah blah.

Are they going to sit down and stop traffic on the MacArthur and protest over this pissing off every single non-cuban in the area when they don't get their way like they've done before?

The real capital minded hustlin Cubans know money is money and if its not from the devil himself (Fidel) then its all gravy..

"Cuban activists" and "Latin-American activists" hell even "black activists" are usually those wanting to stay in the print and stay hot and fresh and to stand for something even if most people their representing beg to differ.

Cuban investors have invested and help finance several projects that Chinese investors invested in so theres no sense for activists to be getting all hot.

Great article I just found critiquing the Herald article:

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/051124/story-viewpoint.shtml

Just when we thought we'd outgrown childish name-calling ...

By Michael Lewis
Miami's most welcome change has been to smooth ethnic frictions. A community once divided against itself along ethnic lines has grown far closer together even as it has grown more ethnically diverse.
Why?
First, as persons flock here from around the globe, they bring more urbanity and none of the intolerance that once poisoned the stew.
Second, it's hard to be "us against them" when there are so many different "thems" out there.
Third, as opportunities have blossomed, it has become easier for all to improve economic status. Not that everyone catapults ahead - just that the opportunities are there.
Fourth, we've come to realize that the divisions of opinion that touch every city are usually based on something other than ethnicity, and we've learned not to characterize all frictions as ethnic divisions.
Fifth, respect for one another grows as we know and understand each other better and keep a civil tongue in civic discourse. And with respect, evils like envy and meanness and downright hatred shrivel and die.
Pockets of poison do remain here, but they're marginalized by a propensity to look beyond labels, be they ethnic, racial, gender-based or ideological. Responsible institutions and individuals have given short shrift to fringe players whose tongues shoot poison-tipped arrows of ethnic and political bigotry.
At least, that's what I thought until Saturday, when the Miami Herald resurrected the name-calling fringe and dignified it with a platform.
Miami Today several times has reported the background of that story, as recently as two days before Saturday's Herald article — developer Mehmet Bayraktar, whose company is to develop a $480 million project on city-owned Watson Island, plans two upper-end hotels there, one being the first Shangri-La in the US. The hotel company is based in Hong Kong.
The Herald's headlines on its story will turn stomachs in Miami after years of ethnic harmonies: "Hotel plan bashed for communist ties" and, in massive type on the story's continuation, "China link angers Cubans."
The Herald story quotes three persons who are upset that a company based in China could be allowed on a city site, saying it is a slap in the face to Cuban Americans, who are anti-communist.
Note up front that nobody can link Fidel Castro to a company that operates 48 luxury hotels very capitalistically on multiple continents - except in the minds or on the tongues of professionally virulent name-callers.
Of the three quoted hotel foes, two are radio commentators who make a living by trying to link disliked individuals and organizations to Fidel Castro. They do it well enough to persuade the Herald that when three persons speak, a newspaper should respond with "China link angers Cubans" - a vastly broader group than the three represent.
Take the two people who defended the deal in the article - Miami City Manager Joe Arriola and Miami-Dade County Commissioner and former city manager Carlos Gimenez. Last time I checked, they were also Cuban-American - and persons of considerable standing.
So at worst, the headline should have read, "China link angers some." Three persons are upset, but the ethnic group that's cited comes down squarely on both sides of the issue, showing that this is a political story, not an ethnic division.
At best, the headline shouldn't have existed at all because a responsible newspaper with thousands of stories available would have considered the source and realized that all it had were three folks who could be counted on, if asked, to say exactly what they did say. Is that a major news story in Miami?
Now, I'm not defending the hotel or the whole Watson Island deal. Lots of questions can be raised. It's a proper subject of rigorous debate. After all, they're not making any more waterfront land hereabouts, and the city is custodian of a very valuable tract that has been handed to a single developer. All sorts of serious economic and land-use questions are proper.
What's not proper is a headline that states that the hotel has communist ties - because that's what "Hotel plan bashed for communist ties" says. It doesn't say "alleged communist ties" - it assumes that if "activist and radio personality Ninoska Perez-Castellon" and city commissioner and radio commentator Tomas Regalado bash it, it's got communist ties.
That's worse than allowing name-calling in print - it's not only dignifying the ridiculous in a major newspaper, it's accepting the name-calling as fact.
That's what this community got away from years back. That's what we escaped when we stopped stirring the caldron of ethnic poisons and branding one another communist and instead started dignifying one another.
Hasn't that newspaper noticed the reports of China's growing ties around the globe, including plans to set up bases in Miami as links to Latin American markets?
Haven't editors noticed that another company based in Hong Kong, Swire, has been developing Brickell Key for decades in a highly capitalistic manner - including bringing in the renowned Mandarin Oriental Hotel, about to celebrate its fifth anniversary here as one of our most luxurious hotels?
Hasn't that newspaper noticed that Florida International University is about to open a branch of its own renowned hotel school in China, where Cuban-American professors from Miami will be teaching Chinese students how to manage luxury hotels like the Shangri-La in the best capitalistic traditions? Do they know that the president of FIU, Modesto Maidique, is a proud Cuban American who is also very proud of his university's links with China?
Don't they know that just because three people criticize something - anything - it's not necessarily news in a county of 2.3 million potential critics? Some news judgment is required.
One of the wonderful things about living in the United States is that we in the press are free to say whatever we please.
Radio commentators can call virtually everything they don't like communist.
A newspaper can unthinkingly agree in its headlines and go on to say that the community's hundreds of thousands of Cuban Americans agree, based on two radio commentators' assertions.
And I could characterize them all in print.
But in the spirit of healing the wounds that they've inflicted, I'll skip the name-calling.
You can decide which media sources you also want to skip.

AWESOME article!

So at worst, the headline should have read, "China link angers some." Three persons are upset, but the ethnic group that's cited comes down squarely on both sides of the issue, showing that this is a political story, not an ethnic division.Yeah...great article Michael. I feel your pain, the Herald writes some very ridiculous stuff.

Miami pushes developer closer to Watson Island groundbreaking

By Deserae del Campo
Miami commissioners last week took a series of steps needed for Flagstone Island Gardens to develop its $480 million project with a pair of luxury hotels and a mega-yacht marina on city-owned Watson Island.
They granted Flagstone the right to use about 10.8 acres above ground and 13.4 submerged acres for groundwork relocations and modifications, environmental mitigation, seawall repairs and reconstruction, roadway work, tree relocation, dredging and filling of land, installing sales and construction offices, and temporary and final utilities.
"Five years ago, the city issued a request for proposals for this project," said Lori Billberry, city director of economic development. "Flagstone should break ground on Watson Island some time this year. The items on the agenda included construction, infrastructure and greenspace for the general use of the island."
In 2001, city officials awarded Miami Beach-based Flagstone Property Group a 75-year ground lease on Watson Island, and in July 2004, the city commission approved the major use special permit for the development.
Flagstone is creating a master plan for the 5.5 acres of open space on Watson Island, Ms. Billberry said. "It's one consideration for using the island that Flagstone is creating the master plan."
"This is a signature project for the city that was approved by the state," said Commissioner Joe Sanchez, "especially with the master plan created for a pedestrian connection onto the island."
The state's Board of Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund approved the Flagstone development and the city's issuance of an easement on June 24, 2004.
Island Gardens is to include a four-star and a five-star hotel, 221,000 square feet of retail space and eight restaurants with ocean views.
A 50-slip mega-yacht marina capable of accommodating yachts 450 feet long and a 24,100-square-foot luxury resort spa are part of the project.

wow.

Heres The Updated Renderings thought id post some renderings since its been a while i had done so....


http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/6321/0100014rc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7412/aviationcenter01vo1.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img131.imageshack.us/img131/7535/aviationcenter02ul3.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

http://img167.imageshack.us/img167/605/aviationcenter03ea8.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Wow awesome .... what is that on the bottom ,an open mall or something .....

Cool.

Heres The Updated Renderings thought id post some renderings since its been a while i had done so....


http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/6321/0100014rc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Has anyone heard about when this might get underway? I think it is one of the great elements for the future of the Skyline...near future I hope??

Im really hoping if this is built they put a restaurant on the top floor! Id also really like seeing the super yacts! :cheers:

So is the taller skyscraper from the rendering the proposed Shangri-la Hotel~ Miami?

I'm very glad to see Chalks have space there still... I would love to start seeing them flying from government cut again.

-James.

I agree with you james but I think those renderings were pre that very visible chalk crash into the bay last year and I don't know if they are ever really coming back

I agree with you james but I think those renderings were pre that very visible chalk crash into the bay last year and I don't know if they are ever really coming back

Chalk's is based out of Ft. Lauderdale these days (it's their corporate home also) and it doesn't seem very likely they'll be returning to Watson Island at this point.

A shame, really. Those seaplanes were a pretty iconic Miami sight and I think Chalk's is the oldest continually flying commercial airline as well, which was a nice historical sidelight. My dad had a brief business relationship with them when we were sending fishing charters to Bimini years ago and the Chalk's people were always extraordinarily nice...and it was a thrill to ride one of those planes just a few hundred feet above the water.

But hey, at least they still exist. That crash was their ONLY mishap in almost 90 years of flying.

Chalk's is based out of Ft. Lauderdale these days (it's their corporate home also) and it doesn't seem very likely they'll be returning to Watson Island at this point.

A shame, really. Those seaplanes were a pretty iconic Miami sight and I think Chalk's is the oldest continually flying commercial airline as well, which was a nice historical sidelight. My dad had a brief business relationship with them when we were sending fishing charters to Bimini years ago and the Chalk's people were always extraordinarily nice...and it was a thrill to ride one of those planes just a few hundred feet above the water.

But hey, at least they still exist. That crash was their ONLY mishap in almost 90 years of flying.

Totally incorrect. Chalk's seaplane fleet is currently being rebuilt, so the planes are going to be like new. In the mean time, they will soon be announcing a partnership with Houston-based Expressjet, who will fly aircraft for Chalk out of Ft. Lauderdale. The seaplanes, when the rebuilds are complete, will all be based out of Watson Island.

Totally incorrect. Chalk's seaplane fleet is currently being rebuilt, so the planes are going to be like new. In the mean time, they will soon be announcing a partnership with Houston-based Expressjet, who will fly aircraft for Chalk out of Ft. Lauderdale. The seaplanes, when the rebuilds are complete, will all be based out of Watson Island.

That would be wonderful. The Chalk's website makes no mention of any of this, not could I find anything about it by Googling (admittedly quickly) except for a possible restoration of a Watson Island/Bimini link but I'd love to see them do it.

Would it just be the seaplane for Miami/Bimini with the rest of their flight operations remaining Ft. Lauderdale-based, or something more? You seem to have more info on this than I can find.

http://www.miamisunpost.com/0614groundwork.htm

Discussion is over and the Island Gardens project (on a reincarnated Watson Island) is shaping up as an interesting waterfront development bringing another upscale name to Miami. The Shangri-La Residences will be integrated with two hotel towers, Shangri-La and Westin; the Super Yacht Harbor; Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La; high-end retail shops; world-class dining; a waterfront promenade; leisure gardens; and a maritime gallery. Incongruous as it sounds, a fish market is also on the drawing board, intended to revive a long-standing Watson Island tradition.

The Shangri-La Residences at Island Gardens, located on the upper floors of the Shangri-La Hotel, will offer the eponymous high service standards to residents of nearly 100 one- to four-bedroom luxury residences ranging from about 850 to 3,700 square feet with oversized terraces. Each residence will be fully furnished by Piero Lissoni, a leading Italian interior designer.

The Shangri-La Residences are following a growing trend: fractional ownership. Buyers will have an interest basis with eight fractions per residence so they can use the property for much longer periods than in a conventional condo-hotel situation. The expected Shangri-La Residences services include a chauffeur for airport pick-up and return, as well as in-town on call; pre-arrival shopping and custom-catered meals on request; delivery, unpacking and set-up of personal belongings prior to arrival; packing up and storage of personal belongings in a secure, climate-controlled environment after departure; and a full butler service and round-the-clock concierge. Among the amenities: a swimming pool, a poolside grill restaurant, a fitness center, a residents’ lounge and a library. No word on unit prices, but Island Gardens is scheduled to break ground this fall.

http://www.miamisunpost.com/0614groundwork.htm

Discussion is over and the Island Gardens project (on a reincarnated Watson Island) is shaping up as an interesting waterfront development bringing another upscale name to Miami. The Shangri-La Residences will be integrated with two hotel towers, Shangri-La and Westin; the Super Yacht Harbor; Chi, The Spa at Shangri-La; high-end retail shops; world-class dining; a waterfront promenade; leisure gardens; and a maritime gallery. Incongruous as it sounds, a fish market is also on the drawing board, intended to revive a long-standing Watson Island tradition.

I'll be completely honest...I'm looking more forward to this than any sort of "museum/park" they may have to offer at Bayfront anytime in the (near) future.

I think that driving from the airport to the beach will be the most exciting drive in the country in 4 years.

The back of the Biscayne wall...then whizzing by Marquis on one side , quick look left at those massive performing arts buildings, No look over here to the right that museum by Herzog and Demueron is outrageous and that park is beautiful, Oh shit look in front of us at those Shangri-La towers on that little Watson Island and all those huge yachts, then the cruise ships then Star and Hibiscus islands and the ferry to where those rich folk live then approaching the beautiful Bayside condos in Sobe and as you crest over the hill on the causeway you think you'll crash right into that cool 8 story residential Vitri. But that sculpture in front of those shops at 5th and Alton is hideous, what a shame, the last note of that incredibly journey is the only ugly part of it.

But hey, at least they still exist. That crash was their ONLY mishap in almost 90 years of flying. Like MAH said, "totally incorrect"...Chalk's lost two pilots and a plane in a crash near Key West in the early to mid nineties.

Like MAH said, "totally incorrect"...Chalk's lost two pilots and a plane in a crash near Key West in the early to mid nineties.

Yep. I had completely forgotten that incident.

But hey, guess we're all "totally incorrect" on occassion. People have "guaranteed" various projects that wound up biting the dust...made bizarre population estimates seemingly out of thin air...even had Miami existing as a city in the 1840s. As a matter of fact, a couple of months ago someone here (forget who) said that an announcement on a new Marlins stadium would be made in a matter of days. I figured they had some kind of "insider" angle that made them privy to information but...nope. We all have our "totally incorrect" moments it seems.

In any regard, sure would be nice to see Chalk's return to Watson. A truly iconic part of Miami for many, many years...:cheers:

http://www.miamisunpost.com/0614groundwork.htm

Oh yes. I remember my mom taking us to the fish market on Watson Island all the time when I was a little kid.

This is one of my favorite developments....has anyone seen or heard any updates??????

Heres The Updated Renderings thought id post some renderings since its been a while i had done so....


http://img468.imageshack.us/img468/6321/0100014rc.jpg (http://imageshack.us)

Only that Roark assured me it was a go. Any word Roark?? DEFINITELY one of my favorites too. That island has sat derelict for ages.

^^ ^^ That is a beautiful project. Hope it gets done. ^^ ^^

I hope so too. Too many dead bodies on that island. Time to move on!

http://www.miamisunpost.com/0614groundwork.htm

ARCH Photo:) ,
My friend,
It's a go in Late Fall , this year , after the Hurricane season Is over !!!!
as per this Article in this Url shown above
Island Gardens two towers, IS A GO for sure Late this year !!!
p.s. I had to re-edited this one, due to " a little " mistake, lol, EXCUSE ME !!!
IMO, okay my friends,
CIMA, riverfront tower, is set to go late this year, early next year,
Met 3, early, 2008, Still a go !!!:cheers:
and Villa Magna 's first tower will break ground Late this year for sure.
but not mentioned in this article.

Thanks DAVE:) , my friend,
for this very important Update !!!:banana:

Chuck my friend

Your post led me to believe I was going to read an article talking about Villa Magna, Cima and Met3 but that article mentions only Island Gardens. Your post seems like a review of the article and not your opinion.

Article/Ad on Island Gardens. The developer says he's finally ready to start construction which should commence "early next year" with full completion by 2010:

http://newspaperads.miami.com/SS/Page.aspx?sstarg=&facing=false&secid=34010&pagenum=57

Great article, I don't know how you do it!

This is very good news! I was particularly glad that Bayraktar didn't seem frustrated after all the hurdles. It can be a pain with all the nimbys and such. This is one of the most important projects for the city. It will really help establish miami in the monaco super yachting luegue. It was about time miami was up there with the greats in that aspect.

so i noticed the offices on lincoln road have closed... does that mean the project is doomed?????

I have seen stupid ads in all of the glossy magazines the past couple of months trying to sell the hotel units. Kinda like a timeshare, I'm drawing a blank to what its called at the moment.

I have seen stupid ads in all of the glossy magazines the past couple of months trying to sell the hotel units. Kinda like a timeshare, I'm drawing a blank to what its called at the moment.
Fractional Ownership.

so i noticed the offices on lincoln road have closed... does that mean the project is doomed?????

sales office has been moved to the watson island site which recently opened