While City of Miami commissioners have approved a deal to construct a 1,000-foot tower at Bayside Marketplace, the final decision will go before Miami-Dade voters Tuesday.
The City of Miami currently has 46 years left on an existing lease with Bayside. If approved, the referendum would allow for the construction of the SkyRise Miami tower, plus extend the lease with Bayside to 99 years, bringing in at least $10 million to the city upfront.
"By approving this, the amount of revenue that the city will be receiving will be a lot more," said Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo.
Bayside operators have also committed to $27 million in renovations, and both Bayside and SkyRise Miami developers have agreed to give $40 million to the Liberty City trust.
Developer Jeff Berkowitz plans for the SkyRise tower to include three observation decks, a restaurant and theme park-style rides.
"It will be the iconic symbol of the new Miami," Berkowitz said.
But some don't like the idea of an entertainment center on public property.
Local
"This is another exclusive intrusion into public space and Miami has too many of them as far as I'm concerned," said Greg Bush, Vice President of the Urban Environment League.
Others, like architect Charles Corda who filed a lawsuit against the city last month, feel the Bayside lease and the SkyRise project should have been placed on two separate ballot questions.
Polls officially open Tuesday at 7 a.m., but Miami residents can vote early through Saturday. For early voting locations, click here.
