A new website has been created showing conceptual images of a park on Watson Island (to see all 16 images, click here).
Developers Terra and ESJ Capital, the owner of Jungle Island want to develop hundreds of condos on the north side of the island.
In exchange, they would buy or lease the Jungle Island property, cancel the theme park and hotel lease, build a 13-acre park, and contribute $15m towards affordable housing, infrastructure, and public benefits.
A Biscayne Bay boardwalk is shown as part of plans for the park. An under-bridge activator is also shown, to connect to another planned development at Island Gardens, on the island’s south side.
A City of Miami referendum is scheduled for November 4, with the following question:
Shall Miami’s Charter be amended authorizing sale and/or lease of 5.4 acres on Watson Island based upon fair market value of $135,000,000 to Ecoresiliency Miami LLC for residential and commercial uses pursuant to applicable zoning, waiving bidding, and requiring:
- Returning 13 acres to City to construct new public waterfront park at no cost to City;
- Cancelling existing theme park and hotel lease; and
- Contributing $15,000,000 for affordable housing, infrastructure, and other public benefits?
