Marlins Stadium thread

[1772]

There we go...

Miami really needs a new super-stadium and I know EXACTLY where to put it.
http://www.bing.com/maps/default.asp...cl=1&encType=1

Magnolia Park and the island just outside it. Bury the I195 in a tunnel under it until it reaches the caseway. Build the stadium on top of it, and make it a smashing one!
The site on the Biscayne would be fabulous! And it can be used to a bunch of stuff.

[DShoost88]

You know if the Watson Island "Island Gardens" project ever goes bust, it would be neat to consider putting a soccer or football stadium on that land... (or, dare-I-say-it, an Olympic stadium for opening ceremonies). The sight appears large enough for a stadium and, when complete, would likely offer the best views of any stadium in America.

Just a thought...

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by DShoost88

You know if the Watson Island "Island Gardens" project ever goes bust, it would be neat to consider putting a soccer or football stadium on that land... (or, dare-I-say-it, an Olympic stadium for opening ceremonies). The sight appears large enough for a stadium and, when complete, would likely offer the best views of any stadium in America.

Just a thought...

I'd rather have a stadium than "Island Gardens" that's for sure. IMO, they should just make a nature park with gardens and stuff. Make it a real island garden.

[Roark]

Originally Posted by kevinkagy

I'd rather have a stadium than "Island Gardens" that's for sure. IMO, they should just make a nature park with gardens and stuff. Make it a real island garden.

IMO, you should go pick up a copy of SimCity. Seriously, you would love the game.
Set a model with Bayside and Island Gardens, then knock 'em both down, put parks where great economic engines could be, and watch the city go bankrupt Mr. Mayor.

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by Roark

IMO, you should go pick up a copy of SimCity. Seriously, you would love the game.
Set a model with Bayside and Island Gardens, then knock 'em both down, put parks where great economic engines could be, and watch the city go bankrupt Mr. Mayor.

1. Not everything has to be developed on, 2. Parks are great economic engines in themselves; they raise property values around them, and 3. I love SimCity, it's one of my favorite games, but thanks for the suggestion.

[Södermalm]

island gardens is thankfully pretty much dead the developer is behind on payments and is in default

[Roark]

Originally Posted by kevinkagy

1. Not everything has to be developed on, 2. Parks are great economic engines in themselves; they raise property values around them, and 3. I love SimCity, it's one of my favorite games, but thanks for the suggestion.

1. That is obvious and should go without saying. 2. While parks are great, they certainly are NOT economic engines.
They create a minute number of jobs per square ft. They cost money to maintain without collecting any meaningful income.
Do they increase property values? Maybe, but doubtful in your specific post.
Your suggestion to have "nature park with gardens and stuff" within walking distance of acres and acres of existing parks won't make much of a difference on the property values to the Children's Museum or Jungle Island.

A "nature park with gardens and stuff" instead of a Mega Yacht marina, a condominium tower, a hotel tower, convention space, meeting rooms, retail stores is not a good choice for Watson Island.

3. Excellent. It is great game. The suggesion was to build a city with parks everywhere and no employment center. What brings in more revenue and employs more people Bayside or knocking it down and adding yet ANOTHER park?

In conclusion, the Island Gardens (or similar) would be great on Watson Island, it is a great mix of commercial uses and open public spaces. It is envisioned as an upscale Bayside Marketplace/Baby Bal Harbour Shops, and that would be fantastic there.

[kevinkagy]

delete

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by Roark

1. That is obvious and should go without saying. 2. While parks are great, they certainly are NOT economic engines.
They create a minute number of jobs per square ft. They cost money to maintain without collecting any meaningful income.
Do they increase property values? Maybe, but doubtful in your specific post.
Your suggestion to have "nature park with gardens and stuff" within walking distance of acres and acres of existing parks won't make much of a difference on the property values to the Children's Museum or Jungle Island.

A "nature park with gardens and stuff" instead of a Mega Yacht marina, a condominium tower, a hotel tower, convention space, meeting rooms, retail stores is not a good choice for Watson Island.

3. Excellent. It is great game. The suggesion was to build a city with parks everywhere and no employment center. What brings in more revenue and employs more people Bayside or knocking it down and adding yet ANOTHER park?

In conclusion, the Island Gardens (or similar) would be great on Watson Island, it is a great mix of commercial uses and open public spaces. It is envisioned as an upscale Bayside Marketplace/Baby Bal Harbour Shops, and that would be fantastic there.

Although it may just be a desolate field of grass and a museum, Watson Island is currently a place for anyone to come and just relax, even if it means just sitting in your car looking at the skyline, so be it. Island Gardens will serve only the wealthy in Miami. The vast majority of Miamians don't have the disposable income to shop at Bal Harbour, so the vast majority won't be shopping at Island Gardens.

Is it beautiful and glitzy? Yeah. But Watson Island is going from being an area anyone can enjoy to another glamorous locale for the wealthy, when it could be made into something everyone can enjoy. A park is such an example, but it could be a myriad of things. A "luxury condo" and such, is not always the answer in Miami, and I think after this past construction boom, Miami should have learnt that by now. Watson Island should be enjoyed by everyone, not just the rich.

[Roark]

Originally Posted by Södermalm

island gardens is thankfully pretty much dead the developer is behind on payments and is in default

The developer is behind on August, September, and October payments. To the tune of about $250k. Mehmet has 30 days to cure, and then cancelling the agreement is at the discrection of the City Commisioners.
More likely than not, the City will not kill the agreement. At least they should not, but stranger things have happened.

This is more an Island Gardens topic than Marlins Stadium topic...see ya!

[Roark]

...

