HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-25-0038Southeast Overtown/Park West
Community Redevelopment Agency
Legislation
CRA Resolution: CRA-R-25-0038
File Number: 17931 Final Action Date:7/24/2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE SOUTHEAST
OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
("SEOPW CRA"), AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO ISSUE A
GRANT TO THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED
THREE MILLION FIVE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS AND ZERO CENTS
($3,500,000.00) ("FUNDS"), PURSUANT TO THE SEOPW CRA'S
REDEVELOPMENT PLAN, FOR COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE
DEVELOPMENT AND COORDINATION OF THE INTERSTATE 395 ("1-395")
HERITAGE TRAIL/SIGNATURE BRIDGE UNDERDECK PROJECT ("PROJECT"),
COMMONLY REFERRED TO AS THE REVEREND EDWARD T. GRAHAM
HERITAGE TRAIL PROJECT, LOCATED BETWEEN NORTHWEST 3RD
AVENUE AND BISCAYNE BAY, MIAMI, FLORIDA AND WITHIN THE
BOUNDARIES OF THE SEOPW CRA REDEVELOPMENT AREA, WITH ALL
WORK TO BE PERFORMED THROUGH THE FLORIDA DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION ("FDOT") AND THE CITY; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO APPOINT A REPRESENTATIVE FROM THE
SEOPW CRA TO BE ADVISED ON ALL PLANS AND PROPOSALS FOR THE
PROJECT; AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO DISBURSE FUNDS
AS A GRANT, FROM ACCOUNT NO. 10050.920101.891000.0000.00000;
FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND
EXECUTE ANY AND ALL AGREEMENTS AND DOCUMENTS NECESSARY, ALL
IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO COUNSEL; PROVIDING FOR THE
INCORPORATION OF RECITALS AND AN EFFECTIVE DATE.
WHEREAS, the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency ("SEOPW
CRA") is a community redevelopment agency established pursuant to Chapter 163, Florida Statutes, and
is charged with carrying out community redevelopment activities within its designated redevelopment
area in accordance with the 2018 Southeast Overtown/Park West Redevelopment Plan (the "Plan"); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 163.340(9) Florida Statutes, "community redevelopment means
projects of a ... community redevelopment agency in a community redevelopment area for the
elimination and prevention of the development or spread of slum and blight"; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Goal 6 of the Plan, lists "improving the quality of life for residents" as a
stated redevelopment goal; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Principle 5 of the Plan encourages "a range of choices for moving safely
and comfortably throughout the neighborhood" as a stated redevelopment principle; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Principle 7 of the Plan states that "the City [of Miami] ... must provide
access to green spaces of an urban character" as a stated redevelopment principle; and
City of Miami Page 1 of 3 File ID: 17931 (Revision:) Printed On: 8/25/2025
File ID: 17931 Enactment Number: CRA-R-25-0038
WHEREAS, Section 2, Principle 7 of the Plan further states that "green spaces [are] a key
element of qualify of life" and "an important element in developing and maintaining community
aesthetics and identity" as a stated redevelopment principle; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Principle 10 of the Plan emphasizes that neighborhoods should be
attractive, listing "greenways" as a means to captivate residents and visitors as a stated redevelopment
principle; and
WHEREAS, Section 2, Principle 14 of the Plan promotes reunifying the Redevelopment Area
and revitalizing the neighborhood's "character, sense of place, and cultural distinctiveness" as a stated
redevelopment principle; and
WHEREAS, the Florida Department of Transportation ("FDOT") holds jurisdictional ownership
over Interstate 395/State Road 836 ("I-395"), located between Northwest 3rd Avenue and Biscayne Bay,
Miami, Florida ("Limits") with portions within the boundaries of the SEOPW CRA Redevelopment Area;
and
WHEREAS, the Interstate 395 Underdeck Project, also known as the Signature Bridge Project, is
a transformative 33-acre public open space initiative designed to unify an active link from the SEOPW
CRA Redevelopment Area through the Downtown Miami and the Biscayne Bay area, providing for the
construction of a multi -purpose urban greenway, also known as the Reverand Edward T. Graham
Heritage Trail ("Graham Heritage Trail") ("Project"); and
WHEREAS, the Project represents a significant collaboration between FDOT and the City of
Miami ("City"), embodying themes of activity, connection, authenticity, and greenery, and is set to
include an amphitheater, event lawn, community plaza, children's play area, dog play area, multi -use
court, and water feature, thereby fostering a diverse range of cultural activities; and
WHEREAS, the SEOPW CRA, pursuant to terms in the Plan, which provide for the necessity to
create and maintain high -quality open and public spaces, recognizes the contribution of funds to the City
for use as a local match for the Project will fulfill federal grant requirements and advance the
development of this vital public infrastructure initiative within the Redevelopment Area; and
WHEREAS, the Executive Director recommends that the SEOPW CRA allocate an amount not to
exceed Three Million Five Hundred Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($3,500,000.00) ("Funds") to the
City to contribute to the Project; and
WHEREAS, the Board of Commissioners finds that authorizing this Resolution would further the
SEOPW CRA redevelopment goals and objectives;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE
SOUTHEAST OVERTOWN/PARK WEST COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated herein as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. The issuance of a grant in an amount not to exceed Three Million Five Hundred
Thousand Dollars and Zero Cents ($3,500,000.00) to the City to underwrite costs associated with the
Project is hereby approved.
City of Miami Page 2 of 3 File ID: 17931 (Revision:) Printed on: 8/25/2025
File ID: 17931 Enactment Number: CRA-R-25-0038
Section 3. The Executive Director is hereby authorized' to disburse the funds, at his
discretion, as a grant from Account No. 10050.920101.891000.0000.00000, subject to funding
availability, for the purpose stated herein.
Section 4. The Executive Director is authorized to negotiate and execute any and all
documents necessary, all in a form acceptable to Counsel, for said Purpose.
Section 5. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND LEGAL SUFFICIENCY:
r ceBry�a�ou sn el
7/17/2025
1 The herein authorization is further subject to compliance with all legal requirements that may be
imposed, including but not limited to those prescribed by applicable State law, City Charter and City Code
provisions, as adopted by the SEOPW CRA.
City of Miami Page 3 of 3 File ID: 17931 (Revision:) Printed on: 8/25/2025