The rich want to pay for it, but why should they?

In this Miami New Times article, it is claimed by Neisen Kasden of the Downtown Development Authority that the filthy rich tenants of Brickell ave are "willing to tax themselves to pay for part of the improvements." Notice that there is no exploration of how much of these improvements they would be willing to pay, but given the project is estimated at only a measly $5-10 million, maybe they should just pay for the whole thing? They can call it giving back to the community, right?
One comment on the article by Esperanza Suarez Kelly notes, "My friends at Curtis + Rogers have been working on this for a very long time."

And so there is part of the story. You've got a design group whose been working on a project for some period of time despite their not being any money reserved for the project to begin with.
Who wants this project done?

I'm certainly very concerned with safety issues in the area, particularly Brickell which is notoriously anti-pedestrian, despite being one of the densest areas in Miami. However I am always skeptical of any plans that begin to hatch before they are laid.

Follow Up

One hopes it doesn't get out of hand, but I want to start a follow up-pile. Essentially, as I'ev done in the lst two days, I will post tidbits to be looked in to for further understanding.

Consider this piece on Curbed Miami:

Unbuilt SoBe Park/500/600 Alton Project Put Up For Sale.

It's got so few comments but they are so poignant that I copied most of them here. The story here is rather obvious from the comments. How common is it for flippers to get special ordinances given to their projects so they can increase their profitability?

Government, get out of our way

Given that All Aboard Florida recently won part of a process to acquire land in downtown Miami from a city agency to build a passenger train station, this comment from FEC vice president is a bit ironic: We just ask that government get out of the way.

Seems that they don't mind dealing with government when it gives them sweetheart deals on prime land.

does anyone live there? / how cold does it get?

One blog i follow is exmiami, which covers development/architecture in Miami. Mostly just a bulletin board, it reports of events in those areas with a coldness reserved usually to press releases. In that respect though stories like this one about a building in the works on 26th street near biscayne boulevard are interesting for little tidbits like, "An apartment building on the site will be demolished."

I wonder if anyone lives in that apartment building. Field trip?

On another note unrelated to that project, but related to my comment on exmiami's cold reporting of development news: exmiami puts its nose in the City of Miami Beach mayoral election with a fluffy hit piece on candidate Steve Burke questioning his residency in the city.
This same tactic was apparently used on an opponent of his, Gongora, at some point in the past.

UDB

Many in the community are shocked at the recent 11-1 vote to expand the Urban Development Boundary which will allow for expanding our foot print further west yet. See this Miami Herald article for a basic write-up, but many questions need be answered more thoroughly.
More land allows developers to develop, which stimulates the economy. But developing west of the UDB encroaches on important natural infrastructure which stabilizes the affects of weather.
Most commissioners voted for this expansion. Whose interest did they have in mind?

newspapers as product pushers

While browsing Random Pixels for information about former Miami Commissioner Arthur Teele (who put a bullet into his head, standing in the lobby of the Miami Herald building) I came across an unrelated story about former Herald columnist Joan Fleischman, who apparently used her column to promote her friends real estate dealings.
Of course there's no mention in the article but we all know that product placements cost money.

incestual methodology of discipline in the city of miami

Crespogram has an open letter up to City of Miami acting manager Danny Alfonso calling him out for setting up an investigation in to Luis Cabrera's unethical behavior as a city administrator. Part of the Tomas Regalado "friends and family" plan, this focus on Luis Cabrera is a sliver of the bigger picture of corruption and nepotism in the current administration.
After the letter I include another notice posted on the site today warning City of Miami employees about the investigation to begin tomorrow, and what protections they should expect and demand as part of cooperating with the investigation.