HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Item Summary FormAGENDA ITEM SUMMARY FORM
File ID: #17745
Date: 06/11/2025
Commission Meeting Date: 07/24/2025
Requesting Department: Department of Real
Estate and Asset Management
Sponsored By:
District Impacted: District 2
Type: Resolution
Subject: Authorize - Conveyance/Olympia Theater - Execute Sale Agrmnt - Sports
Leadership and Mgmt Inc
Purpose of Item:
A Resolution of the Miami City Commission, with attachment(s), by a four -fifths (4/5ths)
affirmative vote, after an advertised public hearing, ratifying, approving, and confirming
the City Manager's findings pursuant to Section 18-182(c) of the Code of the City of
Miami, Florida, as amended, and waiving the requirements for said procedures;
authorizing the City Manager, pursuant to Section 29-B(c) of the Charter of the City of
Miami, Florida, as amended, to negotiate and execute a Purchase and Sale Agreement
("Agreement") between the City of Miami ("City") and Sports Leadership and
Management, Inc., a Florida Not -For -Profit Corporation ("SLAM Academy") together
with a quitclaim deed ("Deed"), in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, conveying, with
restoration requirements, use restrictions, and reverter provisions, the City -owned
property known as the Olympia Theater, located at 174 East Flagler Street, Miami,
Florida, and legally described in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated, (the "Property")
to SLAM Academy for the rehabilitation and utilization of the Property exclusively for
public education purposes, with terms and conditions to be more particularly described
in the Agreement; further authorizing the City Manager to negotiate and execute any
and all documents, including amendments, extensions, and modifications to the
Agreement and Deed, all in forms acceptable to the City Attorney, as deemed
necessary to consummate the conveyance for said purpose.
Background of Item:
On July 24, 1975, the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the Performing Arts, Inc., a
Florida not -for -profit corporation, conveyed, via Special Warranty Deed, to the City of
Miami ("City") the property known as the Olympia Theater, located at 174 East Flagler
Street, Miami, Florida, and more particularly described in Exhibit "A," attached and
incorporated, consisting of the theater and a contiguous ten -story building (the "Olympia
Theater" or "Property"). The Olympia Theater is a unique landmark building that opened
in 1926 as a silent movie palace, later serving as a theater hosting many significant acts
in Miami's history, and in 1984 was added to the National Register of Historic Places.
Over the decades, the Olympia Theater has been an important part of the City's history
and one worth preserving, restoring, and returning to its original glory, but has fallen into
disrepair. The City wishes to enter into a Purchase and Sale Agreement ("Agreement")
and transfer the Property by way of a Quitclaim Deed ("Deed") to Sports Leadership and
Management, Inc., a Florida Not -For -Profit Corporation ("SLAM Academy"). SLAM
Academy is authorized pursuant to Section 1002.33, Florida Statutes to operate the
charter school known as "Sports Leadership Arts Management Charter High School." In
early 2022, Miami Dade College, a public educational institution and political subdivision
of the State of Florida ("MDC") issued RFP 2022-RM-1-11 to establish a school
centered around innovation in downtown Miami, and entered into an agreement with
Mater Academy, Inc., which is affiliated with SLAM Academy, to accomplish this goal.
Since opening as a public charter school in August 2023, "Miami Tech at Mater
Innovation Academy" has been successful and would benefit from additional space to
incorporate arts and technology into its curriculum, which will be accomplished through
a cooperative between SLAM Academy, Mater Academy, Inc., and Somerset Academy,
Inc. (the "Cooperative"). To ensure the restoration and long-term preservation of the
Olympia Theater as a historic property, the City wishes to convey its interest in the
Property to SLAM Academy to restore, manage, and operate the Property as a public
education facility. SLAM Academy shall agree to honor all events scheduled at the
Property prior to the date of the enactment of this resolution ("Events"). The City shall
retain the right to manage, oversee, and operate the scheduled Events, including, but
not limited to, collecting all rental payments which shall be made payable to the City.
