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AO-ii 24, 2009
VIA HAND DELIVERY
The Honorable Michelle Spence -Jones
City Commissioner
City of Miami
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, Florida 33133
Steven J_ Wernick, Esq.
swernick(Q7bifzin.cam
Re: University of Miami Life Science Park / Economic Incentive Proposal
Letter of Intent for Inclusion on May 2009 CRA Agenda
Dear Commissioner Spence -Jones:
Our firm represents Wexford Miami, LLC developer of the first segment of the University
of Miami Life Science Park ("Life Science Park"). We respectfully request on behalf of our client
an opportunity to present to the Southeast Overtown / Park West Community Redevelopment
Agency ("SEOPW CRA") on May 18, 2009 information concerning the Life Science Park and
CRA assistance with developing economic support for this project that will increase significantly
the tax base in the area and provide needed new jobs.
The Life Science Park is a state-of-the-art research park planned for construction on the
Southeast Corner of NW 7th Avenue and NW 20th Street just west of Interstate 95 in the City of
Miami (the "Property"). Site work for the Life Science Park is expected to commence in July
2009. The Life Science Park is comprised of a Research & Development Building, containing
approximately 180,000 square feet of offices and laboratories and scheduled to open in late
2010, plus the South Florida Proton Center, a proton -beam radiation treatment facility
containing approximately 70,000 square feet, scheduled to open in early 2012 that will deliver
advanced cancer treatment to patients in Miami and all over the world. The Life Science Park
will be a significant reinvestment in the Overtown neighborhood of the City of Miami, providing a
stimulus for future redevelopment along the NW 7th Avenue Corridor, Wexford Miami, LLC
intends to invest over $136 million in this ambitious project. The Life Science Park will also
deliver numerous high -quality jobs in health-care and the hard sciences, with ancillary retail and
office jobs. These jobs will provide new opportunities to residents of the City of Miami and
Miami -Dade County and draw new talent to the area.
Wexford Miami, LLC is proposing that the CRA consider investment in the Life Science
Park as a key component of revitalization of the expanded SEOPW CRA. In February 2009, the
SEOPW CRA issued a Finding of Necessity Report regarding the expansion of the SEOPW
boundaries to add 392 acres west of 1-95 ("Expansion Area"), which includes the subject
Property. The Finding of Necessity Report identified conclusive evidence of slum and blight in
the Expansion Area, suggesting that expansion of the boundaries was warranted. On March
12, 2009, the CRA Board voted unanimously to adopt the Finding of Necessity Report, paving
the way for expansion of the SEOPW CRA boundaries.
BILZIN SUMBERG BAENA PRICE & AXELROD LLP
200 S. Biscayne Boulevard, Suite 2500, Miami, FL 33131-5340 e 305.374.7580 Fax 305.374.7593
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The Honorable Michelle Spence -Jones
City Commissioner
April 24, 2009
Page 2
Upon the expansion of the SEOPW CRA boundaries, the Life Science Park will be a key
component of redevelopment and job creation for the Overtown neighborhood and the SEOPW
CRA, Recognizing the public benefits to the community and to the CRA, Wexford Miami, LLC
requests that the SEOPW consider participation in this project moving forward.
Wexford Miami, LLC submits this item for your consideration and respectfully requests
placement of this discussion item on the May 18, 2009 agenda to provide Wexford Miami, LLC
an opportunity to make a presentation regarding the Life Science Park.
Sind
Steven J. Wernick
cc: Jim Villacorta, CRA Executive Director
Clarence Woods, Assistant CRA Director
Koteles Alexander, Sr., Office of Commissioner Spence -Jones
MIAMI 1467671.8 7843931620
4/24/09
B1LZIN SEIMBERG BAENA PRICE F. AXELRCDJ LLP