HomeMy WebLinkAboutR-25-0297City of Miami
Resolution R-25-0297
Legislation
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 17246 Final Action Date: 7/24/2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION, WITH ATTACHMENT(S),
BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/STHS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, PURSUANT TO SECTION
29-C OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED,
WAIVING COMPETITIVE BIDDING AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER
TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT WITH
ECORESILIENCY MIAMI, LLC ("DEVELOPER") FOR THE SALE, UPON
SATISFACTION OF CERTAIN CLOSING CONDITIONS, OF +5.4 ACRES OF
THAT CERTAIN PROPERTY LOCATED AT 1111 PARROT JUNGLE TRAIL
("PROPERTY") FOR RESIDENTIAL AND COMMERCIAL USES, IN EXCHANGE
FOR CANCELLATION OF THE EXISTING LEASE AND CONSIDERATION
EQUAL TO OR GREATER THAN FAIR MARKET VALUE OF ONE HUNDRED
THIRTY-FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($135,000,000.00), INCLUDING
DEVELOPMENT OF A NEW +13.3-ACRE PUBLIC WATERFRONT PARK ON
THE REMAINDER OF PROPERTY AT A COST TO DEVELOPER OF THIRTY
SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS ($37,000,000.00), PAYMENTS TO CITY OF TEN
MILLION DOLLARS ($10,000,000.00) AT CLOSING AND TWO MILLION
DOLLARS ($2,000,000) PER YEAR WITH ANNUAL ESCALATIONS OF THREE
PERCENT (3%) AND A PRESENT VALUE OF ONE HUNDRED THIRTEEN
MILLION SEVEN HUNDRED TWENTY ONE THOUSAND AND SEVENTY-
THREE DOLLARS ($113,721,073) OVER NINETY-NINE YEARS, AND CERTAIN
COMMUNITY BENEFITS VALUED AT THIRTY-NINE MILLION SIX -HUNDRED
THOUSAND DOLLARS ($39,600,000), INCLUDING PAYMENTS TO THE CITY
OF FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS ($15,000,000.00) FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING, FIVE MILLION DOLLARS ($5,000,000.00) FOR CONSTRUCTION
OF A NEW FIRE STATION ON WATSON ISLAND, AND INFRASTRUCTURE
IMPROVEMENTS; FURTHER AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO
NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A PARTIAL RELEASE AND MODIFICATION OF
THE DEED RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN DEED NO. 19447 ("STATE DEED")
BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE STATE OF FLORIDA INTERNAL
IMPROVEMENT TRUST FUND ("STATE"); APPROVAL OF PAYMENT BY CITY
TO THE STATE IN THE AMOUNT OF FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS
($15,000,000.00) IN EXCHANGE FOR THE STATE'S RELEASE AND
MODIFICATION OF RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE STATE DEED;
FURTHER PROVIDING, THAT THE DISTRIBUTION OF CITY'S CLOSING
PROCEEDS, INCLUDING TEN MILLION DOLLARS ($10,000,000.00) CASH AT
CLOSING, DEVELOPER'S PAYOFF OF CITY'S DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING
AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT ("HUD") LOAN IN THE AMOUNT OF TWENTY-
TWO MILLION DOLLARS ($22,000,000.00), AND FIFTEEN MILLION DOLLARS
($15,000,000.00) FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING, TOTALING APPROXIMATELY
FORTY-SEVEN MILLION DOLLARS ($47,000,000.00), BE ALLOCATED, AS
MORE SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED HEREINBELOW; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A QUIT -CLAIM DEED TO DEVELOPER, IN A
FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE CITY ATTORNEY; PROVIDING, THAT SUCH
SALE AND CONVEYANCE BE SUBJECT TO APPROVAL AND EXECUTION OF
City of Miami Page 1 of 4 File ID: 17246 (Revision: A) Printed On: 9/2/2025
File ID: 17246 Enactment Number: R-25-0297
AN AGREEMENT WITH THE STATE THROUGH THE STATE OF FLORIDA
DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION; AUTHORIZING THE
CITY MANAGER TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE OTHER ANCILLARY
DOCUMENTS AND AMENDMENTS REQUIRED TO EFFECTUATE THE SALE
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE PROPERTY AS SET FORTH IN THE
PURCHASE AND SALE AGREEMENT, ALL IN A FORM ACCEPTABLE TO THE
CITY ATTORNEY.