Upon transfer of title to the Property to SLAM Academy, SLAM Academy or a related
entity will make the necessary improvements to the Property to accommodate the
educational programs of the public charter school, Miami Tech at Mater Innovation
Academy, which will be renamed as the "Miami Innovation & Arts Academy" (the
"Academy") through the Cooperative's efforts. The parties anticipate MDC will serve as
the higher education partner of the Cooperative by providing dual enrollment programs
that enable high school students to earn college credit at MDC, and by developing
academic pathways from high school arts programs to MDC's associate and bachelor's
degree programs, with such requirements subject to negotiation by the City and SLAM
Academy and to be incorporated into the Agreement, as applicable. The parties further
anticipate that Academy will serve as a venue partner for MDC's arts and culture
programs, including academic ceremonies, performances, exhibitions and events such
as Miami Film Festival and Miami Book Fair, and may provide dedicated studio spaces
for MDC art and fashion students to support creative work, exhibits and hands-on
learning , with such requirements subject to negotiation by the City and SLAM Academy
and to be incorporated into the Agreement, as applicable. Pursuant to Section 29-B(c)
of the City Charter, City requirements for competitive bidding shall not apply when
conveying property to implement projects of any governmental agency or
instrumentality. Section 1002.33(1), Florida Statutes provides that all charter schools in
Florida are public schools and shall be part of the state's program of public education.
The Property is the subject of, and the City is presently a party to, pending litigation in
the matters of Robert Gusman, Bruce Gusman and Jackie Gusman Thayer as
successor trustees of the real property of Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the
Performing Arts, Inc., a dissolved Florida not for profit corporation, v. City of Miami,
Case No. 22-23242 CA 01, pending in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit,
in and for Miami -Dade County, Florida, and Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the
Performing Arts, Inc. a dissolved Florida not for profit corporation, v. City of Miami, Case
No. 3D23-1842, pending in the District Court of Appeal of the State of Florida, Third
District (collectively, the "Cases"). As a condition precedent to the conveyance of the
Property, the Plaintiffs in each of the above Cases shall have filed a voluntary dismissal
with prejudice of all claims against the City. The conveyance of the Property shall be
subject to the requirement that SLAM Academy or a related entity shall make all
necessary interior and exterior repairs to the Property in order to bring it into
recertification compliance and historic preservation standards as set forth under all
applicable laws, including the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, ("City
Code"), within five (5) years of conveyance, including: (i) interior work that shall include,
but not be limited to: a) reconstruction of previously demolished dressing rooms and
crew rooms; b) reconstruction of decorative paint and plaster repairs in those areas on
the theater that have been damaged by water intrusion; c) interior structural repairs; d)
mechanical systems retrofit including new chiller and cooling tower; and e) electrical,
fire alarm, and fire protection repairs; and (ii) exterior work that shall include, but not be
limited to: a) roof replacement; b) window replacement; c) Entrance Doors replacement;
d) Restoration of all ornamental iron railings; d) Replication and restoration of all facade
ornamental terracotta tile, brick, and stucco; e) Restoration of the Flagler Street
marquee; and f) Restoration of the ticket booth (collectively, the "Restoration
Requirements"). The conveyance of the Property shall also be subject to the
requirement that the Property be used exclusively for public education purposes, along
with additional restrictions as may be negotiated by the City Manager and incorporated
into the Agreement (collectively with the Restoration Requirements, the "Restrictions").
If the Property is not restored in accordance with the Restrictions, or is no longer used
exclusively for public education purposes, the Property shall revert to the City
("Reverter"). The Property will be conveyed on an "as -is, where -is" basis, without
express or implied representations or warranties, including but not limited to those
relating to the Property's condition or sufficiency of title. The City Manager recommends
that the City remise, release, and quitclaim the Property to SLAM Academy, subject to
the Restrictions and Reverter, pursuant to Section 29-B(c) of the Charter of the City of
Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Charter"), for the purpose of providing public
education programs with a focus on innovation and the arts. The City Manager hereby
finds that the proposed conveyance of the Property and a waiver of the restrictions
contained in Section 18-182(a) of the City Code is in the best interest of the City.
