Developers for the New Miami Soccer Stadium Obtain $31 Million Construction Loan
Recently, an LLC associated with the Inter Miami CF major league soccer team got a $31 million mortgage from Miami-based City National Bank of Florida in order to begin construction on Inter Miami Soccer Stadium.
The mortgagee is identified as 0101 Miami Properties, LLC, in the care of M Sports LLC. The mortgage identifies nine acres of land that 0101 Miami Properties LLC spent $27.97 million constructing at 678 NW 7th St. in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood between 2016 and 2019.
Miami Beckham United LLC, Pablo Alvarez, vice president and general counsel of Inter Miami CF, Jorge and José Mas, the brother executives of Coral Gables-based MasTec (NYSE: MTZ), and Inter Miami CF’s primary shareholders, are among the management of 0101 Miami Properties.
At the time, the David Beckham-fronted team’s ownership was intent on building a soccer stadium at that site or keeping it as an alternative option if a deal to construct a soccer stadium at the City of Miami’s Melreese Country Club at 1400 N.W. 37th Ave. fell through.
This past April, the Miami City Commission approved a 99-year lease agreement with Inter Miami CF. On September 13, the Miami City Commission authorized zoning that would allow for the development of a 25,000-seat soccer stadium, a 750-room hotel, a 58-acre park, and a 1 million square foot commercial complex with retail, offices, and entertainment on 130 acres of land at Melreese Country Club.
Jose Mas stated he would want to see the land developed as workforce housing or something else that benefits the community.
In addition, according to media reports, Miami commissioners have explored utilizing stadium rent payments to create a trust fund for affordable housing.
Renderings Revealed for Miami Freedom Park
With all of the news surrounding the FIFA World Cup and Miami bid, another great announcement was made for the Miami Freedom Park with new renderings and development plans showcasing the major project.
According to the developers, the newest renderings were revised after the first meeting with the Miami Review Board and this newest proposal includes not only exterior renderings but site sections, area enhancements, and updated design visions.
The revised proposal shows the plan will include a 600,000 sq. ft. retail and soccer village, 25,000 seat stadium, 750 hotel rooms, 400,000 sq. ft. office, and 5,100 parking spaces.
Some of the enhancements noted in the revised proposal include new pedestrian access points, crosswalk connections, and pedestrian path improvements.
The hearing to discuss the project was scheduled to be reviewed last week with Miami’s Urban Development Review Board. One of the conclusions for the review included the vote to move the Miami Commissioners offices into the new administrative buildings at Miami Freedom Park.
Arquitectonica is listed as the architect for the project. Although the project is located at the end of one of the Miami International Airport runways, it will be in compliance with the Federal Aviation Association height restrictions.
One of the biggest concerns for the Miami Freedom Park is that building the 1+ million square feet of commercial space will affect the surrounding neighborhoods and will clog area streets.
Miami Officials Plan to Move Office Headquarters to Miami Freedom Park
Inter Miami CF’s new stadium may gain some new neighbors, including the City of Miami’s headquarters. Officials in Miami are looking at a contract to build the municipal administration offices at Miami Freedom Park, a large mixed-use redevelopment of a golf course near Miami International Airport. The MLS team’s stadium would be the site’s main attraction, but there would also be commercial development.
The plan to construct a new municipal administration headquarters has been in the works for more than five years.
City voters approved a referendum to lease the present municipal administrative headquarters in 2018. The current lease includes a 3.15-acre property along the Miami River at 444 S.W. Second Ave., to Lancelot Miami River LLC, a unit of Miami-based Adler Group. The developer intends to build a mixed-use development there.
The agreement also required Lancelot Miami River to construct a new municipal administrative facility of about 230,000 square feet with at least 610 parking spots. The city would fund the building with a special obligation bond, but Lancelot Miami River would be in charge of construction.
The city originally planned to build its administrative center on the 1.6-acre Lancelot Miami River property at 230 S.W. Third St. However, the agreement has not yet been formalized.
The City Commission then approved the lease and development agreement for Miami Freedom Park in April. A 25,000-seat soccer stadium, 1 million square feet of retail and commercial space, and 750 hotel rooms would be included in the project. The proprietors of Inter Miami would completely fund this project, and the location would require extensive environmental remediation.
This new building would take up around 1/4 of the commercial area at Miami Freedom Park.
The current designs for the municipal administrative building, according to David S. Adler, head of Adler Group, are for Miami Freedom Park. This would free up its 1.6-acre Miami River property to expand its mixed-use development.
In April, David Beckham won approval for a land lease for a Major League Soccer stadium in that same location.
Inter Miami Receives Approval for Miami Freedom Park
David Beckham has finally won after a 9 year-long battle, for a land lease for a Major League Soccer stadium in Miami. On Thursday, Miami Commissioners voted a 4 to 1 lease for 73 acres of city-owned property that will house a massive development to host the Inter Miami soccer games. Beckham and partners (Jorge and Jose Mas) were awarded a 99-year lease to develop the new name, Miami Freedom Park.
The plan for the ‘park’ would convert the Melreese golf course into a soccer league stadium that could host 40,000 attendees, retail shops, parking with rooftop fields, a hotel, and a 58-acre park. The plans also include sharing the stadium with the University of Miami Hurricanes football team.
With the vote approval came some changes, which include the annual rent increase from $3.57 million to $4.3 million, with a 6% gross revenue if that figure is treated than rent. The construction fee was raised from $500,000 to $650,000 18 months after the lease was signed, with another $100,000 rise per year for four years and a $1 million penalty in the fifth year if the stadium was not completed.
The vote for this development has been delayed 4 times and there still needs additional approval for zoning changes before they receive the green light for the project, which will take place in quarter 4 of 2022.
Also in attendance was Miami Mayor, Francis Suarez, who seemed to thank the Miami commission after the deal. He strongly supported the project from day 1, “I have never been prouder to be a Miamian than I am today. No matter how difficult, how long, how frustrating, good days and bad days, I always knew that this would happen.”
