Miami Today: Week of Thursday, September 7, 2017

WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

A Singular Voice in an Evolving City

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23 HOTELS NOW UNDER CONSTRUCTION ARE BRINGING MIAMI-DADE 3,270 MORE ROOMS, pg. 13 CAUSEWAY PRICES TO RISE: Though the Rickenbacker Causeway is outside of her district, Miami-Dade Commissioner Rebeca Sosa asked about the projected price increases at the Government Operations Committee’s budget meeting last week. “Tolls affect every resident in every district,” Ms. Sosa said. In Mayor Carlos Giménez’s proposed budget for 2017-2018, the toll prices for the Rickenbacker and Venetian Causeways are to rise from $1.75 to $2.25 per vehicle. The Rickenbacker Causeway is to generate an additional $2.5 million, and the Venetian an additional $1 million from the 50-cent increases, the proposal said. “Fee adjustments are necessary for improvements,” said Jennifer Moon, budget director. Two hearings will be held in September before adoption of the budget where the commissioners will make final budget decisions, though the budget can be amended throughout the year.

The Achiever

By Marcus Lim

AIR PASSENGERS DIP: Passengers flying through Miami International Airport have declined slightly in the first seven months of this year, latest figures from the county’s Aviation Department show. Overall air traffic for the year through July is down 0.72%, from 26,722,679 passengers last year to 26,530,423. International passenger traffic has risen 2.01% so far this year, but domestic passenger traffic is down 3.14%. Domestic passengers, at 13,719,254, still exceed international passengers, who totaled 12,811,169 in the first seven months. Meanwhile, freight tonnage gained 4.15% overall, including a 3.6% international growth and a 7.93% domestic growth.

IRELAND-MIAMI LINK: Aer Lingus and Miami-Dade officials last week celebrated the airline’s launch of three weekly flights between Dublin and Miami. It is the 22nd European route at Miami International Airport. Dublin also became the airport’s first pre-clearance trans-Atlantic destination, allowing passengers to receive US Customs and Border Protection clearance before they leave Ireland and to arrive in Miami as domestic fliers.

NO NEW RULES HOVERING: Miami-Dade police say they’re just fine with not having a county ordinance to control the use of devices like Segways and Hoverboards. County commissioners in March 2016 requested the preparation of proposed regulations for operation of the electric personal mobility devices, but a recent memo from Mayor Carlos Giménez said police don’t propose new regulations, because state statutes cover what we need. State law allows the devices on roads where posted speed limits are 25 mph or less, on marked bike paths or wherever bikes are permitted, or on sidewalks if operators yield to pedestrians. But the mayor does note that Miami Beach, Delray Beach and Sanibel have nonetheless issued their own restrictions.

Jackie Soffer

Photo by Cristina Sullivan

Leading Turnberry Associates to improve its properties The profile is on Page 4

Metrorail may roll back onto two SMART lines

By Catherine Lackner

With the state kicking in 50%, the plan to put Metrorail on two Strategic Miami Area Rapid Transit (SMART) plan corridors could be revived.

The plan, rolled out in February 2016, targets six transit lines corridors. Metrorail running at street level was studied for two – the north, along Northwest 27th Avenue from the Martin Luther King Jr. station to the county line; and the south, parallel to US 1 from Dadeland to Homestead and Florida City – but in July, Mayor Carlos Giménez said rail is too expensive. Together, the corridors run 29.5 miles.

Speaking to the Transportation Planning Organization (TPO)’s Fiscal Priorities Committee last week, Aileen Bouclé, TPO executive director, laid out a complex financing formula that could bring rail to both corridors. The project would require $700 million each from the state and the county. Part of the county’s share would be from the half-penny sales tax that voters OK’d for transportation in 2002, which now includes federal highway money that was “flexed” into the account.

Hotel OK vote likely at city hall

The plan assumes that local revenues will remain at the levels in the mayor’s 2017-18 budget, as well as the state approving the match.

“We have made that request, and meeting is being scheduled,” Ms. Bouclé said. There is precedent in Florida for this type of arrangement, she added.

“The funding gap that we have, based on this scenario, is $18 million per year for the first 20 years of a 30-year financial plan. The basis of this analysis is a TIFIA loan,” she said, referring to a line of credit established in conjunction with the Transportation Infrastructure Finance and Innovation Act. TIFIA loans are commonly used for big transportation projects, Ms. Bouclé said.

“The advantage is that we would draw down funds when needed, and therefore our interest charge would start upon the drawing down of the funds,” she explained. “It also allows us to have favorable financing terms and capture more of our own money, in terms of the financing fee we would pay in another scenario, including bonding.”

“I’m going to ask that my staff and I be briefed privately on this,” Xavier Suarez, com-

mittee member and county commissioner, told her. “I can’t say, after spending all this time trying to understand these funding formulas, that I fully understand what you’re proposing. It sounds like we’re going in the right direction, but the elements don’t seem to fit.”

“It’s going to take bold action on the part of the TPO if we’re going to get some things done in this community,” said Dennis Moss, committee chair and county commissioner.

“If we can approve a plan, start a project and get these corridors up and running, I strongly believe we can go back to the public and ask for the other half-penny. This would make it possible to reduce the county’s exposure as it relates to the general fund.

“But that’s going to take a bold commitment on our part,” Mr. Moss continued. “If the public sees these corridors being built out, there will be support for it. I hope we are up to the task.”

“I support the director and the chair; we need to go forward,” said Roberto Martell, committee member and mayor of Medley. “We need to start at least one, two or three corridors. We need to proceed and get them done.”

A Miami Beach vote next week on building a convention center headquarters hotel should be a lock: four of the six city commissioners told Miami Today they will vote yes.

But the spot a city panel chose where the Fillmore Miami Beach at the Jackie Gleason Theater sits has drawn skepticism from two of the four, who are unsure how the public would react to razing a historic building.

The seven-member panel spent a year gathering information. It found the theater site best.

“I really feel that people do not want to touch the Fillmore. There is something about that historic theater… an emotional connection with residents, so I don’t think it will pass when it comes down to the ballot,” panel member and Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez said. “But crazier things have happened.”

A headquarters hotel has failed on the ballot twice. This prompted Mayor Philip Levine to name the panel to try for votes the next time.