Budget Impact Analysis
Item is NOT Related to Revenue
Item has NOT an Expenditure
Total Fiscal Impact:
N/A
Reviewed B
Department of Real Estate and Asset Management
Review Completed 06/11/2025 7:04 PM
Office of Management and Budget Pedro Lacret
Office of Management and Budget Marie Gouin
City Manager's Office Larry M. Spring
City Manager's Office Natasha Colebrook -Williams
Legislative Division Valentin J Alvarez
City Manager's Office Arthur Noriega V
Office of the City Attorney Jacqueline Lorenzo
Office of the City Attorney George K. Wysong III
City Commission Todd B. Hannon
City Commission Maricarmen Lopez
Legislative Division Marta Gomez
Office of the City Attorney Jihan Soliman
Department of Real Estate and Asset Management
Review Completed 08/07/2025 4:04 PM
Office of the City Attorney George K. Wysong III
Andrew Frey
Budget Analyst Review
Budget Review
Assistant City Manager
Deputy City Manager Review
Legislative Division Review
City Manager Review
ACA Review
Approved Form and Correctness
Meeting
Meeting
Legislative Division Review
ACA Review
Andrew Frey
Department Head
Completed 06/12/2025 1:41 PM
Completed 06/12/2025 5:23 PM
Completed 06/13/2025 8:38 AM
Completed 06/13/2025 9:56 AM
Completed 06/13/2025 1:39 PM
Completed 06/17/2025 10:59 AM
Completed 06/17/2025 5:06 PM
Completed 06/17/2025 7:53 PM
Completed 06/26/2025 9:00 AM
Completed 07/24/2025 9:00 AM
Completed 07/28/2025 5:28 PM
Completed 08/07/2025 3:46 PM
Department Head
Approved Form and Correctness with Modification(s)
Completed
Office of the City Clerk City Clerk's Office Rendered Completed 08/11/2025 4:35 PM
City of Miami
Legislation
Resolution
Enactment Number: R-25-0300
City Hall
3500 Pan American Drive
Miami, FL 33133
www.miamigov.com
File Number: 17745 Final Action Date:7/24/2025
A RESOLUTION OF THE MIAMI CITY COMMISSION AUTHORIZING THE CITY
MANAGER, PURSUANT TO SECTION 29-B(C) OF THE CHARTER OF THE CITY OF
MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, TO NEGOTIATE A PURCHASE AND SALE
AGREEMENT ("AGREEMENT") BETWEEN THE CITY OF MIAMI ("CITY") AND
SPORTS LEADERSHIP AND MANAGEMENT, INC., A FLORIDA NOT -FOR -PROFIT
CORPORATION ("SLAM ACADEMY") FOR CITY COMMISSION'S CONSIDERATION
AT A FUTURE CITY COMMISSION MEETING
WHEREAS, on July 24, 1975, the Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the Performing
Arts, Inc., a Florida not -for -profit corporation, conveyed, via Special Warranty Deed, to the City
of Miami ("City") the property known as the Olympia Theater, located at 174 East Flagler Street,
Miami, Florida, and more particularly described in Exhibit "A," attached and incorporated,
consisting of the theater and a contiguous ten -story building (the "Olympia Theater" or
"Property"); and
WHEREAS, the Olympia Theater is a unique landmark building that opened in 1926 as a
silent movie palace, later serving as a theater hosting many significant acts in Miami's history,
and in 1984 was added to the National Register of Historic Places; and
WHEREAS, over the decades, the Olympia Theater has been an important part of the
City's history and one worth preserving, restoring, and returning to its original glory, but has
fallen into disrepair; and
WHEREAS, the City is contemplating a Purchase and Sale Agreement ("Agreement") to
transfer the Property by way of a Quitclaim Deed ("Deed") to Sports Leadership and
Management, Inc., a Florida Not -For -Profit Corporation ("SLAM Academy"); and
WHEREAS, SLAM Academy is authorized pursuant to Section 1002.33, Florida Statutes
to operate the charter school known as "Sports Leadership Arts Management Charter High
School;" and
WHEREAS, in early 2022, Miami Dade College, a public educational institution and
political subdivision of the State of Florida ("MDC") issued RFP 2022-RM-1-11 to establish a
school centered around innovation in downtown Miami, and entered into an agreement with
Mater Academy, Inc., which is affiliated with SLAM Academy, to accomplish this goal; and
WHEREAS, since opening as a public charter school in August 2023, "Miami Tech at
Mater Innovation Academy" has been successful and would benefit from additional space to
incorporate arts and technology into its curriculum, which will be accomplished through a
cooperative between SLAM Academy, Mater Academy, Inc., and Somerset Academy, Inc. (the
"Cooperative"); and
WHEREAS, to ensure the restoration and long-term preservation of the Olympia Theater
as a historic property, the City may convey its interest in the Property to SLAM Academy to
restore, manage, and operate the Property as a public education facility; and
WHEREAS, SLAM Academy would be required to agree to honor all events scheduled
at the Property prior to the date of the enactment of this resolution ("Events"); and
WHEREAS, the City would retain the right to manage, oversee, and operate the
scheduled Events, including, but not limited to, collecting all rental payments which shall be
made payable to the City; and
WHEREAS, upon transfer of title to the Property to SLAM Academy, SLAM Academy or
a related entity, SLAM would be required to make the necessary improvements to the Property
to accommodate the educational programs of the public charter school, Miami Tech at Mater
Innovation Academy, which will be renamed as the "Miami Innovation & Arts Academy" (the
"Academy") through the Cooperative's efforts; and
WHEREAS, the parties anticipate MDC will serve as a higher education partner of the
Cooperative by providing dual enrollment programs that enable high school students to earn
college credit at MDC, and by developing academic pathways from high school arts programs to
