Miami Wilds – Lease to be Rescinded 11.14.23
In a 11.14.23 Memorandum from Miami-Dade Mayor Daniella Levine Cava to the Honorable Chairman Oliver G. Gilbert, III and Members, Board of County Commissioners, Mayor Cava recommends the following.
“At this time, as further detailed in this memo, it appears that the Lease will need to be rescinded to best safeguard the County’s interests and our community’s needs and objectives. The Lease was approved and executed subject to and contingent upon the prior approval, execution and validity of an amended release of deed restrictions with the United States Department of the Interior, National Park Service (“NPS”) on the lands to be leased to Miami Wilds and to be used for development and operation of a parking concession. While Miami Wilds and the County entered into the Lease with the understanding that the amended release of deed restrictions granted by NPS was valid, a case pending in federal court challenges the validity of the release of deed restrictions and a summary judgment hearing on the matter is to be held in December 2023. NPS has admitted that it failed to comply with applicable legal requirements prior to approving and executing the release. If the Court grants the plaintiffs’ claims for relief in that case, an action that the Court seems likely to take, the Lease will need to be rescinded and terminated as the condition precedent will have been voided and the deed restrictions prohibiting leasing of the lands and private, commercial use thereof will again be in place for portions of the land.”