Commissioner Michael Grieco insisted relocating or tearing down a historic building would make garnering the required 60% approval “impossible,” and while he said he will approve the recommendation, if no alternative location is found, he said, he will vote against it.

Both Commissioners Ricky Arriola, who chaired the panel, and Joy Malakoff said relocating the theater would upgrade a building that is over 70 years old and the site is the only one viable for an 800-room convention hotel.

“Truthfully, the acoustics were never good in the theater,” Ms. Malakoff said. “I have no objection to tearing it down and rebuilding it somewhere else. The city needs a hotel and that is the best place for it.”

Once commissioners approve, Mr. Arriola said, a public vote is still at minimum a year or two away because the city needs an RFP process for what Mr. Arriola calls “the most important project the city will undertake in a decade.”

NEARBY TAX GAINS MIGHT HELP TO FUND NEW TRANSIT ...

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MIAMI CITY BUDGET TOPS $1 BILLION, WILL ADD 60 JOBS ...

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VIEWPOINT: GET RIGHT RULES IN PUBLIC-PRIVATE DEALS ...

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WITH 800 WATERFORD OPEN, BURGER KING HQ DUE NEXT ...

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BILLING ERRORS RAISE SPECIAL TAXING DISTRICT RATES ...

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RENTAL APARTMENT CONSTRUCTION OUTPACES DEMAND ...

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AIRPORT TO GROW A BIT TO AID OVERFLOWING LOUNGE ...

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MALAYSIAN COMPANY SEEKS INCENTIVES IN HOMESTEAD ...

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

3

Single-digit rises forecast on employer-sponsored health plans

By Catherine Lackner

Holders of employer-sponsored health insurance plans can expect slight premium increases, but there is much those consumers can do to control costs, observers say.

“On average, I anticipate rate increases to be slightly higher from the previous couple of years, but still in the single digits,” said Rachel Sapoznik, principal of Sapoznik Insurance, via email.

“In the employer market, the raising of rates has mostly to do with employee demographics, claims history, utilization, prescription drug costs and the industry sector,” she explained.

“PwC’s latest Medical Cost Trends report discusses a couple of factors that could impact upward pressure on medical costs: rising general inflation, high-deductible plans losing steam and fewer branded drugs coming off patents.

“On the other hand, there are forces that will offset these: heightened political and public pressure on drug prices and employers targeting the high-risk employees with preventive programs.”

The healthcare consumer also has a place in the equation, she said. “I strongly believe in personal accountability for your health; that means that each individual is responsible for their well-being,” Ms. Sapoznik said.

“This starts by going for an annual checkup. Once consumers receive their medical results, they need to know their numbers and what the numbers mean.

“We need to move from ‘sick care’ to ‘well care.’ That means that if we take preventive steps versus being reactive, this will not only make us healthier, but it will bring down costs,” she said.

“It is much less costly to take blood pressure medication than to have a stroke or a heart attack.

Know that going to a primary care physician is the least costly and most effective way to get care,” Ms. Sapoznik said.

Going to an urgent care center or an emergency room for nonemergency situations at least doubles medical costs and can increase them five-fold, she said.

“Waste and duplication is another major driver of increased cost,” she added. “So, let your doctor know which tests you already had done and explore options for care.

“Finally, employers have started to take the wellness journey in order to improve employee health and reduce costs, putting programs in place that address the results from biometric screenings and health risk assessments.

Take advantage of those wellness programs and you’ll not only feel better, but you will help your company reduce its costs and, in turn, yours.”

The news is not as good for those who buy coverage on the Affordable Care Act’s insurance exchanges.

“The federal government has released more details about how much health insurance rates could increase next year in Florida – and the spike could be dramatic for some,” said a release by WUSF, the National Public Radio station for west central Florida. “For individuals buying plans on HealthCare.Gov exchanges, the increase is 18% on average. But now the

‘It is much less costly to take blood pressure medication than to have a stroke or a heart attack. Know that going to a primary care physician is the least costly and most effective way to get care.’

Rachel Sapoznik U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services have released a breakdown of all the different polices in Florida, and how much each of those plans will go up.

“Of the 58 plans offered by eight insurance companies, the increases range from less than 2% on the small side to 137% at the highest. But that includes plans with small numbers of people.

“Looking just at insurers who had more than 10,000 [ACA] individual customers in 2015, Cigna stands out with a proposed rate increase of 83%. In documents, they say medical costs are going up, and people are sicker.

“On the lower end, Health Op-

tions, an affiliate of Florida Blue, is asking for a 6% to 11% increase.

Florida Blue, the state’s largest insurer by far, is asking for rates to go up on its plans anywhere from 9% to 24%.”

A lot depends on whether the Trump administration follows through on its threat to abolish cost sharing reductions, or subsidies, for people who can’t afford their premiums, observers say.

According to Charles Gaba, whose website ACASignups.net tracks enrollment and rate data, Florida policyholders can expect an 18% hike if partial or full subsidies remain, and a 38% hike if they are abolished.

Some carriers have said publicly that they are hiking rates because they don’t know what the federal government is going to do. It’s what Mr. Gaba calls “the Trump/GOP uncertainty factor.”

Florida has the largest exchange-based individual market enrollment, and the second-largest total individual market enrollment in the country, after California, Mr. Gaba said.

“The Kaiser Family Foundation estimates that Florida carriers would have to add about 25% to their Silver Plan premiums in order to make up for [the] reimbursements if Trump pulls the plug and/or Congress doesn’t

formally appropriate them,” he said. “Because 80% of Florida exchange enrollees are on Silver Plans, that translates to roughly a 20% additional ‘Trump tax’ for the [reimbursement] factor alone.”

“The lingering anxiety about the Affordable Care Act and the current administration’s unsuccessful efforts to repeal and replace, are leading to major uncertainty,” Ms. Sapoznik said.

“However, because the ACA has several mandates for employers, if it were repealed, it could potentially lower premiums. As an example, eliminating the compliance reporting requirements would reduce employer costs.”

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MIAMI TODAY

VIEWPOINT

WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Miami Today is an independent voice of the community, published weekly at 2000 S. Dixie Highway, Suite 100, Miami, Florida 33133. Telephone (305) 358-2663

Rules for public-private deals are OK, but pick proper rules To expedite public-private partnerships and unsolicited proposals for deals with Miami-Dade, commissioners are being asked today (9/7) to toss out every word of county code on the topic and add a whole new Michael Lewis version.

