March 28, 2024

2019 Economic Outlook

Education, rising sea levels and housing affordability top Miami-Dade concerns

Forecast | INFRASTRUCTURE

EDDY ARRIOLA

CEO/Chairman, Apollo Bank, Miami

“Can our city, state and federal government make real strides and investments in improving our region’s infrastructure? South Florida has long been defined by urban sprawl and images of clogged highways that have become as synonymous with our region as its beaches and nightlife. Institutionalized mass transit would be a true game changer, and many believe it to be the missing puzzle piece to continued economic expansion and solidifying Miami’s reputation as a world-class city.

“Brightline was a major step forward as the privately funded, high-speed rail has helped reshape how our region views and approaches alternative transit models. Now the public sector needs to get on board by investing in better, smarter transit solutions, such as expansions to the Metrorail, rapid bus corridors, more protected bike lanes, car pool incentive programs and more.

“The Underline, a 10-mile linear park and urban trail beneath Miami’s Metrorail is not only transforming underutilized land, it is driving people closer to transit and promoting smarter development. The Underline will enhance our community by connecting residents, getting them outside and simply being a fun way to engage with people.”

Miami Issues ...

Soccer:Where will David Beckham’s Major League Soccer team build a stadium? In November, voters agreed to allow the city to negotiate a no-bid contract for the team to build on the city-owned Melreese Country Club, next to Miami International Airport. The team has considered several other locations before this, and four of five city commissioners will have to approve any deal. Immediately after the vote in November, an ethics complaint against the team’s owners over improper lobbying stopped negotiations, pending an investigation.

Retail:The largest mall in North America has final approval for construction in the northwest part of the county. Developer Triple Five’s $4-billion American Dream Miami would have 6.2 million square feet of retail, an indoor amusement park, an aquarium, a ski slope, a hockey rink and 2,000 hotel rooms. Just south of it, the Graham Cos.’ employment center was also approved for 4 million square feet of office and retail space, plus 2,000 apartments.

Forecast | ENVIRONMENT

JIM MURLEY

Chief Resilience Officer, Regulatory and Economic Resources Department, Miami-Dade County

“Future climate conditions in Miami-Dade will be different than they are today. Just as much as our county changed from 50 years ago to today, it will change that much or more in the next 50 years. We will have increased hot days, potential flooding from sea-level rise and other changes. These challenges do not have to become disruptive as long as we commit to working together locally, regionally, statewide and at the national level to reduce our impact to the environment from greenhouse gases

“Already, we have unprecedented local and regional action through the Rockefeller Foundation’s 100 Resilient Cities partnership between Miami- Dade, City of Miami and Miami Beach. Regionally, the Southeast Florida Regional Climate Change Compact recently celebrated its 10th year and has served as a model for regional bipartisan climate action to our state and the nation. At the state level, we have Resiliency Florida, a leading voice in helping communities in their efforts to plan and adapt for the future impacts of weather and sea-level rise.

Miami-Dade County, the City of Miami and the City of Miami Beach are the only multi-government collaboration in the 100 Resilient Cities Network. This partnership will release the Greater Miami and the Beaches’ Resilience Strategy in the spring; it will be a roadmap that sets the course for institutionalizing and implementing public and private partnerships and actions to make our county more resilient to shocks and stressors. This will have the potential to engage cross-sector leaders to ensure we are working together toward a resilient future.”

Business Briefs

CORAL GABLES —The city has formally requested to annex several parcels of land, including the Little Gables neighborhood. While county approvals are required before the areas can be annexed, the city will face a challenge applying its strict zoning and planning preferences, as well as its aesthetic, to these areas.

HOMESTEAD —Farming remains an important part of this southwest Miami-Dade city and the areas around it. While recent federal tax law changes will likely benefit many farmers, they’re waiting to see the widespread effects of changing trade deals and immigration policies. Most say the new United States- Mexico-Canada agreement on trade doesn’t provide needed protections against cheap Mexican produce.

MIAMI BEACH —Water is rising faster here than in any other area of the county, with sunny-day flooding an immediate concern. The city continues to invest in raising streets, adding pumps and other mitigation.

  • Retail vacancies are rising on the Lincoln Road pedestrian mall and in other places. Retailers say their sales don’t justify their high rents, and many locals complain that Lincoln Road has become boring as small, distinctive retailers have been squeezed out by national giants. Lincoln Road will get a major facelift this year.

MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Gardens is home to the Miami Dolphins’ Hard Rock Stadium and will soon host the annual Miami Open tennis tournament and the 2020 Super Bowl. But it also has the highest murder rate in Florida.

The county approved a community redevelopment agency (a special tax district) near Hard Rock Stadium, with money going to a cultural center for the city, and the city is working to create a town center. It must figure out how to create true economic opportunity for local residents by taking advantage of the stadium’s draw, the plan to build the largest mall in North America — American Dream Miami — on its border and its relative abundance of developable land.

Miami-Dade County Issues ...

  • Education: While Miami-Dade Public Schools has made strides — it received an A rating — and its magnet program is nationally recognized, companies looking to grow in or move to Miami-Dade cite a lack of qualified employees as their biggest barrier. Community advocates say better education is the key to reducing income inequality in this county, where it is among the worst in the nation. In November, county voters approved a property tax increase that will go toward teacher pay and school security.
  • Environment: Public officials and business leaders are walking a fine line — attempting to bring a sense of urgency to climate-change planning while not scaring off investors and new companies. The reality is that Miami Beach and parts of inland Miami-Dade are dealing with more frequent flooding. Future rising sea levels will put lower levels of building along parts of the coastline under water, and drinking water will be threatened before that happens.
  • Transportation:In August, the county’s Transportation Planning Organization voted to pursue a $243-million rapid-transit bus system for the southern county, instead of the more expensive extension of the Metrorail light rail system that was promised in conjunction with a transportation sales tax 16 years ago. The county commission must approve funding for the 20-mile system, plus obtain federal funding. Many in southern Miami-Dade oppose the buses, and the fight over this next expansion of the county’s transit system isn’t over. Just beginning is the fight over northern extension of the county’s transit system, which comes as ridership is dropping and the county has cut back services in the face of revenue gaps.

     

    Read more in our January issue.

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Tags: Miami-Dade, Real Estate, Economic Outlook

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