[Endeavor305]

October 15, 2009

image hosted on flickr

[Aceventura]

http://www.miamitodaynews.com/news/091015/story4.shtml

By Risa Polansky
Boston-based Suffolk Construction Co. is first in line to build parking for the new Marlins stadium, sliding in just ahead of ballpark contractor team Hunt/Moss.
The city posted parking bidder rankings last week.
Suffolk, which has a main office in West Palm Beach and a satellite in Miami, beat out 11 other hopefuls for the up-to $94 million, four-garage, six-lot project — including Hunt/Moss, which is handling both the 37,000-capacity, retractable roof stadium and infrastructure work at the old Orange Bowl site........

[Endeavor305]

Braman loses...again...

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1283450.html

[Roark]

I still take my hat of to Mr. Braman for spending tens (if not hundreds) of thousands of dollars to illuminate the Baseball Stadium Agreement.
Because of his efforts, he single-handedly saved Miami-Dade taxpayers millions of dollars and was the catalyst to making a much better deal.

Thank goodness for the astute businessman/philanthropist to save us from ourselves. It was almost much worse.

[dave8721]

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1294078.html

Marlins stadium parking garage cost soars

Miami commissioners are being asked to vote Thursday to issue bonds for much more than the original $94 million cost of a parking garage at the new Marlins ballpark.

BY CHARLES RABIN
crabin@MiamiHerald.com

When Miami commissioners agreed to bankroll the parking structure for the new Marlins stadium -- the city's key investment in the Little Havana deal -- the cost eyed was $94 million.

On Thursday, when commissioners meet to formalize funding for the parking facilities, the total anticipated bond cost will be $135 million.

City administrators say it's been clear from the start that the $94 million would rise with various ``soft costs'' like reserves.

Still, the final figure is coming as sticker shock to some.

``This is exactly what we feared,'' said Commissioner Marc Sarnoff, who voted against the stadium plan earlier this year. ``Even with soft costs, you can maybe stretch it to $110 million.''

City Manager Pete Hernandez said the $41 million beyond the projected $94 million includes $15 million in reserves and millions more for design surveys, construction management and environmental consultants.

The original plan -- cobbled together after lengthy debate in February -- called for Miami to issue bonds worth no more than $94 million to be paid off with taxes generated from hotel sales called a Convention Development Tax, or CDT.

Thursday, commissioners will be asked to support a $135 million bond offering that, while still depending on CDT funding as the main source of revenue, would use a hodge-podge of financial sources.

Included in the bond plan: $6 million if commissioners vote to make Miami an economic recovery zone, a piece of the federal stimulus plan that allows cities to issue tax-exempt bonds. Hernandez said the $6 million will make the bonds easier to sell because of their tax exempt status.

Also pledged in case there isn't enough CDT money to pay the debt: parking revenues, parking surcharge fees and general fund money that doesn't come from property tax dollars.

The Marlins are also promising to pay the city about $10 a space for parking, guaranteeing that the city's cost for the garage will be covered.

Hernandez said the bond issue is similar to other city deals except that: ``This is receiving more scrutiny because everyone is familiar with the project.''

Commissioner Tomás Regalado, who voted against the stadium, said he wouldn't support the garage vote Thursday. ``This is voodoo economics,'' said Regalado, who is running for mayor.

His challenger in the Nov. 3 mayoral race, Commission Chair Joe Sanchez, did not return calls. He voted for the stadium, which is being built in his district.

Paying for the garage is the city's prime contribution to the $620 million plan, with Miami-Dade bearing the brunt of the costs at $341 million and the Marlins pitching in $126 million and repaying the county another $35 million a year in rent. The city and county will pitch in another $24 million for infrastructure costs.

When Miami brokered the deal with the Marlins for the parking garage, it worked out a plan that the city said would cover its costs: the Marlins agreeing to pay about $10 a space for the 5,850 spaces for 30 years.

Though that protects Miami by covering construction costs over the life of the bond issue, any profit made for the sale of those parking spaces that is above $10 -- playoff or regular season games, or for any other events -- goes to the Marlins.

The Marlins hope to have the stadium completed in time for play in 2012. When complete, the renamed Miami Marlins will play in a 37,000-seat, 60-suite, retractable-roof stadium with a view of downtown and beyond.

[noland123]

Originally Posted by dave8721

http://www.miamiherald.com/460/story/1294078.html

The heck with parking garages let them park down the street at some neighborhood yard,like when they had the Orange Bowl games. LOL!

[Roark]

Originally Posted by dave8721

Marlins stadium parking garage cost soars

Saw this coming a mile away. Anyone remember when the director of the Miami Parking Authority estimated the cost of the garage to approach $150M instead of the $94M that the Politicians were selling?
Here it is:

Published by: MiamiHerald.com
Written by: CHARLES RABIN AND MICHAEL VASQUEZ
Posted: November 10, 2008
Earlier this year the parking authority estimated the garage′s cost at $150 million, and determined the city would lose more than $8 million a year running it, with profits going to the ball club. The Baseball Stadium Agreement that the city and county commission agreed to calls for the team to purchase 5,750 of the garage′s 6,000 spaces for between $10 and $12 for each of the team′s 81 homes games during the regular season.

Any chance that Adrienne Arsht can kick in the extra 40 or 50 Million?

[dave8721]

Hate to say it but imagine the savings if they could have built it in a location that already the infrastructure in place (metrorail, metromover, numerous parking garages...etc) like say Downtown.

[kevinkagy]

Originally Posted by dave8721

Hate to say it but imagine the savings if they could have built it in a location that already the infrastructure in place (metrorail, metromover, numerous parking garages...etc) like say Downtown.

Oh, if only...