Even if we agreed entirely with fostering a new wave of deals that could wind up with companies controlling public lands, buildings, transit systems, infrastructure and far more, we’d urge moving slowly and carefully to set rules of the game.

And since one provision of today’s item states that two-thirds of commissioners at any meeting could waive any rules anywhere in county code in any public-private partnership, we’d suggest going far slower yet. Why in the world should that open-ended ability to circumvent all rules that have ever been enacted be in this legislation?

In fact, while this legislation containing every word of 10 proposed new pages of code is offered by Commissioner Jose “Pepe” Diaz,

it reads like it was proposed by a company that wants to cut major deals with the county and is seeking to eliminate any barriers – or safeguards – upfront.

The proposal does throw commissioners the usual bones that all unsolicited offerings would show “how the project would benefit small and community based contractors” and list small business enterprises that would participate, but those are window dressing in big deals that give cover to commissioners who vote yes.

Today’s vote is preliminary. A hearing and second vote would follow.

But before commissioners get too far along, they have a lot to satisfy themselves about.

Like, why throw out a whole code and replace it entirely while adding a raft of new provisions? What would be lost from code that commissioners had approved before? Does it still have value?

Or, what do the experts say? We aren’t expert in such deals, and presumably Commissioner Diaz isn’t either. So, where do the concepts in his proposals come from and who has vetted them?

If I were a commissioner I’d be asking my law department and deputy mayors and outside experts what the true impact of the new rules would be and what safeguards the public would have. I’d also be asking the International City/County Management As-

Light at end of SMART plan tunnel Just as we were all despairing of having five new rail corridors, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

I refer to the new financing plan that was initially discussed last Monday at the Fiscal Priorities Committee (FPC) of the TransXavier L. Suarez portation Planning Organization (TPO), chaired by Commissioner Dennis Moss.

The other members are Perla Tabares Hantman, representing the school board; mayors Roberto Martell (Medley) and Carlos Hernandez (Hialeah); plus county commissioners Barbara Jordan, Bruno Barreiro and myself.

Chairman Moss, to his credit, has been driving the committee members with some urgency to the point of convening us during the month of August. He is following the request of board Chairman Esteban Bovo Jr., who has insisted that we have a financing plan in time for the September budget hearings.

We do now; and I expect it will be approved at an emergency hearing of the FPC, scheduled for Wednesday, Sept. 6, at 1:30 p.m.

The elements of the plan are as follows: 1. North and South Corridors:As explained

by Chairman Bovo, we are now considering these two corridors as two vertical components of the existing Metrorail, to which he referred as completing the “North-South spinal column” of the county’s rail system.

Funding will come from a combination of reallocated federal surface-transit funds (bonded over the next 30 years) and half-cent sales surcharge revenues, also bonded over the next 30 years.

2. East-West Corridor: Although there is no consensus yet on whether to use trains or buses for this corridor, there is consensus that the funding should come from excess revenues of the Metro-Dade Expressway Authority, or MDX. 3. Baylink: There is developing consensus

The Writer

Xavier L. Suarez is the Miami-Dade County commissioner for District 7. that this link should simply be an extension of the existing Metromover, connecting the Museum Park station with South Beach. The Baylink Policy Executive Committee, of which I am a member, has reached general consensus that the 3.3-mile extension will be elevated and cantilevered off the southern side of the MacArthur Causeway. Funding is most likely to result from a special taxing district, as was done for the Brickell and Omni extensions.

4. Northeast (FEC) Corridor: About the only thing left to do here is to negotiate a track-access fee with the Florida East Coast Industries, which is actually laying the track as we speak, on its own right-of-way, such that a commuter train can serve five municipal clusters between downtown and Aventura. Cities and private sector developers should provide funding for their own terminal stops, and TriRail has spare trains to run on the tracks, which are compatible with its own trains.

From the standpoint of funding, the bigticket item is obviously the North-South corridor. In this regard, the two key elements were brought to us by Aileen Bouclé (executive director of the TPO) and Miami Commissioner Francis Suarez, acting in his dual capacity as vice chair of TPO and president of the Miami-Dade League of Cities. Ms. Bouclé came up with the idea of “flexing” (reallocating) federal surface-transit funds and Mr. Suarez successfully lobbied the State of Florida Department of Transportation to increase the cap on state funds from 12.5% to 50%.

They, along with the county commissioners, mayors and other TPO members mentioned above, have made the SMART plan – once considered an impossible dream – a reality.

We owe them all a debt of gratitude!

sociation for national standards – they do exist.

I’d also want to know what exactly proposed “cone of silence” provisions mean to the public learning about private offerings that affect the public’s holdings. Doesn’t the public have a right to learn at the outset that someone wants some of our land or our roadway or transit infrastructure or wants to build something for us and keep the profits?

Under the legislation, all those offerings would be made to the mayor but the commission could accept a private proposal even if the mayor and professional staff determined that it didn’t meet county needs or was a bad deal.

In fact, one concern about unsolicited proposals for contracts and public-private partnerships is that they allow outsiders to set our priorities both for our public assets and for public focus.

Any of these deals could be great in every aspect, but once any major offering, good or bad, gets to the table, that project captures the county’s focus, whether or not it meets a public need. It becomes a deal to be cut, even if it should never have been on the table at all.

Public-private deals are attractive to officials who see private funds as a solution to all funding gaps.

But investors need a big profit to cover a government deal’s red tape, whereas government projects need only break even and serve the public. So either the private partner has to

L etters

be far more efficient than the county could be on a project – which is sometimes true – or it has to be getting something valuable from government to make the deal work.

There don’t seem to be safeguards of government assets in this enabling legislation except that the county could not pledge its full faith and credit in a deal. Even that safeguard, however, could be wiped out by a two-thirds commission vote any day.

Commissioner Diaz is absolutely correct that the county needs rules of the road to drive public-private and unsolicited deals to their proper conclusions. But before we get out on the highway, the county needs rules that meet its needs and safeguard public assets better.

For example, the rules Mr. Diaz offers would allow the mayor to waive public bidding anytime in any deal. That would make it far easier for a company to propose a deal with the county and avoid competition, but that isn’t always in the public interest.

Private industry seeks multiple bids to get the best deal. Why isn’t that good policy for the public too?

Again, the idea of rules is fine. But go slowly, ask the experts, and be sure that the rules are crafted to benefit the public, not just would-be business partners.

These deals are likely to involve major public assets. They’ve got to be win-win, not win-lose.

to the

10 benefits in establishing a new local historic district Thank you for continuing to highlight historic preservation issues with the Aug. 17 article “No longer ignored, West Grove may get historic designation.”

I applaud Commissioner Ken Russell’s stance in proposing to protect and preserve the about 20 remaining Bahamian-style homes in the Grove. These historic homes (also known as shotgun houses) are in danger of being lost to gentrification and development.

Many have already been lost to neglect and destruction.

There are benefits of establishing a local historic district in a community such as the recent proposal historic designation to the West Grove.

The National Trust for Historic Preservation shares ten points that outline the benefits of establishing a local historic district: Local districts protect the investments of owners and residents of historic properties. Historic district designation encourages people to buy and rehabilitate properties because they know their investment is protected over time.

Properties within local historic districts appreciate at rates greater than the local market overall as well as faster than similar, non-designated neighborhoods. Historic districts are also less vulnerable to market volatility from interest rate fluctuations and economic downturns.

Local districts encourage better quality design. Better design equals a greater sense of cohesiveness, more innovative use of materials, and greater public appeal.

Local districts help the environment.

Historic districts encourage communities to retain and use their existing resources in established neighborhoods. This reduces the need for cars, cuts back on pollution and congestion and eliminates landfill waste.

Local districts are energy-efficient. Many

E ditor

older buildings were designed with energy conservation in mind, taking advantage of natural light, cross-ventilation, and climateappropriate materials.

Historic districts are a vehicle for education. They are a tangible link to the past and a way to bring meaning to history and to people’s lives.

Historic districts can positively impact the local economy through tourism. An aesthetically cohesive and well-promoted district can be a community’s most important attraction.

Protecting local historic districts can enhance business recruitment potential.

Local districts provide social and psychological benefits. People living in historic districts enjoy the comfort of a human-scale environment; the opportunity to live and work in attractive surroundings; a recognizable and walkable neighborhood; and the galvanizing effect of community-based group action.

Local districts give communities a voice in their future. By participating in the designation process, citizens can help direct their communities’ path.

Dr. Karelia Martinez Carbonell

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WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

7

Billing errors again force special taxing districts’ rates up

By Gabi Maspons

For the second time in five years, Miami-Dade County is raising the rates for a portion of its special taxing districts to account for a deficit created by billing errors.

The county creates special taxing districts at the request of residents or developers to provide public improvements and special services for an additional fee paid by the people who benefit from that service.

The county lists special taxing districts in four categories: additional street lighting; additional security; multipurpose maintenance like landscaping, lake maintenance and graffiti removal; and capital improvements and road maintenance.

The county is currently managing 1,070 active Special Taxing Districts: 902 are street lighting districts, 44 are security guard districts, 122 are multipurpose maintenance districts and two are capital improvements/ road maintenance districts.

Commissioner Sally Heyman identified two areas that are to increase: additional community

lighting and security.

“Two years ago, they issued ‘true ups’ when there was a great deficit in the special taxing district,” she said at a budget meeting last week. “They said they couldn’t take money from any area other than the beneficiary from a district, and because of the horrific billing errors of the past, they were doing a one-time adjustment to recalculate the true fee for services,” she said.

When asked what a ‘true up’ is, Ms. Heyman said, “It’s a phrase that the special taxing district uses that I had never heard of, but four years ago I hadn’t heard of the term ‘selfie’ either.”

At the time, the special taxing district promised the fee would remain the same unless there was an adjustment of the price of the services, Ms. Heyman said.

“They made the correction two years ago and promised it was permanent, so to find out they found new problems and are reaching into taxpayers’ pockets for services is an unexpected additional cost that many households aren’t prepared to make,” Ms. Heyman said.

“It’s very frustrating to be

‘It’s alarming because it’s not based on a need or desire, but on economics. Two years after an adjustment they’re being slapped with another increase.’

Sally Heyman the face of government and the neighbor – I’m catching it on all sides. I come back [to the county] and get no answers, and it’s not just District Four that’s getting hit,” Ms. Heyman said.

“Of the 44 security taxing districts, 40 of them are getting

increases because of inaccurate billing,” Ms. Heyman said.

The taxing increases account for “services that hadn’t been properly invoiced,” Ms. Heyman said. “They said calculations weren’t correct and now it’s a true figure, but I heard it two years ago and I’m not buying it.”

District Four – Commissioner Heyman’s district – has 14 of the 44 taxing districts, “and every one of them has an increase,” she said.

The cost per household in each of Ms. Heyman’s 14 taxing districts is to increase: one district by $5, three districts by just under $100, nine between $100 and $900, and one district is to increase by over $1,200.

“In one area, the increase was drastic enough that they’re questioning whether the community needs the security and may drop it completely,” Ms. Heyman said. “It’s alarming because it’s not based on a need or desire, but on economics. Two years after an adjustment they’re being slapped with another increase.”

Ms. Heyman said they have yet to propose an alternative solution, because the law requires

the beneficiaries of the district to pay for the services. “It can’t be absorbed by general funds or through the department that didn’t bill correctly initially,” she said.

“It’s quite aggravating for me,” Ms. Heyman said. “I feel the pain of my constituents when I get the budget and see that their taxes are shooting up.”

Ms. Heyman clarified that the taxing increase does not reflect a market change: “This is not the result of a service price going up, but of a miscalculation in billing, so the county has to address the deficit they made,” she said.

The budget is to become final at the end of the month after two public budget hearings, one today (9/7) and one on Sept. 19.

“It’s a very frustrating place to be in as an elected official when there’s no resolve that can be offered by the county for the constituents I serve,” Ms. Heyman said. “We went around in circles just to be told, ‘it can’t be done … we have no answer … our hands are tied … the law prohibits it.’ It doesn’t feel good bringing that back to the community.”

Airport to get a bit larger to serve an overflowing lounge An American Express Travel lounge at Miami International Airport that is at or near capacity nearly half of its operating hours aims to expand by enclosing outdoor space and paying the county another half-million dollars every year for the privilege.

The deal is to come before Miami-Dade County commissioners today (9/7) for approval.