MDC's associate and bachelor's degree programs, with such requirements subject to
negotiation by the City and SLAM Academy and to be incorporated into the Agreement, as
applicable; and
WHEREAS, the parties further anticipate that SLAM Academy will serve as a venue
partner for MDC's arts and culture programs, including academic ceremonies, performances,
exhibitions and events such as Miami Film Festival and Miami Book Fair, and may provide
dedicated studio spaces for MDC art and fashion students to support creative work, exhibits and
hands-on learning, with such requirements subject to negotiation by the City and SLAM
Academy and to be incorporated into the Agreement, as applicable; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Section 29-B(c) of the City Charter, City requirements for
competitive bidding shall not apply when conveying property to implement projects of any
governmental agency or instrumentality; and
WHEREAS, Section 1002.33(1), Florida Statutes provides that all charter schools in
Florida are public schools and shall be part of the state's program of public education; and
WHEREAS, the Property is the subject of, and the City is presently a party to, pending
litigation in the matters of Robert Gusman, Bruce Gusman and Jackie Gusman Thayer as
successor trustees of the real property of Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the Performing
Arts, Inc., a dissolved Florida not for profit corporation, v. City of Miami, Case No. 22-23242 CA
01, pending in the Circuit Court of the Eleventh Judicial Circuit, in and for Miami -Dade County,
Florida, and Maurice Gusman Cultural Center for the Performing Arts, Inc. a dissolved Florida
not for profit corporation, v. City of Miami, Case No. 3D23-1842, pending in the District Court of
Appeal of the State of Florida, Third District (collectively, the "Cases"); and
WHEREAS, the anticipated conveyance of the Property is intended to result in the
Plaintiffs in each of the Cases voluntarily dismissing, with prejudice, all claims asserted against
the City, as further negotiated and detailed in the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, any conveyance of the Property shall be subject to the requirement that
SLAM Academy, or a related entity, shall make all necessary interior and exterior repairs to the
Property in order to bring it into recertification compliance and historic preservation standards as
set forth under all applicable laws, including the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended,
("City Code"), within five (5) years of conveyance, which time period may be extended by the
City Manager, with such repairs including: (i) interior work that shall include, but not be limited
to: a) reconstruction of previously demolished dressing rooms and crew rooms; b)
reconstruction of decorative paint and plaster repairs in those areas on the theater that have
been damaged by water intrusion; c) interior structural repairs; d) mechanical systems retrofit
including new chiller and cooling tower; and e) electrical, fire alarm, and fire protection repairs;
and (ii) exterior work that shall include, but not be limited to: a) roof replacement; b) window
replacement; c) entrance doors replacement; d) restoration of all ornamental iron railings; d)
replication and restoration of all facade ornamental terracotta tile, brick, and stucco; e)
restoration of the Flagler Street marquee; and f) restoration of the ticket booth (collectively, the
"Restoration Requirements"); and
WHEREAS, the conveyance of the Property would be subject to the requirement that the
Property be used exclusively for public education purposes, along with additional restrictions as
may be negotiated by the City Manager and incorporated into the Agreement (collectively with
the Restoration Requirements, the "Restrictions"); and
WHEREAS, any conveyance of the Property the City Commission would require the
Property to revert back to the City of Miami if the Property is not restored or is not used
exclusively for public education purposes, each in accordance with the Restrictions ("Reverter");
and
WHEREAS, any conveyance of the Property will be an "as -is, where -is" basis, without
express or implied representations or warranties, including but not limited to those relating to the
Property's condition or sufficiency of title; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager will ensure that the City remise, release, and quitclaim the
Property to SLAM Academy, subject to the Restrictions and Reverter, pursuant to Section 29-
B(c) of the Charter of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City Charter"), for the purpose of
providing public education programs with a focus on innovation and the arts; and
WHEREAS, the City Manager will obtain two appraisals, one of which is to obtain the
value of air rights/development rights, for the Property while negotiating a Purchase and Sale
Agreement with SLAM; and
WHEREAS, the City Commission hereby finds that it is in the best interests of the City to
negotiate a conveyance of the Property to SLAM;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED 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. The City Manager is authorized tot negotiate a Purchase and Sale
Agreement with SLAM for the conveyance of the Property, with certain conditions, for City
Commission's consideration.
Section 3. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
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.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS: