Of 86 responses to the city's published request for qualifications, city staff ranked only three of the proposals as qualified to compete for the development contract on the four-acre, city-owned site between Collins and Harding avenues and 72nd and 73rd streets.

Besides Related Group, the city received qualified proposals from BAP Development Inc., an affiliate of the Miami-based engineering-architectural firm Bermello Ajamil & Partners, and a joint venture known as the Cornerstone/Constructa Team.

Although they had expected to decide at the Mar. 28 meeting, the city commission has invited each of the prospective development candidates to make a short presentation at the Apr. 18 meeting.

If the commission approves the staff recommendation, it will be slightly more than six months since the city terminated talks with another company chosen to build a project that will contain a 51,500-sf Publix grocery store, an 81,465-sf movie theater complex, 36,500-sf of retail-restaurant space and 960 parking spaces.

The commission originally authorized city staff in May 1999 to begin negotiations on the project with a development group known as Pointe at North Beach. The commission terminated negotiations with the development group last November over allegations it failed to meet certain performance guidelines.

"It's had starts and stops," city manager Jorge M. Gonzalez tells GlobeSt.com. "My recommendation was to cancel the (other proposal) and to issue a request for qualifications instead of a bid request."

It is uncertain now exactly how the city intends to finance the project, Gonzalez says. The ultimate structure of the contract depends on the final contract negotiated with the authorized developer and approved by the commission, which could evolve into some form of a ground lease or a public-private joint venture.

"Financing is still to be determined," Gonzalez says. "My expectation is we'll negotiate that as part of the over development contract when we know who the developer is. We'll bring the land to the table, and the developer will bring the wherewithal and the capital."

Instant Insights /

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