Miami is a fast paced community with a rapid fire news cycle. Our blog keeps you current on the most important issues affecting the tax payers of Miami-Dade county. Read, share, comment, and as always let us know what topics you want us to tackle.
Daily News: Thousands of provisional ballots could flip Florida races now too close to call
Daily News: Thousands of provisional ballots could flip Florida races now too close to call
DBNJ: Recount tally grows to include Florida governor's race
DBNJ: Recount tally grows to include Florida governor’s race
Herald: On the hunt for new votes, Democrats find a trickle in the blue county of Miami-Dade
Herald: On the hunt for new votes, Democrats find a trickle in the blue county of Miami-Dade
Democrat: Gillum, DeSantis race appears headed to a recount
Democrat: Gillum, DeSantis race appears headed to a recount
TCPalm: SFWMD board votes to vacate Everglades restoration order
TCPalm: SFWMD board votes to vacate Everglades restoration order
Ledger: Governor's race now headed for recount as Scott slams recount
Ledger: Governor’s race now headed for recount as Scott slams recount
Sun-Sentinel: As Florida recounts loom, flawed ballot design may be to blame for questionable voting patterns in Broward County
Sun-Sentinel: As Florida recounts loom, flawed ballot design may be to blame for questionable voting patterns in Broward County
Herald: More than a million convicted felons in Florida won their voting rights back. Now what?
Herald: More than a million convicted felons in Florida won their voting rights back. Now what?
Carlos Gimenez meets with $15K donor to strong mayor opposition
Want to meet with Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez? Got $15,000?
Apparently that’s the price for a half-hour meeting with the county’s strong mayor, the one in charge of all the purse strings and who would be instrumental in getting your retail/residential development all the green lights.
According to his calendar, Gimenez met from noon to 12:30 p.m. Thursday with Andy Hellinger, principal of Urban-X, the Coral Gables-based development firm that wants to build the $425-million River Landing Shops and Residences on 8.14 acres at 1500 NW North River Drive.
Read related: Carlos Gimenez nets $70K vs city strong mayor — for what in return?
Currently under construction, the latest version of River Landing Shops — and there have been a few — has 529 residential units and approximately 345,000 square feet of retail space along the Miami River. There will also be 2,200 parking spaces and a riverfront park and promenade.
“The ground floor of the project will have a variety of restaurants—from casual and fine dining to chef-driven concepts—with indoor and outdoor seating, opening to a landscaped linear park inspired by Manhattan’s High Line,” Hellinger told Multi-Housing News last month.
“We seek to offer retail options that our shoppers care about, including retailers that cater to Millennials that are health-conscious, tech-savvy, foodies and more.”
Read related: Carlos Gimenez has new role as rainmaker — soliciting for 10 PACs
But if they already started construction, then what would Hellinger need from the mayor? Funding? Now that Gimenez is raising funds for so many political action committees, maybe he has a future as a rainmaker. And as of last month, Hellinger said, roughly $117.4 million had been invested in the project, out of the total estimated cost of $424.8 million.
Or maybe Hellinger wants to make sure that other riverfront developments are not too competitive? Who knows?
What can’t be denied is that Urban-X made a $15,000 contribution to Miami Dade Residents First on Oct. 8 — the single largest donation made to finance the opposition to the Miami strong mayor initiative — and the company’s principal got an audience with Gimenez exactly one month later.
Now that’s a quick return on an investment.
NWF Daily News: Stubborn red tide remains in Northwest Florida
NWF Daily News: Stubborn red tide remains in Northwest Florida
