MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – On the agenda for Miami-Dade County Commissioners on Tuesday was whether or not the developers of the yet-to-be-built American Dream Mall can use public money to pay for turnpike and road improvements in the surrounding area.
Essentially, this would take the property taxes on the value of the property and use it to cover tens of millions in improvements to surrounding roadways and highways, near the intersection of the Florida Turnpike and I-75.
Commissioner J.C. Bermudez was the item’s prime sponsor.
Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who voted against the project during her time as commissioner, seemed inclined to support the measure.
“I personally was persuaded that this really didn’t have to do so much with the project as it had to do with the needs of the residents in the area,” she said.
Plans for the largest mall in America were conceived in 2015, and allowed to move forward in 2018.
Those plans were said to include a hotel, shops and restaurants, and even a ski slope.
Plans were due in 2020 but still do not exist.
The developer, Triple Five, has agreed to pay $5 million to the county for not opening the mall or securing permits on time.
Commissioner Eileen Higgins believes the developer should stay true to its original agreement.
“They committed to spending the money in building the roads, to come in to support all the traffic they’re going to create in the American Dream Mall,” she said.
Though the item was not voted on Tuesday, some commissioners did indicate where they stood, at least for now.
This issue is expected to be taken up at the next commission meeting scheduled for July 16.