WHEREAS, the City of Miami ("City") is the owner of that certain tract of land on Watson
Island comprising approximately 18.7 acres and located at 1111 Parrot Jungle Trail, Miami,
Florida ("Property"); and
WHEREAS, ESJ JI Leasehold, LLC ("ESJ") and the City are parties to that certain Lease
and Development Agreement, as modified from time to time (collectively, the "Lease") for the
Property; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Lease and other entitlements received from the City, ESJ is
authorized to develop a theme park, themed hotel, and related retail and entertainment on the
Property; and
WHEREAS, Ecoresiliency Miami LLC, in collaboration with ESJ (together "Developer
Parties"), desire to acquire +5.4 acres of the Property ("Residential Parcel") to develop
residential and commercial uses with required parking ("Residential Development") and to
return the balance of the Property to the City for use as a new public waterfront park to be
constructed by the Developer Parties; and
WHEREAS, the City and Developer Parties desire to enter into a purchase and sale
agreement substantially in the form attached as Exhibit "A" ("Agreement"), which will allow the
sale of the Residential Parcel based on fair market value of $135,000,000, for construction and
operation of the Residential Development subject to satisfaction of certain closing conditions,
including approval of any necessary zoning and subdivision changes and approval by the
Florida Board of the Trustees of the Internal Improvement Trust Fund, and requiring, at closing,
cancellation of existing Lease, repayment of the existing loan of approximately $32,000,000 due
to City and Miami -Dade County and of the existing Ygrene C-Pace loan of approximately
$1,200,000, and payment to the City of $10,000,000; and requiring, within the deadlines set
forth in the Agreement, construction of a new public waterfront park at a cost of $37,000,000,
annual payments to the City of $2,000,000 with 3% annual escalations, payments to the City of
$15,000,000 for affordable housing, $5,000,000 for construction of a new fire station on Watson
Island, infrastructure improvements, other community benefits, and the development of the
Residential Development; and
WHEREAS, on November 5, 2024, the Charter amendment was approved by a majority
of the voters in the referendum election, as acknowledged by Resolution No. R-24-0458; and
WHEREAS, on December 17, 2024, the Florida Board of the Trustees of the Internal
Improvement Trust Fund approved the delegation of authority to the Secretary of the Florida
Department of Environmental Resources, or designee, ("Secretary") to negotiate and execute
the terms of the partial release and modification of the deed restrictions set forth in Deed No.
19447 ("Partial Release") as required to effectuate the sale and development of the Property as
approved by the voters; and
City of Miami Page 2 of 4 File ID: 17246 (Revision: A) Printed on: 9/2/2025
File ID: 17246 Enactment Number: R-25-0297
WHEREAS, the City desires for the City Manager to negotiate with the Secretary, the
terms of the Partial Release in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
WHEREAS, the City directs the City Manager to execute the Agreement, substantially in
the form attached and incorporated as Exhibit "A"; and
WHEREAS, the City directs the City Manager to negotiate with the Secretary and
execute the Partial Release in a form approved by the City Attorney, and to negotiate and
execute any other ancillary documents reasonably required to effectuate the sale and
development of the Property, including but not limited to estoppels and other documents
reasonably required by lenders, all in a form approved by the City Attorney; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission has determined that the Agreement and payment to
the State, as described hereinabove for the Partial Release, will be in the City's best interest;
and
WHEREAS, based on the testimony presented during the July 24, 2025, City
Commission meeting, the City Commission has determined that Closing proceeds derived from
the sale and conveyance of the Property are to be allocated for affordable housing, public safety
capital for the purchase of vehicles, and/or infrastructure, and/or equipment, as more specifically
described herein;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMISSION OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble to this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated as if fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. By a four -fifths affirmative (4/5th) vote of the Miami City Commission, the City
Manager is authorized' to execute the purchase and sale agreement with Ecoresiliency Miami
LLC, substantially in the form attached and incorporated as Exhibit "A".
Section 3. The City Manager is authorized' to negotiate and execute the terms of the
Partial Release and modification of deed restrictions generally in a form approved by the City
Attorney and to negotiate and execute any other ancillary documents reasonably required to
effectuate the sale and development of the Property, including but not limited to estoppels and
other documents reasonably required by lenders, all in a form approved by the City Attorney,
and to exercise all rights of the City reserved by the agreements to the City Manager or
designee.
Section 4. Neither Ecoresiliency Miami LLC or any affiliates, shall have any rights to the
agreements contemplated herein unless and until the City Manager executes the subject
agreement(s), with approval by the City Attorney as to legal form and correctness.
Section 5. Distribution of City's closing proceeds, including cash at Closing in the
amount of Ten Million Dollars ($10,000,000.00), Developer's payoff of City's Department of
Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") loan in the amount of Twenty -Two million Dollars
($22,000,000.00), plus Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) for affordable housing, totaling
approximately Forty -Seven Million Dollars ($47,000,000.00) shall be allocated as follows:
City of Miami Page 3 of 4 File ID: 17246 (Revision: A) Printed on: 9/2/2025
File ID: 17246 Enactment Number: R-25-0297
i.) Fifteen Million Dollars ($15,000,000.00) to be split equally between the City
Commission Districts;
ii.) Twenty Million Dollars ($20,000,000.00) to be split equally between the City
Commission Districts;
iii.) The remaining balance of Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000.00) is to be
contributed to the City's capital fund for public safety vehicles, equipment and/or infrastructure;
iv.) Based on the allocations set forth in this Resolution, Seven Million Dollars
($7,000,000.00) are to be distributed to each City Commission District for affordable housing
and/or infrastructure and Twelve Million Dollars ($12,000,000.00) contributed to public safety
capital for the purchase of vehicles, and/or equipment.
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption and
signature of the Mayor.2
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
rge Wyy ng III, C y ttor -y 8/29/2025
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 City Charter and City Code
provisions.
2 If the Mayor does not sign this Resolution, it shall become effective at the end of ten (10) calendar days
from the date it was passed and adopted. If the Mayor vetoes this Resolution, it shall become effective
immediately upon override of the veto by the City Commission.
City of Miami Page 4 of 4 File ID: 17246 (Revision: A) Printed on: 9/2/2025