Voters to decide if Watson Island sees condos, hotels
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An aerial view of the proposed Watson Harbour development site. Photo: Courtesy of Watson Harbour
Developers are seeking Miami voter approval for two projects that would bring condos, hotels and a 13-acre park to Watson Island.
Why it matters: The prime waterfront land on the 86-acre artificial island, originally deeded to the city for public use, has been slated for redevelopment for 20 years.
Driving the news: The two projects on the Nov. 5 ballot seek to redevelop Jungle Island on the north side of Watson Island and develop nearly 11 acres of vacant land on the south side facing downtown.
Referendum 2 - Jungle Island
Developers ESJ Capital Partners and Terra – doing business as Ecoresiliency Miami – want to buy a slice of Jungle Island's 18-acre eco-theme park to build condos. In return, they'd build a public park for the city.
- ESJ, which holds the lease on the city-owned parcel, and Terra would develop five acres into two condo towers and spend about $38 million converting the remaining 13 acres into a park featuring native trees and shaded walkways.
- The towers would be around 40 stories and include 600 units.
- Jungle Island and ESJ's nearby restaurant Joia Beach would be "phased" into a park, a spokesperson tells Axios.
- The animals at Jungle Island — including lemurs, sloths and capybaras — would be transferred to new caretakers.
- The new development would include a "pedestrian-friendly" connection to the south side of Watson Island, though the details are still in the works.
Flashback: In 2018, ESJ received voter approval to develop the land into an eco-adventure hotel and resort but it abandoned those plans.
Follow the money: The developers would pay the city $135 million for the parcel, a spokesperson tells Axios.
- They would pay $2 million per year to maintain the park and make a $15 million contribution for public benefits in the city, like affordable housing and infrastructure.
Referendum 3 - Watson Harbour
Merrimac Ventures and BH3 Management, who hold the lease on nearly 11 acres of vacant waterfront land, are asking to build two towers and a 2.2-acre public promenade on the south side of Watson Island.
- One tower would be a 375-foot-tall lifestyle hotel. The other, a 535-foot luxury hotel. The towers would include a total of 500 hotel rooms and 100 condos.
- About 200,000 square feet of retail and office space — including waterfront shopping and dining — would be built beneath the towers.
- The developers would also add green space and a new tree canopy, create a maritime museum and fund resiliency improvements, like a new seawall, stormwater management system and safeguards to prevent discharge into Biscayne Bay.
Flashback: Under a different developer, the land was originally slated for a luxury resort hotel, shops and a yacht marina as part of a 2001 voter-approved plan. (Only the marina got built before the lease was sold to Merrimac and BH3.)
Follow the money: The developers would pay the city $25 million to buy 3.2 acres of the publicly owned land.
- They would also contribute $9 million for public benefits like affordable housing and public infrastructure.
What they're saying: "Watson Island has amazing potential to be a destination for everyone, an economic engine for Miami, and a gathering place for the surrounding community…" Greg Freedman and Daniel Lebensohn, co-CEOs of BH3, said in a press release.
- "[B]ut it has fallen victim to stops and starts dating back more than two decades while Miami's urban core has otherwise thrived."