Neighborhood
The College Station Garage Saga Continues
Residents vs. Big Developers — Part Two
A group of LOFTS 2 residents attended a Board Meeting at the Miami Parking Authority to select the developer for the 2-acres property. Even though safety logistics kept many of the residents out, some got to express their concerns. Mostly it was emotional improvisations as the vast majority of residents had no prior knowledge of the proposed development and had no time to prepare.
Related Group had proposed demolishing College Station Garage — Lofts 2 residents park there, as well as MDC students, and people who work in the area — to build a luxury high-rise. “They are using the pretext of creating housing for the workforce,” commented Jorge Sanchez, a LOFTS 2 Board member. Building more affordable housing for the workforce would be commendable, given the current state of housing availability, but for the fact that hundreds of residents bought into the concept of using the College Station Garage as part of the deal. “Related built and sold the Lofts as the bastion of the workforce,” added Mr. Sanchez.
Oscar Rodriguez, the developer, representing Related, also involved in building the LOFTS, pointed out that he had the LOFTS in his heart, as it was one of his first projects. His intention was not to displace residents.
Downtown News asked him what plans he had pertaining to the LOFTS. Mr. Rodriguez insisted that they wanted to honor the existing contract between the Parking Authority and the LOFTS, and residents will have parking spots in the new building for the duration of the contract.
Downtown News: What about the interim? The proposed tower will take a minimum of four or five years to build. What accommodations has Related made for residents?
Mr. Rodriguez indicated, first, that he will sit down with the leadership of the buildings to discuss the options. Secondly, he mentioned that construction will be in stages, and building the garage will take a year and a half, two years. It can be occupied even before the building is finished.
Downtown News: There is a parking garage on NE Second Street adjacent to the LOFT 2, would that be a possibility?
Mr. Rodriguez answered with a classic diplomatic axiom: Yes, but… “We are open to find a solution.” And there were other municipal garages in the area as well, he observed.
Downtown News spoke briefly with Bernardo Fort-Brescia, the well-regarded principal of ARQUITECTONICA, the architect for the development. He corroborated that a state-of-the-art garage will be built in less than two years, and that, indeed, it could be occupied before the building is completed.
Trust with verification was a preferred line of President Ronald Reagan. The LOFT 2 has a binding contract for the next 25 years with the Miami Parking Authority. Hence, it’s stipulated that an agreement must be reached between the developer and the LOFTS. No doubt, lawyers will get involved.
The next meeting is scheduled for March at the MPA. Part 2 of the Saga.
To receive Downtown News updates, register here. And follow Raul Guerrero in this MEDIUM page. Both are free. If you liked what you read, please share it.