The American Express Centurion Lounge, on the fourth level of the rotunda next to gate D-12, now has 8,541 square feet that it leases from the airport for $1.1 million a year. The aim is to connect an existing outdoor balcony to the building and enclose outdoor space adjacent to the balcony to add 4,000 square feet to the club.

The lounge is so popular now that waiting lists to enter are often needed on Mondays, Thursdays, Friday and Saturdays, frustrat-

The American Express Centurion Lounge often needs waiting lists to enter, frustrating its customers.

ing customers who complain On its highest day of use, on of overcrowding, said Deputy Jan. 3, 2016, the club had 1,615 Mayor Jack Osterholt in a memo guests, Mr. Osterholt said. to commissioners supporting the The county commission on amended lease.

May 6, 2014, awarded a 10-year

lease with two five-year extensions possible for the club. The site at that time was a vacant club of 6,500 square feet but was expanded to become the

8,541-square-foot Centurion Lounge.

American Express Travel Related Services Co. reportedly invested $9 million for that original build-out, Mr. Osterholt wrote, and proposes to invest $6.7 million additional to enclose the added airport space and furnish it.

The lease proposal before the county would give the company credit on its lease costs of up to $2 million for the shell and core work in enclosing the space.

Commissioner Rebeca Sosa is sponsoring the legislation seeking approval of the lease.

Access to Centurion lounges is complimentary for holders of the company’s Platinum Club and Centurion cards. In the US, the company has Centurion airport lounges in Seattle, San Francisco, Las Vegas, Dallas, Houston and New York in addition to Miami.

18 small projects to improve non-auto mobility win grants

By Catherine Lackner

In March, the county’s Department of Transportation & Public Works, in collaboration with the community organizations Street Plans and the Green Mobility Network, launched the Quick-Build program, which awards grants for small projects that improve access to transit or promote getting around without a car. This week, the partners announced 18 winners from a field of 68 applicants.

Funding was provided by a grant from Transit Center, a New York-based nonprofit, and the Miami Foundation. Projects usually can be built in a day, or over a few days, with low-cost materials, and are meant to make an immediate impact, a county release said.

Winners were chosen by a review committee with members from the donors and organizers, the transportation department, Miami’s Downtown Development Authority, and the county’s Department of Parks, Recreation, and Open Spaces, the release said.

“Teaming up with Green Mobility Network… is an opportunity for the department to further engage the community and help develop transportation solutions together,” said Alice Bravo, the county’s transportation and public works director. “This way, we’re hearing directly from users who know what they want, and we’re able to implement projects they deem important that will lead to enhancing their experience.”

The projects selected are: Connect Omni: New protected bike lanes on North Miami Avenue and Northeast First Avenue in the Omni area, and a new crosswalk at Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 12th Street. Cutler Ridge Boulevard Protected Bike Lanes: New protected bike lanes on Cutler Ridge Boulevard between US 1 and the Florida Turnpike. Coconut Grove Crosswalks: New crosswalks in the central part of Coconut Grove and on Southwest 27th Avenue. Improving Trolley Signage for Miami and Coral Gables: New trolley wayfinding

system for the trolleys that serve the two cities. Ludlum Trail Art Crosswalk: New art crosswalk at Miller Drive (Southwest 56th Street) and the Ludlum Trail. Miami Arts Studio Art Crosswalk: New art crosswalk on Southwest 152nd Avenue at the Miami Arts Studio 6-12 in West Kendall. Miami Way: Wayfinding signs for Miami’s transit network. Mira Eso Tu: Wayfinding signs along Flagler Street and Southwest First Street in Little Havana that include historical and cultural highlights as well as information on the transit network Muévete Beacom: Dedicated bus- or bike-only lane on Beacom Boulevard in Little Havana. New 32 – Coral Way: New crosswalks and bus-stop enhancements on Southwest 32nd Avenue in Miami. NOMAD Crossing: Enhanced and new crosswalks on Northeast 125th Street in North Miami. Paseo on Avenue Three: Traffic calming

and intersection repair on Northeast Third Avenue downtown. Plaza 98: Complete Streets and pavement improvements to the plaza on Northeast 98th Street and Northeast Second Avenue in Miami Shores. Safe Street Connector – Briar Bay Park: New protected bike lanes on Southwest 129th Terrace at Briar Bay Park. South Miami Protected Bike Lanes: New bike lanes in South Miami. Transforming Bus Stops into Community Spaces: Enhancements at the Little Havana bus stops with the highest ridership. Walk + Roll West Kendall: New protected bike lanes on Sunset Drive in West Kendall. Walk Wynwood: A woonerf, or “shared living street,” with new art crosswalks, and transformed sidewalks on Northwest Second and Third avenues.

Details: QuickBuild.GreenMobilityNetwork.org.

10

MIAMI TODAY

TODAY’S NEWS

WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

Miami’s city budget exceeds $1 billion with 60 more jobs

By John Charles Robbins

The proposed budget for the coming fiscal year in the City of Miami is a symbol of financial stability and prosperity, as it tops out above $1 billion and includes creation of more than 60 new jobs to handle new and expanded services.

Mayor Tomás Regalado and City Manager Daniel Alfonso presented the proposed fiscal year 2017-18 budget to city commissioners earlier this summer, and hearings on the budget are set for Sept. 14 and 28, each at 5:05 p.m. at City Hall.

The new fiscal year begins Oct. 1.

The city’s proposed operating budget amounts to $1,059,026,000.

The four funds of the operating budget include: The General Fund is increasing from $670.199 million to $725.211 million.

The Special Revenue funds are increasing from $148.973 million to $163.814 million.

The Debt Service funds are increasing from $75.429 million to $79.962 million.

The Internal Service Fund is increasing from $84.456 million to $90.039 million.

Mr. Regalado and Mr. Alfonso, along with Office of Management and Budget Director Christopher Rose, are touting the fact the new budget will see another consecutive year with a reduced millage rate, part of the formula used to calculate property taxes.

“The first significant feature of this budget is that the total Property Tax Millage Rate is proposed to be lowered from 8.29 mills in FY 2016-17 to 8.03 mills in FY 201718,” wrote Mr. Alfonso in his cover letter to the budget.

“If the City Commission adopts the property tax millage rate as proposed in this budget, residents and businesses would benefit from the seventh year in a row of lowering the overall property tax rate (from 8.6441 mills in FY 2009-10

CITY OF MIAMI EMPLOYMENT GROWTH

to 8.0300 mills in FY 2017-18),” he said.

