Miami city commissioners have taken action on two important projects impacting residents’ quality of life in different parts of the city, although new flood zone maps leaves one issue in limbo – and a lucrative project by the river is now in the hands of voters.
In a unanimous March vote, commissioners approved the long-awaited and bitterly contested overhaul of Morningside Park. The master plan will fix the park’s flooding problems, create a new shoreline to mitigate the impact of sea-level rise and add new amenities at the 42-acre green space with sweeping views of Biscayne Bay. But Miami’s elected officials held off on city staff’s recommendation to relocate its shuttered pool after learning that potential federal and county changes to the park’s flood zone designation could minimize the financial burden of rebuilding the aquatic facility at its current location, which is closer to the bay.
(Courtesy of Elvis Cruz)
Morningside resident and activist Elvis Cruz in front of the entrance to Morningside Park.
In a phone interview after the March 10 vote, Rachel Furst, Morningside Civic Association president, hailed the city commission’s approval of the master plan as a significant step forward.
“In the time the city has been debating the fate of Morningside Park, projects in other city parks have gone from start to finish,” Furst told the Biscayne Times. “We are happy to see that some progress is being made, even if it is not perfect.”
Yet infighting among residents of the affluent neighborhood where the park is located – with some favoring moving the pool and some who want it to remain at its existing location – will likely continue until commissioners make a final decision.
“I assume people will continue to advocate for the location of their preference,” Furst said. “I can’t opine on the best place for the pool and the infrastructure it requires. I’m relying on city staff, who say that it should be set off the water. I don’t feel I am qualified to push back on that professional opinion.”
The Plan for Morningside Park
Championed by Ken Russell, Miami commissioner and U.S. Senate Democratic primary candidate, the master plan
(City of Miami)
A rendering of the city of Miami’s proposed revamp of Morningside Park.
calls for the development of a new living shoreline. To slow down the flow of ocean water onto land, the shoreline would be made up of existing oolite limestone blocks acting as a breakwater and rows of coastal plants sloping upward to a new six-foot sea wall. The plan also includes fixing the park’s drainage system to also alleviate flooding there during heavy rains and king tides.
The rest of the plan outlines the addition of new amenities and relocating existing ones. For example, the park’s palmetum, a grove of 189 palm trees near its middle section, would be moved to another area closer to the bay. The master plan also shows a 15-foot-wide paved baywalk atop a berm elevated by roughly four feet of soil above the existing ground level. The baywalk would replace a six-foot-wide walking path with trees that provide shade for picnics.
During the February city commission meeting, a PowerPoint slide showed that the projected cost of renovating Morningside Park is between $36-$42 million. The improvements would be done in phases that could take between three to four years to complete.
(Courtesy of Elvis Cruz)
Adults and kids regularly use Morningside Park for all kinds of sporting activities.
In a March 11 email response to questions submitted by this magazine, Barbie Hernandez, Miami Parks and Recreation Department director, stated that the next step in executing the master plan is hiring architecture and engineering firms to draft a more detailed scope of work.
“Once we procure and contract the A/E firms, the city will have a better idea of a timeline and phasing,” Hernandez said. “There’s still a bit of planning to be done, but at least now we know where we are going.”
To fund the shoreline design phase, the city has secured two grants, including $400,000 from The Nature Conservancy, she added.
Pool of Contention
Hernandez and other city planners have warned residents and commissioners that tearing down and rebuilding the existing pool facility in the same location would cost more than 51% of the current structure’s value, because it would need to be built at a higher elevation since it’s within a flood zone that’s susceptible to storm surges.
But one of the most ardent opponents to relocating the pool told Miami’s elected officials on March 10 that the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is in the process of approving new flood zone maps for Miami-Dade County, and that the one where Morningside Park is located is being downgraded.
Indeed, activist and Morningside Park resident Elvis Cruz was correct. Websites run by FEMA and Miami-Dade County showing existing and proposed new flood zones confirm that the park’s waterfront is being changed from a VE zone – a designation for coastal regions that experience annual flooding and hurricanes – to an AE zone, which is a lesser category for low-lying areas near large bodies of water.
The proposed change means the city can rebuild the pool at the same locati
(Francisco Alvarado for Biscayne Times)
The Morningside Park pool, located just a few yards away from Biscayne Bay and closed since 2016, may be rebuilt in its current location.
on without a higher elevation or under stricter building guidelines, Cruz told city commissioners.
“You are no longer trapped into moving the pool,” he said, and added that the proposed FEMA change “means the pool has never been at risk of high wave action.”
Cruz’s comments seemed to resonate with Commission Chairwoman Christine King and Commissioners Joe Carollo, Alex Diaz de la Portilla and Manolo Reyes. They supported an amendment to the master plan resolution directing city staff to wait until the new FEMA maps are approved in three to four months before making a final recommendation on the pool’s location.
City Manager Art Noriega told commissioners the parks department and the capital improvements office could begin work on other elements of the master plan in the meantime.
“We can wait for the final flood zone guidelines to actually determine if it makes sense to keep the pool in the same location,” he said. “We can begin to design the other elements of the park and advance.”
Still, FEMA’s proposed changes don’t mean the park’s flooding problems will magically go away, Furst said. In recent years, she and other residents have collected photo and video evidence documenting large swaths of the park under water after torrential downpours and king tides events.
“No matter what zone Morningside Park is in, the park faces serious flooding and drainage problems,” she said. “I understand that the [maps] are relevant for the city’s process in terms of what permits the city needs to proceed with the work. But as far as the scope of work, I hope that won’t change. The federal government is not going to change the height of the seas.”
Potential Expansion of Riverside Wharf
(AIMIR CG)
Riverside Wharf is a $185 million mixed-use project anchored by the Dream Miami Hotel.
Six years after Miami voters approved a developer’s plan for a restaurant and entertainment complex on land partially owned by the city on the Miami River, a special election has been set to add a 165-room hotel to the project.
On March 10, the Miami commissioners also approved a resolution directing city attorney Victoria Mendez to draft an amendment to the city’s charter that would allow MV Real Estate Holdings and its new joint venture partner, Driftwood Capital, to build a $185 million mixed-use project anchored by the Dream Miami Hotel. The project is being developed under the name Riverside Wharf LLC.
Miami voters would approve or reject the amendment in an Aug. 23 special election.
The 200,000-square-foot project would also include restaurants, an event hall, a nightclub, a rooftop day club and 600 feet of river frontage.
Miami voters previously approved a smaller $30 million mixed-use project proposed by MV in 2016. The 1.5-acre development site is at 114 SW North River Dr. Most of the land is owned by MV, with the developer leasing about a quarter-acre from the city. The property is currently home to outdoor dining restaurant The Wharf.
(AIMIR CG)
A rendering of the new riverwalk that would front the Riverside Wharf development.
Under the terms of the developer’s current agreement with Miami, Riverside Wharf received a 30-year lease with an option for two 10-year extensions. The developer agreed to pay a minimum of $195,000 in annual rent to the city, as well as spend at least $7 million on public land improvements, including a new riverwalk fronting the development.
If voters approve the new project, the city would waive competitive bidding and negotiate a 50-year extension to Riverside Wharf’s current deal.