Competitors Share Revised Convention Center Plans

MIAMI—The City of Miami Beach Land Use and Development Committee gathered on Monday night to discuss plans for redevelopment of the Miami Beach Convention Center District. Some thought the committee may decide to endorse one of the teams, but that didn't happen.

The winning bid for the project, which has been a dog fight between South Beach ACE and Portman-CMC, is right around the corner. The Miami Beach City Commission will cast the deciding vote on July 17.

At the meeting, the Committee reviewed the City Manager's recommendations from the previous week. Those recommendations downscale the project, essentially eliminating residential, cultural building, and a significant amount of retail space north of 17th Street.

Both teams had a chance to present to the Committee. ACE took 15 minutes to offer up slides explaining its revised plan. Portman confirmed it would conform to the city's requests.

Paul Diamond, executive vice president with Tishman, part of th ACE group, is convinced that ACE's plan is in line with the City Manager's recommendations. The group's alternative plan preserves its core planning and design concepts, including a compact and efficient convention center, enhanced connectivity with Lincoln Road and hotels along the beach, and new public benefits including additional green space.

“Like our initial master plan, our alternative program is realistic, implementable and financeable,” Diamond tells GlobeSt.com. “Meanwhile, Portman-CMC is taking a wait-and-see approach and following our lead as they've been doing since day one. The result: the South Beach ACE plan is transparent and out in the open, while the Portman-CMC plan is a big question mark."

Jack Portman, vice chair of Portman Holdings, a stakeholder in Portman-CMC, disagrees. “Our team responded to the city's original RFQ in a thoughtful and responsible manner, presenting a plan that is sustainable, makes financial sense and reduces risk to the city," he says. "As the city adapts its requirements, we are prepared to put forth an equally competent and responsible plan.”