The average homesteaded home in the city has a taxable value of $209,998 and would save $55 compared to the same taxable value in the previous fiscal year.

With this new budget, the city expects to realize nearly $22.4 million of additional property tax receipts.

The city manager said this increase in revenues is proposed to fund the following expenditure increases: $6.714 million of increases in salary and wages across all general fund employees. $9.924 million of pension increases. $6.281 million of health care increases. $2.292 million of worker’s compensation increases. $4.542 million of debt service increase.

In his cover letter, Mayor Regalado acknowledged this is his last budget proposal. Term limits mean he can’t run for re-election.

“As I near the end of my time as mayor, and by extension my time as a public servant, I think not of what has happened, but what will happen,” he wrote. “The city is in a strong position to make the most of the future ahead of us. I

am proud that my consistent priorities of investing in activities and services that impact the quality of life of our residents and businesses, while keeping taxes low, have been implemented by the city manager and his team so well for so many years.

“A legacy is not built on one budget, one year, or one decision; but on the myriad of choices, statements, and actions that we each make. The future, both near and long term, is not guaranteed,” Mr. Regalado said.

He said there is always work to do and aspects of city services that need improvement.

“In this budget, we are addressing some persistent needs. In particular, we are creating the Department of Veterans Affairs and Homeless Services to assist those that need the most help and deserve our attention. Also, we are elevating the zoning functions to become a separate department. Lastly, we are utilizing some of the city’s fund balance to invest in much-needed capital, especially in the departments of Information Technology, Parks and Recreation, Police, and Fire-Rescue. Our fine employees cannot do their jobs adequately if they don’t have the equipment, systems, or facilities available and

functioning,” wrote the mayor.

A graphic provided within a budget overview shows the number of employees in each department and reflects added positions. For example, the police department is expected to add 18 jobs for a total of 1,752. Code Compliance is to add five employees for a total of 59.

Information Technology expects to add 16 new jobs, for a total of 93.

And the city’s brand new Office of Resilience and Sustainability plans to add two positions for a total of five.

There is a total net gain of 64 positions, which represents a net personnel growth of 1.5% across all departments.

Another significant feature of the proposed budget is the use of prior year fund balance to fund $17.388 million of capital projects, according to Mr. Alfonso.

It is a structurally balanced budget with this one-time revenue being used only for one-time capital expenses, he said.

Notable projects funded in this manner include: Electronic plans review initiative spearheaded by the Building Department, $1.5 million.

Repairs at the James L. Knight Center, $1 million, and at the as-

sociated parking garage, $1.25 million.

An investment of $2.8 million in firefighting apparatus, including replacement of four fire-rescue trucks.

Fully funding the Parks, Public Works, and Solid Waste Operations Building at 20th Street, $1 million of general funds, $1.423 million from general government impact fees, and $2 million of Public Works Special Revenue funds.

City-wide parks roof repairs, $111,000.

City-wide parks air conditioning repairs, $600,000.

City-wide playground replacements, $735,000.

City-wide pool repairs and improvements, $357,000.

Repairs and improvements at the Little Haiti Cultural Complex, $1.85 million.

Police capital projects, $817,000.

Solid waste heavy fleet replacement, $2.459 million.

Maintenance and repairs of the Coral Gate wall, $95,000.

Police technology infrastructure upgrades, $1.03 million.

Relocation of the city’s current Technology Data Center to a more secure, advanced and connected location, $1.977 million.

Under the proposed millage rate, every tenth mill will generate approximately $4.3 million for the city’s general fund in the next fiscal year.

Even with the slight drop in the millage rate, many property owners can expect to pay a bit more in overall taxes in 2018 due to an increase in assessed value at the county level. According to the Miami-Dade County property appraiser, this year the city had an overall property value increase of 11.3%, including new construction.

The proposed operating and capital budgets are available online at the city’s website at www.miamigov. com/budget.

Beacon Council’s under-40 group looks at student members

By Katya Maruri

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council’s New Leaders Taskforce, which comprises nearly 60 members under 40 years old whose companies are members of the Beacon Council, is looking to expand and add student representatives from local universities to its network of young professionals.

“The taskforce is supposed to be limited to young professionals, but we do have one student currently involved who goes to Barry University,” Maya Tzur, chair of the New Leaders Taskforce and a branch sales representative at BankUnited, said. “I think the next step of the taskforce is to see if we can get one student representative per institution to be involved.”

As a result, the taskforce hosted its “My Miami Summit” in May to attract and convince young professionals and students to join the organization.

The taskforce, which began in 2011/2012, said Ms. Tzur, was created as a necessity to brainstorm the reasons behind, and collaborate on counteracting, the Brain Drain – the mass exodus

Maya Tzur addresses the Beacon Council’s New Leaders Taskforce at its annual leadership summit.

of young professionals leaving Miami-Dade County.

“We meet monthly with leaders in the community, connect and network amongst ourselves and within other organizations, and host network-building events with the

purpose of value-added connections with prominent individuals in the community, emerging leaders in the county, and students who want to get more involved in Miami-Dade,” Ms. Tzur said.

As a result, the taskforce created

a “Why Miami?” panel discussion focused on the business and civic assets available in Miami-Dade for young professionals.

“We created ‘Why Miami?’ in 2013 in order to continue this conversation on a grander scale

and invite the young professionals network in Miami to participate in a symposium to see the positive aspects of living and growing in Miami,” Ms. Tzur said. “Since then, we are in an influx of young talent here, a Brain Gain, and the committee has transformed as a means to bond together the future leaders of Miami-Dade County in an exclusive network.”

The next meeting for the taskforce, Ms. Tzur said, will be in September with Nelson Lazo, the incoming chair of the Miami-Dade Beacon Council.

“The location of our next meeting is to be confirmed,” Ms. Tzur told Miami Today, “The locations vary based off of who is the speaker at our Luncheons with Leaders,” Right now Ms. Tzur said, “We are focused on continuing to build connections throughout the area with young professionals, educational facilities, and prominent leaders in the community, and are focused on continuing to develop and execute tactics to help cultivate a vibrant and growing community of young professionals who are vested in Miami-Dade County’s future growth.”

WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

TODAY’S NEWS

MIAMI TODAY

11

HistoryMiami updating buildings, planning to connect them

By Gabi Maspons

With all the changes downtown, HistoryMiami doesn’t want to get left behind. Jorge Zamanillo, HistoryMiami president and CEO, is updating its two buildings on the Cultural Center Plaza at 101 W Flagler St. and planning to connect the two to better serve the community.

“It’s all about the visitor experience,” Mr. Zamanillo said. “It starts the minute you leave the garage and walk into our complex. From the tiles and the paint to how people find the museum, the experience is not just about the exhibits.”

The museum experience even extends past the property, Mr. Zamanillo said.

“Can you get here using public transit or find a place to park?

Are there places to eat around the area once I leave?,” he said. “We always think about how we’re serving the community. There are lots of big changes coming to the area, and we want to make sure we’re keeping up.”

After the Miami Art Museum moved to 1103 Biscayne Blvd. and became the Pérez Art Muse-

Plans remain to connect the earlier home of HistoryMiami, left, with addition, right, of former art museum.

um Miami, HistoryMiami began installing exhibitions in the south building on the plaza, increasing its public programming spaces by 133%.

The south building has rotating shows and major exhibits, where the 5,000-squate-foot Hurricane Andrew exhibit is currently on

display, while the north building holds the permanent exhibits, including the 10,000-year history of South Florida, archives and a research center.

In 2015 HistoryMiami hired M.C. Harry and Associates to advise on how to connect the two buildings using Miami-Dade

General Obligation Bonds (GOB) receipts.

“They performed a feasibility study and came up with different scenarios to use the GOB money to enhance the plaza and have additional interior and exterior work done,” Mr. Zamanillo said.

The original GOB funding

allocated to the museum was about $10 million, and the plans from the study ranged from $20 million to $30 million, Mr. Zamanillo said.

“It takes time with county and GOB funding to decide how to allocate, so there have been some delays in deciding how to use the limited funds,” he said.

For now, HistoryMiami is using the money to enhance the facilities, not make major modifications.

“We’re adding shade between the library, parking garage, and the north and south buildings and enhancing the courtyard to use as an event space,” Mr. Zamanillo said. “We’ll also be adding seating, improving the ramp and the walkway to the museum.”

While the shading won’t protect against storms, Mr. Zamanillo said he hopes to expand the project to connect the north and south buildings soon.

“For now, we’re using the funding to create a more inviting environment,” Mr. Zamanillo said. “We will need to think about long-term solutions to connect the buildings and assess how the museum is serving the community.”

History of Lemon City remains backdrop within Little Haiti

By Marilyn Bowden

The sites that reflect some of Miami’s early history are disappearing as demographics shift and bulldozers clear the way for new development.

Lemon City – once the home of Bahamian and African-American pioneers who cleared and built the areas that became Miami and Miami Beach – is an example. It was recently rechristened Little Haiti by a unanimous vote of the Miami City Commission.

During a recent celebration of Miami’s 121st birthday, Mayor Tomás Regalado unveiled the first six of 10 planned historic markers memorializing the history of the Lemon City community in an effort to ensure that their contributions are not forgotten.

“Lemon City’s beginning dates back to 1850, when Lemon City, Buena Vista and Coconut Grove were the primary shipping and agricultural communities along Biscayne Bay,” says Alexander Adams, founder and principal of Alpha Plan LLC, an urban design, planning and preservation consultancy that was commissioned by the mayor’s office to work with representatives of the community to choose the sites for the markers.

Mr. Adams says he chose to use state historic markers, both to ensure uniformity throughout the city and to guarantee that they could not be removed.

“The mayor has been doing markers throughout MiamiDade,” says Alan Morley, an aide in the mayor’s office. “He thought it was important for the community to recognize the history of our city.”

Mayor Regalado paid for the markers, Mr. Morley said, with discretionary funds.

Community activist Enid Pinckney – who created the Lemon City Cemetery Community Corp. when the bones of black pioneers

The Lemon City Baptist Church is shown in a photograph from 1925.

were discovered at a construction site, and who led a campaign that resulted in local historic designation for the cemetery and the re-interment of the bones – was a consultant on the mayor’s Lemon City markers project.

“We talked about the significant places that were in Lemon City,” she says.

Peter R. Ehrlich Jr., an activist for historic preservation and a stakeholder in the area, was also involved.

“I did the first drafts for the wording on the markers,” he says, “drawing heavily from Thelma Peters’book ‘Lemon City: Pioneering on Biscayne Bay 1850-1925’.”

The markers, dedicated during Miami’s birthday celebration, Mr. Adams says, designate six important sites: Lemon City Train Station, once located between Northeast 60th and 61st streets, created a way to ship agricultural products along Florida’s East Coast.

Lemon City Post Office – opened Oct. 1, 1889, in Moffat’s General Store under postmaster E.I. White – moved nine times during its 36 years as an independent post office and had 12 postmasters, three of them women.

Early residents attended the Lemon City School, seen in 1921 photo.

One of the six historic markers placed in the summer designates the Lemon City Pharmacy & the Dr. John Gordon DuPuis office building.

Lemon City Port, the first port on Biscayne Bay. Lemon City Pharmacy & the Dr. John Gordon DuPuis’ office building. Dr. Dupuis worked primarily with the Seminoles and the black community.

Lemon City Library, opened in the 1890s by teacher Ada Merritt.

Historic Lemon Avenue, now Northeast 61st Street, a 40-footwide roadbed of local sand and exposed rock that served as the community’s main street.

“Four additional Lemon City historic markers have been

ordered and will be installed at Lemon City Cemetery,” Mr. Adams says, “and at Boles Town, Knightsville and Nazarine – three early African-American neighborhoods that worked shaping the region.”

Ms. Pinckney says she thinks the historic markers will help preserve some of the history of Lemon City.

“Right now,” she says, “most people in Miami have never heard of it.”

Lemon City was a booming, vibrant community in 1895, when

there were only nine people in Miami, says Paul George, resident historian at HistoryMiami museum. “The built environment is gone, but it has a very rich history,” he says. “The main street, which is now 61st Street, was a fabulous place. But now you would never get a sense of that.”

As re-gentrification pushes north, Dr. George says, “a lot of investors are coming into the neighborhood.”

“Lemon City, Little River, Edison, Brownsville, Elmira, West Little River and many other neighborhoods are historically significant,” Mr. Ehrlich says.

“I strongly believe our historic neighborhoods should be remembered and respected. As a stakeholder in Lemon City, I have deep gratitude to Mayor Regalado, who recognized its importance.”

