Of course it’s a mega retail shopping complex. You didn’t think it would be just a stadium, did ya? For soccer? Where’s the fun (read: money) in that?
Well kept secret details of the long-awaited plan to turn Melreese Golf Course, the only golf course owned by the city of Miami and a historic gem, into a mega retail destination with shops, offices and restaurants, plus a 700-room 
hotel, have come out only in recent days, since the item is coming before the Miami Commission Thursday. And people are actually surprised that only a tiny, little bit of the plan includes a 25,000-seat soccer stadium?
This ain’t about a public venue for Kendall families to go to major league soccer games, something we all want. This is about a sweetheart deal public land grab. This is so David Beckham and his new Miami partners, which include Jorge Mas and the Mas family, turn it into a $1 billion, 73-acre complex with 600,000 square feet of retail and restaurants, 400,000 square feet of office space and at least 3,700 parking spaces that have a business plan all of their own.
Read related: Lawsuit to shed light on soccer stadium deal, land taken by eminent domain
It’s bigger than Brickell City Center and might have once been deemed the largest shopping complex ever imagined, except for that mega mall in Northwest Dade.
Except that this is smack in the middle of our gridlocked Miami-Dade, right next to Miami International Airport.
That’s only the first reason not to entertain this silly idea — at least for now. Until we have some of the stupid smart plan solutions in place, there is no reason to add this many trips to our already busy 37th Avenue.
But there are other reasons. How about that it’s a no-bid deal given to a bunch of insiders with connections to City Hall? How about the fact that the details about the shopping center on steroids was kept secret from everybody until 
the last minute? Even Beckham and co — who were just kidding with their plan to build the stadium in Overtown — know it’s a tough sell.
What else do we still not know?
Proponents will say that this is an economic win with a guaranteed paltry $3.5 million a year in rent to the city and $44 million or so a year in tax revenue. All they want is the chance to bring this to voters.
Read related: Carlos Gimenez’s own land for/near new soccer stadium
But that’s not entirely honest. All they really want is a chance to bring a slick, shiny multi-million dollar campaign to convince voters that this is in their best interest. They are going to use words like Freedom to tug at the heart strings and might even conjure Cuban exile royalty ghosts and what their wishes might have been if he was alive today. They are going to go all out, balls to the wall. If you think the FIU campaign to get the Youth Fair land lease referendum passed was something special, get ready for the campaign of your lives.
To them, “taking it to the voters” is basically a yes.
Because the opposition will not have the money that the developers making millions on this sweetheart real estate deal have, so there won’t be a slick campaign for the no vote. That will all be grassroots. And, probably, hopefully, viral. But still, it will be an uphill battle against the better funded side.
The city of Miami is selling itself and its citizens cheap if it allows this to even go to a public vote, knowing full well what that means. This is nothing more than a no-bid contract for a bunch of political insiders who are tr
ying to take advantage of us. The way the development is unfolding, the land is worth way more than $4 or $5 million a year. Which is why some people have urged the commission to open the golf course up to bids — make it a competitive process and see what others might pay to do the same thing.
Read related: King Petty Carlos Gimenez gets goofy over soccer stadium
Beckham et al don’t want that. Because they can’t compete. That’s why they’re flying in all kinds of cheerleaders today and have to plan a tailgate party by soccer fans to try to sway the commission.
Don’t believe the hype. Take a step back and let’s look at this with time and more input from the community.
Ladra has heard that two of the five commissioners are already against the plan. That includes Willy Gort, whose district includes Melreese. Here’s hoping that third vote is off the fence today on the right side.
This is not the plan to take to voters if they ever want to convince us to do anything with public land for a stadium. Keyword: Stadium.
Miami commission should kick no-bid soccer shopping center out of Melreese added by Ladra on
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It is December 2023 and Jorge Mas and David Beckham and their investors have killed every tree formerly in Melreese Park. They killed every blade of grass AND they filled in every pond and every lake. Now they are asking the State to give them $5 Million of the taxpayers money.
Vote YES; for more job creation with good pay, Free public parks-golfs areas ,entertainment, and more money for the city coffers; making Miami even better, that will benefit our community. All this is paid with private individuals, not taxpayer money involve; the concerns mentioned by the Herald, will be taken care of. #KeepMakingMiamiGreat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m8uaTdE_KEE
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Amy,
” Gustavo, having lived here all my life (perhaps you too), it shouldn’t surprise us that they are building a stadium for 25,000 with only 3,700 parking”
Lol hilarious because true and only in this banana republic with zero political standards does this happen over and over .
I was born in Cuba but moved here few years ago from a REAL city where 99% of the Miami politicos would be in jail as would the serpents head/ enabler DA Kathleen Rundle …
Parking is irrelevant because the actual goal here is the initial lining of the politicos pockets with kickbacks and contracts for friends and family .
This IS THE MIAMI Cuban ”Cosa Nostra” politics and this is why no real thought is put into anything because the authorities couldn’t care less as long as they get their money .
Having said that , the voters couldn’t care less either and every self serving incumbent gets reelected . The apathetic non voters are worse and truly raw sewage waste .
…we don’t know how these developers expect Miami residents to swallow such a large hook. It seems that the City Commission, with exception of Mr. Reyes is in a coma.
Francis Suarez is making a HUGE mistake, Suarez has directed the $280,000 per year City Manager and the $275,000 per year City Attorney to work 24/7 making sure this No-Bid deal goes forward. It appears Suarez has absolutely NO ONE representing the taxpayers. Hmm. Another Marlins disaster?
Dear Publisher DeValle and Fellow Readers:
CHECK THIS OUT! HOW ABOUT LET’S STOP THE MEGA MALL HARMING THE EVERGLADES, AND DO THIS BOON-TO-TOURISM-AND-OUR-SOCCER-LOVING-RESIDENTS COMPLEX INSTEAD ??? !!!
I have had the great honor of meeting Raul Mas, at Coral Gables City Hall recently. and find him to be exceptionally patriotic and inspiring.
As a passenger transportation driver, I know there is nothing to do for Airport area tourists.
Moreover, our tremendous Latino residents love soccer, and deserve a Soccer Team.
Eileen Higgins’ election suggests my Proposal is feasible.
STOP THE MEGA MALL HARMING THE EVERGLADES, AND DO THE BENEFICIAL SOCCER STADIUM MALL COMPLEX INSTEAD.
DON’T YOU AGREE?
Sincerely,
Jackson Rip Holmes
Amy,Having been raised in Chicago most of my life, there are so many Shenanigans that are in Common with Miami-Dade County and The Chicago Political Machine. The reason that all this corruption is going on in Miami-Dade County like Chicago is because people that are in power Politically and who raise money for all their political campaigns have in place a pay to play arena. That’s what our society has put into place because of all these weasel Lobbyists and consulting services who all have the people in power in their pocket . It’s a Puppet & Puppeteer atmosphere. Mostly everything is done behind closed doors,in other words the fix is in by the fixers and for the fixers ! When you have all the Corruption in the top law enforcement agencies in Washington DC in some way operate with some political bias you can see how this trickles down to state and local governments like Florida and Illinois as well as Miami-Dade County and Chicago. We the people have created a monster.Now we have to figure out how to stop the chaos!
Gustavo, having lived here all my life (perhaps you too), it shouldn’t surprise us that they are building a stadium for 25,000 with only 3,700 parking. Miami never seems to have enough parking when these politicians build these money-making (for them?) projects. I am very hopeful that everyone will vote NO. I think we know enough by now, after the Miami Marlins stadium fiasco, that they can take their “freedom” ideas elsewhere. Taxpayers/Residents always appear to get screwed in the end. Then again, there are so many ignorant, misinformed people that they might just vote “yes.”
Are Our Politicians Crazy ? Stadium for 25000 ,3700 Parking Only Just for the game Every car must bring 7 people to the game to find Parking , “or’ use a bicycle ? Hotel Shopping Center like We need Another ? Let’s See How many Politicians (Not Registered Lobbyist ) will pitch for the Bad Deal for MIAMI ?
Melreese sits atop toxic incinerator ash dump. http://www.miaminewtimes.com/news/david-beckhams-new-stadium-site-at-melreese-golf-course-sits-on-a-huge-toxic-waste-pile-10516843
Maybe Marlins Stadium?
Money talks and politicians walk wherever they want them to!