Waterfront worries
I spent much of my career working at the Miami Seaquarium and have been following news of the property’s future with deep concern. I do not oppose boating, marinas, or responsible development. However, this site is a unique piece of publicly owned land surrounded by the waters and wildlife of Biscayne Bay. It does not belong to a developer, it belongs to the citizens of Miami-Dade County.
Most troubling is how little opportunity the public has had to help shape the site’s future. The transition from the previous operator moved rapidly through bankruptcy court, shifting control before any open, competitive community process could occur. Now, a massive multi-million-square-foot master plan has been filed and residents are left reacting to decisions that apparently were largely settled without public discussion or input.
A site this vital deserves a transparent public process to compare alternative ideas, such as a dedicated marine science center, an open public park, educational facilities, boating amenities, or some combination of those uses. The future of one of our community’s most treasured waterfront locations should belong to the community…