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The resumption of the project for the Cutler Bay Legacy Park and Municipal Complex, site of the future Town Hall, delayed due to the pandemic, was formally announced by Mayor Tim Meerbott in a video posted on Oct. 21.
Meerbott told of a series of public involvement “visioning” meetings that will take place to help determine the details of the complex.
“Some of you may recall last year we announced the completion of the land swap deal where we exchanged our town hall building and the adjacent property for 16 acres of vacant land located on Old Cutler Road north of 212th Street,” Meerbott said. “That acquisition helped prevent the building of an additional 480 units there.
“The vision for this parcel of land, which is located in the geographic heart of our town is not only to transform it into a park and municipal complex, but for it to become the emotional heart of our town and a central gathering place for our community,”the mayor said.
“For years this has been a dream for many of our residents. Due to the pandemic we had to put those dreams and plans on hold and focus on our community’s health and safety.
Now nearly two years later we’re ready to pick this project back up and listen to the thoughts, suggestions and concerns of our residents to make sure the vision and plans for this community space are ones that we’ll be proud of and that will truly represent our community.”
The town council adopted Resolution No. 18-83 on Nov. 5, 2018, authorizing the town manager to execute a Letter of Intent with GCF Investments (“GCF”) Inc. related to a property exchange. For several months, the town manager and attorney actively negotiated with representatives from GCF. As a result, GCF agreed to exchange a total of 16 acres for the Town Hall building and vacant land parcel, including cash considerations.
In January 2020, the Town of Cutler Bay finalized the “land swap” deal, exchanging the Town Hall building and adjacent property at 10720 Caribbean Blvd. for 16 acres of vacant land located east of Old Cutler Road and north of SW 212th Street— commonly referred to as the “Potato Field,” immediately north of the site of the new Publix Supermarket.
Upcoming meetings after the first one on Oct. 25 are as follows:
● Saturday, Nov. 6, 4 p.m.: Exhibit in tent at Cutler Ridge Park during Rock the Bay event.
● Monday, Dec. 13, 7 p.m.: Second Public Involvement Meeting at Franjo Park.
● Saturday, Jan. 8, 2022, 10 a.m.: Third Public Involvement Meeting at Cutler Ridge Park.
● More public involvement meetings will be announced.
The visioning process will wrap up in the spring/summer of 2022 when an election will take place for residents to vote for or against a General Obligation Bond to fund the vision for the 16-acre project.
For more information visit www.cutlerbay-fl.gov/16acres.