The people who lived in Lemon City, Ms. Pinckney says, “were the pioneers of Miami. They were the people who cleared the land of palmetto bush with just the sweat of their brows, the sweat of their backs and machetes. They lived very harsh lives in order that we could have what we have today.

I feel that we need to respect that part of our history and heritage.”

MIAMI TODAY

WEEK OF THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 7, 2017

13

Commercial Real Estate & Office Space Room for the inns? 23 hotels, 3,270 rooms in construction Miami-Dade has 23 hotels under construction totaling 3,270 rooms, according to data in the latest report from STR, which gathers data on the hotel industry nationally and abroad.

None of the new developments is huge. The largest will add 295 rooms and the smallest just 29 rooms.

Nonetheless, the additions will continue a growth of room supply that is depressing the average daily room rate and revenue per available room, each of which was down 4.1% in the first seven months of this year, according to data that the Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau compiled from STR research.

The number of hotel rooms in the county grew by 2,375 – or 4.5% – in the 12 months ended July 31. The 3,270 rooms now under construction would add 5.9% to today’s Miami-Dade total 55,147 rooms.

STR forecasts that the total US hotel room supply will rise 2% this year and 2.1% in 2018. It also forecasts a 2% rise in demand this year, with a 1.9% rise in 2018.

Seven of the new Miami-Dade hotel developments are in Miami Beach, historically the area’s hotel epicenter. Others are spread across the county.

The hotels listed are all cited as actually under construction.

Other hotels are also in planning stages but are not actually rising.

The largest hotel by number of rooms listed as under construction is the 295-room Collins Park, an independent hotel at 2000 Park Hyatt Centric Miami is to open with 208 rooms in 83-story Panorama. Ave. in Miami Beach. STR lists it

as scheduled to open this month.

The other Miami Beach hotels listed as under construction are: The Julia Hotel, the smallest by number of rooms with 29, which is listed as planned to open in October at 336 Collins Ave. Kimpton The Angler’s Miami South Beach, 84 rooms at 660 Park Ave.  Hotel Palomar, with 96 rooms at 1750 Alton Road. The Hampton Inn Miami Beach Mid Beach at 4000 Collins Ave., which has 100 rooms. The Greystone Hotel at 1920 Collins Ave., which has 92 rooms. The Iberostar Berkeley at 1610 Collins Ave., which has 96 rooms.

The second-largest MiamiDade hotel development on STR’s list now in construction is the 208-room Hyatt Centric Miami Brickell at 1101 Brickell Ave., listed as an upper upscale hotel. The site is to be Miami’s tallest building, Florida East Coast Properties’ 83-story mixed-use Panorama. STR lists the hotel’s opening for October.

The only other Brickell hotel listed as under construction is the 140-room Hotel Indigo at 145 SW 11th St. The third-largest of the 23 hotel projects is the 207-room Aloft Aventura at 2910 NE 207th St., which STR classifies as an upscale chain hotel. The hotel, STR says, is being built with Norwich Partners’ mixed-use urban project Aventura ParkSquare comprised of luxury residential apartments, high-end offices, senior luxury apartments, a wellness center, a 55,000-square-foot

retail center, a fitness center, and restaurants and cafes.

While the total of 3,270 hotel rooms now under construction in Miami-Dade is impressive, it doesn’t crack the top-10 list in the nation. New York City has the most under construction, 14,714, 6.7% fewer rooms than were under construction a year earlier. It was followed by Dallas with 6,923. Before its calamitous flooding last week, Houston was third with 5,247 rooms under construction.

No Florida locale cracked the top-10 list.

Nationally, STR said, 188,734 hotel rooms were under construction in 1,436 hotels – an average of 131 rooms per hotel.

“A majority of the major markets have seen supply grow above the long-term US average,” said Bobby Bowers, STR senior vice president for operations.

“The trend that has been easier to identify is the much-lower rate of year-over-year growth compared with this time last year,” Mr. Bowers said. “Even with that slowing, supply is still growing at a healthy pace, and that will continue to be the case even as financing has become tougher to obtain.”

In Miami, the first seven months of this year showed an increase of 4.6% in hotel rooms sold at the same time that supply was growing at 4.5%, leaving occupancy exactly even with the first seven months of last year at 79.2%. Revenue per available room in those months of 2017 averaged $155.02, compared to $161.70 in that period last year.

With 800 Waterford open, new Burger King HQ due next

By Katya Maruri

Waterford at Blue Lagoon, which is owned by a joint venture between TH Real Estate, a real estate investment management affiliate of TIAA, and Allianz Real Estate of America, is planning to construct and complete a five-story building known as the 5707 building by October 2018.

The new building, which is set to be the new location for the Burger King Corp., “will contain 150,000 net rentable square feet,” Brad Simpkins, senior director of Southeast Investments at TH Real Estate, said. “It is a single-tenant building and is 100% leased.”

In addition to its new location, the Waterford, which is developed in conjunction with The Hogan Group, also opened its 800 Waterford building last month.

“800 Waterford opened in July,” Mr. Simpkins said. “This is a 10-story, class A office building containing 246,000 square feet of net rentable area.”

At opening, he said, the building

The 800 Waterford, which opened in July, is a 10-story office building with 246,000 rentable square feet.

was 25% leased.

In regards to how the Waterford plans to meet the growing demand for additional office space in the

Miami Airport submarket, Mr. Simpkins told Miami Today, “800 Waterford represents an evolution of the office product in

the Miami Airport submarket, we have incorporated a larger parking structure to accommodate the higher densities we are seeing, and

the building incorporates both a conference center and an open collaborative area and coffee bar.”

However, despite unveiling its newest building and rolling out its next location, the Waterford has yet to develop approximately 38.13 vacant acres on its campus just south of Miami International Airport.

“It is a very fluid situation, Mr. Simpkins told Miami Today. “The market conditions will dictate our overall schedule of development.”

Once a concrete schedule of development is set, the developable land could house more than 1.5 million square feet of offices according to the park’s website.

Until then, Christoph Donner, CEO Allianz Real Estate of America, said, “We are listening to our tenants and support them as the needs for their workplace changes.”

“This approach,” he said, “has ensured that Waterford is 96% occupied, and we are seeing a lot of interest from tenants both from within and outside the park.”

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