In Dania Beach, the empty offices of the airline—which went bankrupt last spring—have just been purchased by a subsidiary of the Boston-based investment firm Hill City Capital.
The property consists of four buildings, including an office building, a parking garage, a pilot training center, and housing for employees on business trips.
The sale price totals $93.25 million. Rumors are circulating that cruise line Royal Caribbean and Broward County are interested in moving in, as well as a certain Mr. Gerry Glass.
In addition to its headquarters in Dania Beach, Spirit Airlines’ assets also included aircraft and airport landing rights, which have also been sold. JetBlue Airways also purchased flight simulator equipment in Orlando from its former rival for $2.7 million, as well as takeoff and landing rights at New York’s LaGuardia Airport.
A SECOND CHANCE FOR THE MIAMI MARINE STADIUM
Voters decided on August 18 to approve Spectra, a company specializing in event venue management, to take over operations at the Miami Marine Stadium.
The venue is an iconic Miami landmark: located on Virginia Key, the stadium was designed by Cuban refugee architect Hilario Candela and built in 1963. With its concrete roof that appears to float in the air, it is a symbol of Brutalist architecture and offers a magnificent view of the city.
With a capacity of 6,500, it has hosted numerous speedboat races as well as concerts by Gloria Estefan and Jimmy Buffett, who had a floating stage installed on the water. President Richard Nixon and Sammy Davis Jr. gave speeches there in 1972 in support of an election campaign.
Since the damage caused by Hurricane Andrew in 1992, the city has deemed the building’s structure unsafe, and the Miami Marine Stadium has fallen into disrepair. In 2018, the site was listed on the National Register of Historic Places, but that was not enough to save it. Covered in graffiti, it has been abandoned for 34 years, and the city has proposed several demolition plans over the years.
The new agreement will breathe new life into this iconic Miami landmark from the 1980s and 1990s. Spectra has been awarded a 40-year management contract, and 93% of the revenue will be returned to the city. Spectra will create a “flex park” with tents and temporary structures to generate revenue that will fund the stadium’s renovations, which must be carried out by the city, which retains ownership of the site.
HIGHER AND HIGHER
Miami’s skyline continues to soar higher into the sky. In July, in the Brickell neighborhood, the Cipriani Residences became the city’s tallest building, standing at 950 feet (290 m). The skyscraper thus surpasses the previous record-holder, the Panorama Tower.
However, the Cipriani Residences will themselves soon be surpassed by the Waldorf Astoria Residences, scheduled for completion in 2028.
By 2030, three other projects will rival the Waldorf Astoria Residences in height: Miami Riverbridge, Dolce & Gabbana, and One Bayfront, each standing at approximately 1,049 feet (320 m).
In addition to these skyscrapers, numerous other projects are underway, though slightly less tall. Miami’s skyline will continue to surprise us and soar toward the clouds.
Translated with Deepl
