5/28/2018 March 27 - Miami SunPost Alton Road Terror Tower
article by Michael Sasser -
4/5
SunPost Cover Story: Terror Tower
espite media reports to the contrary reports that al-
legedly reflect the language in a developers press releases
a 50-story development isnt coming to the corner of
Alton Road and Fifth Street anytime soon.
The item will not be on the agenda to hear in April,
its been taken off the agenda, its dead, said Mayor Philip
Levine. We cant waste staff time on things that arent legal.
Itssomewhatimportant to follow the City Charter. And [the
pro-
posed development] is about as permitted by the Charter as if we
wanted
to drain Biscayne Bay to build a new Dolphins Stadium.
At issue is a proposed development, pairing Crescent Heights
with the Related Group, and
that would tower over the MacArthur Causeway entrance to Miami
Beach at 50 stories tall.
An elaborate story detailing a six-story waterfall, public parks
and $2 million units appearedin a March 18 article in theMiami
Herald. The Miami daily quotes officials from both Cres-
cent Heights and the Related Group referring to the potential
project as iconic and simi-
lar flowery language, and furthermore the piece asserts that the
project would require
re-zoning by the City of Miami Beach, a new ordinance and at
least two votes of the Miami
Beach City Commission. Development rights for the entire parcel
would
have to be consolidated into the southwest corner of the
property, ac-
cording to Crescent Heights managing principal Russell Galbut,
as
quoted in theHeraldstory.
There are just a couple of problems with the issue as
previouslyreported. It would take more than a new ordinance, some
zoning
tweaks and a handful of commission votes. According to both
the
mayor and a legal opinion presented to the mayor and
commission
from City Attorney Jose Smith last week, it would take a public
refer-
endum. Referenda on massive developments in Miami Beach
histori-
cally donotgo well for the developer.
You would think the media would at least look and see what the
zoning is there and
glance at the City Charter before, unfortunately, regurgitating
a press release, Levine said.
Smiths memo was hardly vague. Backed by the language in the City
Charter and legal
precedent, Smith wrote ...it is my opinion that the Charter will
subject said application to
voter approval if it seeks to increase existing floor area
ratio.
Levine was quick to respond to the story, which set off a
firestorm of complaints around
the community, after its publication. The mayor sent an e-blast
of theHeraldstory, only this
version with his quotes included, Tuesday night after the story
ran.Our zoning regulations only allow for buildings of 7 stories or
less at that location,
Levine wrote. With only a three-dimensional model, no proposed
zoning ordinance, or
building schematics presented to the City, this proposal is very
premature and I do not be-
lieve that the City Commission would act on this radical zoning
change hastily without con-
siderable and extensive input from Miami Beach residents.
Moreover,
I am not optimistic that Beach residents would be in favor of
such a
zoning change as presented. Lastly, we must take a holistic view
of
Alton Road by promoting responsible development and avoid
unnec-
essary spot zoning.
In the printed article and subsequently, Levine has not blasted
the
projects specifics just the absurdity of it being possible or
even con-
ceivable without public input. He said he couldnt even form an
opinion
on the project because it simply isnt legal as presented and
under the City
Charter.
We have a process and unfortunately, Crescent Heights
decided
not to follow that process, Levine said. Why did this suddenly
become
D
The proposed developmentis about as permitted by the
Charter as if we wanted to
drain Biscayne Bay to build a
new Dolphins Stadium.
- Mayor Philip Levine
LEVINE
Page 10 Thursday, March 27, 2014 Miami SunPost
www.miamisunpost.com
5/28/2018 March 27 - Miami SunPost Alton Road Terror Tower
article by Michael Sasser -
5/5
a big story without [media] researching the City Charter.
Previously, the City had given Crescent Heights approval to a
lower-density development
on the parcel formerly occupied by South Shore Hospital a site
that many neighbors see
as blighted, but also not necessarily one they want to see
developed into what could have
ended up being the tallest building on Miami Beach.
However, the Heralds Miami Beach reporting has long been
considered erratic by some
local readers and activists and to Levine. An earlier article
following the resignation of
Miami Beach Police Chief Ray Martinez referred to the move as
catching the City flat-footed
despite the fact that the same paper had reported on a
top-to-bottom audit of the depart-
ment underway and also that Martinez was applying for another
position in South Florida.
Some activists complained last year that parties affiliated with
one of the development
groups then vying to redevelop the Miami Beach Convention Center
were manipulating the
newspapers reporting.
Similar complaints date back almost two decades at least, to
when the Heralds cover-
age opposed the populist and highly successful Save Miami Beach
referendum.
Some residents said that they didnt necessarily have any problem
or even with its scope.
Instead, some said they were alarmed with the way it was
presented in the press as being a
hop, skip and jump from becoming reality when few knew about it
just weeks ago, said M.J.
Suarez, who lives a few blocks away. Maybe it would be very cool
but something of that
[scope] seems like it should be discussed by the entire city,
added Suarez.
Levine was adamant that the project simply isnt legal. Smith
officially asserted that the
public would have to vote as part of what would surely be an
elaborate process.
The mayor said he didnt understand the motivation for coverage
of something as likely,
legally speaking, as a new Dolphins Stadium under the MacArthur
Causeway.
Now, whether or not the project might one day become a reality,
either as presented or
in another form, remains to be seen. However, the project is
nowhere in the Citys official
process, according to Acting Planning Director Thomas
Mooney.
Technically, its nowhere, Mooney said. As of now, there have
been no instructions
from the city commission for an ordinance to accommodate that
type of project.
Mooney said there is no action currently in the pipeline for the
project, and that any such
action would have to emanate from the city commission.
THE ORIGINAL PROJECT AT 500 ALTON ROAD
www.miamisunpost.com Miami SunPost Thursday, March 27, 2014 Page
13
Technically, its nowhere.- Acting Planning Director
Thomas Mooney
