Miami Economic Development = Engines that drive the community

[skyscraperhighrise]

Originally Posted by southfloridamiamian

http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/0...uild-film.html


South Miami-Dade would become home to a film production studio built by Donald Trump, under a proposal unveiled to county commissioners Tuesday.

If The Donald has his way, South Miami-Dade would become home to “Trump Studio City,” a proposed studio production facility pitched to the county commission on Tuesday.

County Commission Chairman Joe Martinez enthusiastically introduced the idea, which would use, in part, county-owned land previously targeted in a failed bid to build a commercial airport on 800 acres near the Homestead Air Reserve Base.

Trump didn’t attend Tuesday’s meeting because, Martinez said, there are still far too many unknowns, including who owns which land, whether any of the property is contaminated, even if Homestead would be willing to go for any such deal.

Michael Cohen, Trump’s right-hand man and legal counsel, told commissioners he envisioned fantastic financial impact: hundreds of millions of dollars a year in new revenue, thousands of new jobs. Trump Studio City would be twice the size of Universal Studios, he said.

“It will reduce unemployment and improve land values,” he said.

Perhaps a dream, the Trump plan sure looked fancy.

Architectural renderings show a brightly lit promenade appearing spaceship-like near the entrance, with “Trump Studio City” lit up in bright lights. Several connected plazas are surrounded by tall media centers and palm-lined boulevards, with production stages behind it ranging from 20,000 to 250,000 square feet.

Martinez said the proposal materialized shortly after Trump announced his purchase of the Doral Golf Resort & Spa earlier this year, and Martinez asked for a sit-down.

Martinez is running against Mayor Carlos Gimenez in the August election. Martinez’s surprise unveiling of the plan — which was not included on the meeting agenda in advance — left the mayor with very little wiggle room even if he wanted to oppose his opponent’s plan, as unemployment remains high around the county.

“It’s something we need to look at. Sometimes you have to be a trailblazer,” Gimenez said.

Film production could be a boon for South Florida as the state now subsidizes the production industry with state tax credits, and South Florida’s English-language movie and television business tends to ebb and flow with the availability of state dollars.

“If this doesn’t happen it’s because we screwed up,” Martinez said.

Commissioners voted unanimously to give the county attorney 90 days to study the proposal. If the commission OKs the findings, the county would have another 90 days to work out land deals to get a working contract in order.

Still, some commissioners were a little unnerved with Martinez’s quick-shot plan.

“I learned a big lesson with the Marlins stadium,” said Commissioner Rebeca Sosa. “I learned to ask the right questions.”

As for Homestead Air Reserve Base officials, spokesman Jacob Jimenez said he was unaware of any plans.

“We’re a reserve base ready to deploy,” he said. “People call this office saying different things every day. What we do is we have F-16s, and we’re ready to deploy.”

Some of the land under consideration was the subject of a years-long legal battle by the Homestead Air Base Developers Inc. group, known as HABDI, which had planned to build a controversial commercial airport at the former Homestead Air Force Base.

The airport deal collapsed in 2001, after the U.S. Air Force decided it would not convey 604 acres to the county for an airport, instead later giving it to Miami-Dade for general nonaviation development.

Read more here: http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/06/0...#storylink=cpy

As Much as I Don't like trump, this is a great idea.

[spellbound]

I find it hard to believe he wants his name on it. Usually the guy is so humble and reserved.

(could be a cool project if realized, though!)

[CF221]

Originally Posted by spellbound

I find it hard to believe he wants his name on it. Usually the guy is so humble and reserved.

(could be a cool project if realized, though!)

LOL... I'm 95% sure you're being sarcastic, just hoping the other 5% is wrong

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by CF221

LOL... I'm 95% sure you're being sarcastic, just hoping the other 5% is wrong

You can add the other 5%

[CF221]

Ahhh thanks...

[CalleOchoGringo]

I don't believe this plan of Trump's is truly from him. I wanna see the birth certificate! No I wanna see the afterbirth!

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by CalleOchoGringo

I don't believe this plan of Trump's is truly from him. I wanna see the birth certificate! No I wanna see the afterbirth!

I just threw up in my mouth a little.

[casamagda]

Originally Posted by CalleOchoGringo

I don't believe this plan of Trump's is truly from him. I wanna see the birth certificate! No I wanna see the afterbirth!

I like skycrapers.
Trump has developed several skyscrapers.

I do not know many people that have developed as many skyscrapers as Donald Trump, but if I did, I would be somewhat impressed.

[1772]

This could certainly be interesting!
Then perhaps future Miami serie would actully be filmed in Miami, not Long Beach, CA.

[PeterSmith]

Originally Posted by casamagda

I like skycrapers.
Trump has developed several skyscrapers.

I do not know many people that have developed as many skyscrapers as Donald Trump, but if I did, I would be somewhat impressed.

I like how you think. I feel the same way about donuts and this guy:

[skyscraperhighrise]

Originally Posted by 1772

This could certainly be interesting!
Then perhaps future Miami serie would actully be filmed in Miami, not Long Beach, CA.

It's about time, Build that studio.

[CalleOchoGringo]

Well Miami's economy may be gaining steam but it's no match for this POWERHOUSE county (notice the town that's in it) that just main the top 25 list on CNN Money's website.

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/jobs...neymag/25.html

[spellbound]

Originally Posted by CalleOchoGringo

Well Miami's economy may be gaining steam but it's no match for this POWERHOUSE county (notice the town that's in it) that just main the top 25 list on CNN Money's website.

http://money.cnn.com/gallery/pf/jobs...neymag/25.html

And people scoffed.

The 'Enid Epoch' has just begun.

[1772]

Is there any political will/possibility to join all the towns, communities whatever into one unified "City of Miami"?
With one mayor whose power stretches from Miami Gardens to Homestead, from Tamiami to Miami Beach?

[dave8721]

Originally Posted by 1772

With one mayor whose power stretches from Miami Gardens to Homestead, from Tamiami to Miami Beach?

Like Carlos Gimenez?

[1772]

Originally Posted by dave8721

Like Carlos Gimenez?

Yes, but there are still mayors of Miami Beach and the other "cities withing the cities".

There aren't any "Mayor of Brooklyn" or "Mayor of Bronx", only one "Mayor of New York City". Why not the same in MIA?

[CalleOchoGringo]

Originally Posted by 1772

Is there any political will/possibility to join all the towns, communities whatever into one unified "City of Miami"?
With one mayor whose power stretches from Miami Gardens to Homestead, from Tamiami to Miami Beach?

Doubtful, but I'm sure theirs plenty of will to do more of the opposite. Anything rich people and townships can do to not pay taxes to liberty city or other impoverished townships... you can be sure they will at least try to do.

[brickell]

A unified county/city of Miami would come in around 2.5M and be the 4th most populous city in the US.

just saying...

[QuantumX]

Originally Posted by brickell

A unified county/city of Miami would come in around 2.5M and be the 4th most populous city in the US.

just saying...

And it would have one helluva tally of tall buildings! Oh please, God! Please!

[spellbound]

You'd need a real impetus or desire to make something like that happen and neither really exists in the general population. In areas that are already incorporated and enjoy a higher average tax base/better funded services than what Miami has, it would be an impossible task to convince citizens to eliminate their own cities.

I sense this is just because of our own desire to see the "city" of Miami rank higher in population stats but I think we ought to remember that very few people outside our own little bubble really care at all about such things. Besides, I think we all know that metro populations are a much better barometer of size since city political boundaries are so arbitrary.

Either way, not happening.