MIAMI—Swire Properties Inc., the developer of Brickell City Centre, has committed $600,000 to fund The Underline, the proposed 10-mile linear park that aims to transform the underutilized land below Miami's Metrorail. Similar to the concept of New York City's High Line, The Underline will focus on transforming the space around Miami's urban infrastructure and is set to be one of the city's most ambitious projects.

Swire Properties executives and city and government and community operatives at the proposed 10-mile linear park underneath Miami's Metrorail.

Once completed, The Underline, which will act as both an urban trail and living art destination, will be anchored on the north end at the Miami River near Brickell Avenue and on the south end by the Dadeland South Metrorail Station. The Underline will encourage Miami residents to embrace a new urban lifestyle by walking, biking or taking mass transit as an alternative to driving.

The project is expected to bring an additional $170 million in total economic output during construction and $50 million annually after completion.

“Swire Properties and The Underline share the same passion for providing a safe biking, walking and leisure refuge for the city's most dense neighborhoods,” said Guy Bradley, CEO of Swire Properties' parent company based in Hong Kong. “As Brickell City Centre nears completion, we want to continue to build upon our vision for a more sustainable Miami and do our part to make this important community asset come to fruition.”

Swire's donation will be earmarked for the construction of the Brickell portion of The Underline and will seamlessly connect with Swire's renovation of the Eighth Street Metromover station and surrounding green space, which is located adjacent to the 5.4-million-square foot Brickell City Centre.

“Swire's donation exemplifies the developer's conviction and commitment to the community,” said Meg Daly, founder of Friends of The Underline, the nonprofit organization behind the project. “Their generous support will be instrumental in bringing more private and public funding to this transformative project for Miami-Dade County and the city of Miami.”

As a major sponsor, Swire will continue to advocate funding, design and future maintenance of The Underline. Stephen Owens, president of Swire Properties, is a member of the board of trustees for the nonprofit.

Friends of The Underline will celebrate Swire's donation and newly forged partnership on May 25 at a private VIP reception at Brickell City Centre's hotel EAST, Miami, where plans for The Underline's temporary art installations, set for fall 2016, will also be unveiled. During the event, Swire hopes to challenge its high-profile guests to match or exceed its $600,000 donation.

The designers behind The Underline, James Corner Field Operations, gained global recognition for co-designing the famed High Line, NYC's public park built on a historic freight rail line elevated above the streets on Manhattan's West Side. The Knight Foundation recently announced The Underline as one of three South Florida winners of the Knight Cities Challenge, a competition that seeks new ideas from innovators and how they plan to improve the future of their city.

Swire Properties Inc, headquartered in Miami since 1979, is one of South Florida's leading international developers of urban office, hotel and condominium properties. Known for its $1-billion, master‐planned development of the island of Brickell Key in downtown Miami, Swire continues to shape the Miami skyline with its latest project, Brickell City Centre, a $1.05-billion, mixed‐use complex comprising a gross floor area of 5.4-million gross square feet.

The project is expected to bring an additional $170 million in total economic output during construction and $50 million annually after completion.

Instant Insights /

Brickell City Centre Developer Pledges Funds to Underline

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