Miami-Dade Mayor Pulls About-Face On Recommending Stephen Ross, Jeffrey Soffer Group For Airport Hotel Bid

The delivery time for a new hotel slated to open at Miami International Airport is once again pushed back, as Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava is looking for developers to propose new bids.

In a statement released on Wednesday, Levine Cava said she intends to redesign the developer bid requirements for the anticipated airport hotel development launched in 2020 by her predecessor, former Mayor Carlos Giménez, the Miami Herald reports.

In August, a county selection panel chose a team to spearhead the development affiliated with Related Cos.’ Stephen Ross and Fontainebleau Miami Beach Resort owner Jeffrey Soffer.

Levine Cava had originally recommended Ross and Soffer’s entity, FDR Hotel LLC, as the developer to build a 451-key hotel. The award included a 50-year lease at $240M in total rent due to Miami-Dade County.

The hotel would be the first built at MIA in 60 years.

In a new memo on Wednesday, Levine Cava did an about-face, recommending a reset and relaunch of a new bidding process more focused on “workers, local hiring, the environment and community benefits.”

The memo outlined criticism that has surfaced from the Southeast Laborers’ District Council and The International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers.

Additionally, Parmco Airport Hospitality’s attorney sent a letter to Levine Cava asking for a new bidding process. Parmco Airport Hospitality came in second in the bidding process.

The FDR group said it adhered to the needed amount of union agreements in time for the bid.

Continue reading this story with a free account

Log in or register
Sign up for more articles like this
Subscribe to Bisnow's South Florida Newsletters
Related Stories

Nonprofit Buys FIU Student Housing Building For $169M: The South Florida Deal Sheet

How Flash Is Turning Parking Into A Performance Asset For CRE Owners

Why Billionaire Andy Ansin Is Self-Funding 2 South Florida Megaprojects

After Rig Collapse, Citadel HQ Project Resumes With Safety Protocol Update

Russell Galbut Axes 3 Miami Beach Live Local Act Projects

South Florida Developers Pull Back On Industrial Construction

CBRE Hires Related Ross Exec As New Miami, Fort Lauderdale Market Leader

Terra Lands $507M Loan For Miami Beach Condo Tower: The South Florida Deal Sheet

Miami Retail Construction Pipeline Hits Highest Level In 3 Years

Stephen Ross, Jeffrey Soffer Scrap Plans For Miami Airport Hotel Project

Braemar Inches Closer To Ashford Breakup With $372M Hotel Sale

Workers At 6 Chicago Hotels Go On Strike Ahead Of Chicago Marathon