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Home My WebLink AboutR-84-1414I I J-84-805 12/24/84 RESOLUTION NO. 84---141.4 A RESOLUTION APPROVING, IN PRINCIPLE, THE EXCLUSIVE USE OF A CITY OWNED PARCEL OF LAND LYING EAST OF BISCAYNE BOULEVARD BETWEEN PORT BOULEVARD AND APPROXIMATELY NORTHEAST 9TH STREET, INCLUDING THE DEEP -WATER SLIP AND ALL PROPERTY NORTH OF PORT BOULEVARD TO THE SOUTHERLY LINE OF BICENTENNIAL PARK, KNOWN AS THE E.E.C. PROPERTY, WITH THE EXCEPTION OF FIVE ACRES IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE PARKING GARAGE BAYSIDE SPECIALTY CENTER DUE TO POSSIBLE FUTURE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW YORK STYLE THEATER ON THAT SITE;, AS A LOCATION FOR THE FLORIDA MARITIME CENTER, SUBJECT TO THE DEVELOPMENT BY THE ADMIRALS OF THE FLEET OF FLORIDA, INC., A NON-PROFIT CORPORATION, WITHIN A TWO YEAR PERIOD OF TIME, OF A SATISFACTORY MASTER PLAN, FEASIBILITY, FINANCING STRATEGY AND SATISFACTORY DEMON- STRATION OF THE ABILITY TO RAISE PRIVATE FUNDS TO FINANCE THE DEVELOPMENT OF THE CENTER. WHEREAS, the Admirals of the Fleet of Florida, Inc., is a non-profit corporation formed to preserve the rich heritage of the sea and to foster awareness of the importance of the sea to the local economy and to the culture and quality of life of City residents; and WHEREAS, the Admirals of the Fleet of Florida, Inc. has proposed to develop a Florida Maritime Center which may include a tropical park with selected maritime -related trees and plants, an aquarium, and a world -class maritime museum with special emphasis on exploration, development and the history of Florida and the Caribbean; and WHEREAS, the City of Miami acquired the parcel of land lying east of Biscayne Boulevard between Port Boulevard and approxi- mately Northeast 9th Street including the deep -water slip and all the property lying north of Port Boulevard to the southerly line of Bicentennial Park, known as the F.E.C. Property, for public purposes; and WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that the proposed Florida Maritime Center to be located on the F.E.C. Property serves a public purpose; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION CITY CG.':!•.`�;�,r:w•,�� EC GS T_T`� RESOLU110N No. t f OF MIAMI, FLORIDA: Section 1. The exclusive use of the City owned parcel of land lying east of Biscayne Boulevard between Port Boulevard and approximately Northeast 9th Street, including the deep -water slip and all property north of Port Boulevard and east of Biscayne Boulevard to the southerly line of Bicentennial Park, known as the F.E.C. Property, with the exception of five acres immediately north of the proposed Bayside Speciality Center Parking Garage due to possible future construction of a New York style theater on that site, as a location for the Florida Maritime Center, to consist of a tropical park with selected maritime- related trees and plants, an aquarium and a world -class maritime museum with special emphasis on exploration, development and history of Florida and the Caribbean, subject to the development by the Admirals of the Fleet of Florida, Inc., within a two year period of time, of a satisfactory master plan, feasibility, financing strategy, and satisfactory demonstration of the ability to raise private funds to finance the development of the Center is hereby approved, in principle. PASSED AND ADOPTED this 13th day of December , 1984. ATTEST: Maurice A. Ferre MAURICE A. FERRE MAYOR --�,C. �t-�1 �� ter', _ '-,,�• � .j � RALPH G. ONGIE CITY CLERK PREPARED AND APPROVED BY: ."AA40V azt G' MIRIAM MAER ASSISTANT CITY ATTORNEY FORM AND CORRECTNESS: CITY ATTORNEY GMM/wpc/ga/pb/304 -2- 84--1414 Cif Y !�!14� �t��j i FF10E \dmirals of the Fleet of Mr?-US3 PP 4: 58 615 S.W. 2nd Plvenue. SL fte 211. Miami. Florida 3313013051 856-o206 Realy to: :.. 2650 S.W. 27 Ave. Miami, FL 33133 October 22, 1984 s.. Mr. Howard E . Gary City Manager City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive P. 0. Box 330708 Miami, Florida 33133 Dear Mr. Gary: At the suggestion of Assistant City Manager Randolph Rosencrantz, I am writing }= to you as president of the Admirals of the Fleet of Florida requesting that you support the resolution prepared by the City Attorney, Lucia Allen -Dougherty, granting the Admirals of the Fleet of Florida a two-year reservation of the FEC tract with its deep water slip for the use of the Florida Maritime Center proposed to be constructed on that site by the Admirals. During that two-year period, the Admirals propose to raise the funds required to engage a nationally recognized group of consultants who will undertake a master plan, economic and feasibility plan, report, and financing program to construct and operate the Center. After approval of the report and program, the City will enter into an agreement to permit the development of the proposed Center and its subsequent