SPOTLIGHT
Sediment tubes have been installed along 5,000 square feet of seafloor within the John Pennekamp Coral Reef State Park in an attempt to hasten recovery of propellor-scarred seagrass. Winter Garden-based Sea & Shoreline did the work in a project funded by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
The tubes are supposed to facilitate seagrass growth within 18 months, compared to a 17-year natural recovery span. The seagrass filters the water, serves as a “carbon sink” that can help cool it and provides a food source to marine life.
The restoration area is “a very small portion of the total scars within the park,” says Nathan Saunders, a biologist with Sea & Shoreline, “but we targeted this area because it is at the transition from a no-wake zone, (and) therefore experiences the most wave energy from boats pushing to get on plane. That wave energy can cause further erosion by dragging loose sand out of the propeller scars.”
Sea & Shoreline partnered with Coastal Conservation Association Florida on the project and will monitor the seagrass growth. Officials at the Key Largo park hope to do a much broader seagrass and coral restoration project, Saunders says.
DEVELOPMENT
- Kendall has 342 new apartments now that the mid-rise Altis Grand Kendall has opened. Developed by Altman Living, apartments range from 620 to 1,412 square feet with rents from $2,195 to $4,090.
- Stantec and Miami-based B Developments expect to begin construction this year on a 12-story mixed-use project in the heart of Little River. It will include 355 apartments and 35,500 square feet of ground floor retail space on 3.5 acres.
- Miami-Dade County commissioners cleared the way for Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to negotiate a lease to bring a $337-million, 20-acre multipurpose sports complex to Homestead. The Sports Performance Hub Miami-Dade project would include a 10,000-seat soccer stadium, a hotel, athletes’ dorms and training facilities.
RETAIL
- The RealReal, which calls itself “the world’s largest online marketplace for authenticated, resale luxury goods,” opened its second Florida store in Miami’s Design District to go along with a Palm Beach location. It includes on-site consignment services and valuations for fine jewelry and handbags.
SMALL BUSINESS
- Small business owners and entrepreneurs in Miami-Dade County may receive online and in-person educational and mentoring opportunities along with other support from a new “Strive305” program. Wells Fargo is sponsoring the program which is run by the county’s Office of Innovation and Economic Development.
TOURISM
- Key Largo Kampground is touting a new “glamping” tent section featuring air conditioning, a refrigerator and wi-fi access, along with access to other amenities including a pool, private beach and kayaks.
CHARITY
- Miami-Dade County’s Homeless Trust received a $5-million grant — its largest gift ever — from the Bezos Day 1 Families Fund. The money will go to crisis housing, rental assistance and to create new housing and support services for vulnerable families. The fund is backed by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his fiancée Lauren Sanchez and has a goal of working to ensure no child has to sleep outside.
- Achieve Miami raised $3.1 million — the most of any charity — during the annual Give Miami Day. The education nonprofit says the money will support its Teacher Accelerator Program aimed at reducing the area’s shortage of teachers and programming for more than 2,000 students including Achieve Music, Achieve Scholars and Achieve Saturdays.
- The United Way of Miami is giving $1.5 million to help open and operate the Children’s Village, which will serve homeless youth and others in the Overtown community. Children’s Village, a Lotus House project, will include a preschool, after-school programs, a playground and a pediatric health care clinic. Since 2006, Lotus House has sheltered more than 12,000 homeless women and children and provided counseling and education programs.
HEALTH CARE
- Albizu University is partnering with the National Alliance of Mental Illness (NAMI)’s Miami-Dade chapter. A memo of understanding makes the Albizusponsored Goodman Clinic a service provider for NAMI’s help line calls and helps match interns with experts in the field. The university, with operations in Miami and Puerto Rico, also has launched on online bachelor’s program in cyberpsychology.
- Bob Miller retired after 35 years with Miamibased VITAS Healthcare, which focuses on end-of-life care. Mary Hensley was promoted to vice president and will replace Miller as chief compliance officer. VITAS has more than 11,000 employees providing hospice care in 15 states and the District of Columbia.