operation at this site by the Admirals. This request does not obligate the City in any way to expend funds in this effort. The Admirals currently have $15,000 on hand and have programmed three fund-raising events. The first is to take place in December to permit those contributing to make tax-deductible gifts; the second will take place toward the end of January; and the third probably late'in February while tourists are still in the area. Through these fund-raising events we anticipate raising $100,0 00 of the $250,000 required for carrying out these studies. Additional fund- raising events will be scheduled after the consultants have initiated their work and we can demonstrate some progress. It is essential that we have a designated site for the Center prior to soliciting gifts for fund-raising purposes and it is with this thought that we are making this request to you. The proposed layout of the Florida Maritime Center will permit the use of this property for the Grand Prix, which we understand is to become an annual event. The Florida Maritime Center program proposes to utilize the existing slip for visiting tall ships with the cadets from various national training programs. THE ADMIRALS OF THE FLEET OF FLORIDA kn independent. non-profit charitable organization. 84-1414 Mr. Howard V. Gary City Manager, City of Miami October 22, 1984 - Page Two However, it will also accommodate visiting Navy vessels sponsored by the Navy League to the extent that sufficient water depth is available for this purpose. The proposed Center is compatible with the recreational uses for which the property was secured from the FEC railroad. The proposed installation will be a major attraction and will be designed to compete with Disney's Epcot Center and other such attractions presently being offered elsewhere in the state. A major tourist attraction at this location could draw many visitors from cruise ships and add greatly to the economy of the area as well as provide an educational opportunity for residents. k; This provides a use for a valuable piece of property paid for by the City, at no additional cost to the City, which is compatible with the purpose for which it was purchased. Enclosed are copies of the proposed resolution and the scope of activities proposed at the Florida Maritime Center. Should you require further informa- tion, we will be pleased to meet with you. We hope that you will be able to recommend approval of the resolution and place it on the Commission Agenda for early action. Please advise us of your re- sponse. Sincerely, John W. Greenleaf, Jr. President JWG: i p9 Enclosures cc: Randolph Rosencrantz 84-1414 Y-_ THE FLORIDA MARITIME CENTER A PROJgCT OF THE ADWALS OF THE FLEET OF FLOFIDA The Admirals of the Fleet of Florida is an organi- zation founded in 19761 our nation's Bicentennial Year, to help preserve our rich maritime heritage and to foster awareness of the importance of the sea to our state economy and to the culture and quality of life of its citizens. 1. The Center will include: a. A world class maritime museum with special emphasis on exploration, development, and history of the Florida and Caribbean areas. b. An aquarium emphasizing marine life of this area, its present economic impact, and future potential. C. A tropical park with selected maritime -related trees and plants, such as woods, nuts, fruits, and spices. 2. The Center will occupy a 35- to 40-acre tract centering on the former FEC j. property and including parts of Bicentennial Park and including the existing deep water slip. This slip will be utilized for visiting tall ships, naval, and other vessels. 3. It is anticipated the cost of the Center wil.1 be a minimum of fifty million dollars and is targeted to be officially opened as part of the centennial celebration of the City of Miami in 1996. 4. A master plan, an economic impact report, and a feasibility study are the first steps in the Center's development. These efforts will require a minimum of one year to complete and are estimated to cost $250,000. 5. Steps are currently under way to identify nationally recognized planning t. organizations whose services could provide the master plan and feasibility reports. 6. The Admirals of the Fleet of Florida have already started fund-raising for this project and are planning a number of major fund-raising efforts to be y completed within the next 12 months. 7. Before a major fund-raising effort can be started, The Admirals must be assured of being able to use the property described for the Maritime Center. Therefore, the Florida Admirals are requesting the City of .Miami Commission to pass a resolution that will assure that the property will be assigned exclusively for the development of the Florida Maritime Center, provided that during the first year funding needed to initiate the master plan and economic and feasibility reports has been raised. 84-1414