MiamiMiami RiverRiver CommissionCommission AnnualAnnual ReportReport 20202020 In 2020 evidence of the continuing revitalization of the Miami River District was found in construction of another 5 sections of the public Mi- ami River Greenway at “River Landing” featuring 420,000 square feet of retail and 506 residential units, “Aston Martin Residences” featuring 384 residential units, “Waterline Miami River” featuring 698 residential units, the 1st Street Bridge, and the expansion of Fern Isle Park. In addition, renovations finished at RMK Merrill-Stevens Boatyard, including a new seawall, infrastructure and ship lift. The Miami River Commission approved the mixed use “River Parc” devel- opment featuring the public riverwalk, 2,500 new affordable, workforce and market rate residential units, riverfront restaurant and retail spaces in Little Havana. KEEPING THE BALANCE of uses along the historic walking, biking and fishing, and historic sites such mixed-use Miami River District is amongst the most as the 2,000 year old Miami Circle, 1844 Fort Dallas, important and challenging successes of the Miami River and the oldest standing home in Miami-Dade County, Commission. The proof is in the numbers. The Miami the 1856 Wagner Homestead. River’s shorelines feature public riverwalks, 9 major parks, over 11,910 new residential units (additional THE MRC THANKS THE FOLLOWING Fiscal Year 2021 HORACIO 6,667 approved units), 5 major hotels (additional 5 funding providers: Miami-Dade County ($200,000), STUART planned hotels with 1,200 new rooms), 25 operating City of Miami ($50,000), and private sector advertisers restaurants (additional 22 planned restaurants), 16 in the MRC’s 18th Annual Miami River Map and Guide AGUIRRE historic sites, 25 boatyards and marinas, over a dozen and the 10th Annual Miami River Calendar. This International Shipping Terminals, and other job- funding allows the broad based MRC to continue its generating marine industrial businesses operating work partnering with the public and private sectors along “Port Miami River”. International Shipping to bring significant improvements to the Miami River Terminals provide vital international trade to our District. In addition, the MRC thanks board members neighbors in the Caribbean and Central America. Mayor Carlos Gimenez, Frank Balzebre, Commissioner Recreational boatyards, marinas, commercial fishing Willy Gort, Representative Joe Geller, Representative and tug boat basins are highly active. The river is Anthony Rodriquez and Alyce Robertson for their years Report used daily by international shipping vessels, yachts, of volunteer service. The MRC welcomes our newest manatees, dolphins, marlins, and other marine life. volunteer board members: Miami-Dade Delegation This critical balance of uses makes the beautiful Chairwoman Senator Anna Maria Rodriguez, Senator Miami River the ideal place to live, work and play in Ileana Garcia, Miami Dade Mayor Daniela Levine the heart of the City of Miami. Cava, City of Miami Commisioner Alex Diaz de la Portilla, Alex Barrera and Christina Crespi, Director of THE MIAMI RIVER DISTRICT features wonderful the Miami Downtown Development Authority. multi-cultural neighborhoods in Downtown, Little Havana, Spring Garden, Overtown, Grove Park, I INVITE YOU TO BRING family and friends to the Chair’s Allapattah, Durham Park, etc. The Miami River Miami River District and enjoy the experience. The District’s nine major parks offer every type of recreation Miami River Commission promises that regardless of including a boat ramp, kayak and paddleboard your individual interests, age, gender, race, or income launch, pools, new playgrounds, barbeques, picnic level, you will find something special to enjoy. tables, basketball, tennis and racquetball courts, baseball diamonds, football stadium, track, weights, Horacio Stuart Aguirre gym, community centers, riverwalks for running, Chairman, Miami River Commission Awards “BEST OF MIAMI 2016” awarded to MRC Managing Director Brett Bibeau – “BEST OF MIAMI – BUILDING INFRASTRUCTURE” awarded to Eric Buermann and Miami Today Brett Bibeau –Miami Today, 2008 “BEST OF MIAMI 2015” awarded to MRC Urban Infill Subcommittee “AWARD OF MERIT” awarded to the MRC for its Multimodal Transportation Chairman Jim Murley –Miami Today Plan – American Planning Association, 2007 “BEST OF MIAMI 2014–UNSUNG HERO” awarded to MRC Member Ernie Martin “THE NEWSMAKER” awarded to MRC Chair Eric Buermann –Miami Today, –Miami Today 2007 “PROCLAMATION OF APPRECIATION” for volunteer Miami River Greenway “BEST BACKSTAGE LEADER” awarded to MRC Managing Director Brett Bibeau beautification events– City of Miami, 2013 who was then included in the “Book of Leaders” –Miami Today, 2007 “PROCLAMATION OF APPRECIATION” for volunteer Miami River Greenway MIAMI IMAGE AWARD OF 2006 awarded to MRC Managing Director Brett beautification events – City of Miami, 2012 Bibeau –Realtor Association of Greater Miami and the Beaches “PROCLAMATION OF APPRECIATION” for volunteer Miami River Greenway “BEST OF MIAMI – IMPROVING QUALITY OF LIFE” awarded to former MRC Chair beautification events – City of Miami, 2011 Irela Bagué –Miami Today, 2006 “BEST OF MIAMI 2011 – TURNING GREEN” awarded to MRC member Sandy “THE ACHIEVER – MIAMI RIVER’S RENAISSANCE MAN” awarded to MRC Batchelor–Miami Today Managing Director Brett Bibeau – Miami Today, 2006 “BEST OF MIAMI 2011–VISIONARY” awarded to MRC Managing Director Brett “COMMUNITY STEWARD AWARD” awarded to MRC–1,000 Friends of Florida, Bibeau –Miami Today 2005 “SUSTAINABLE SOUTH FLORIDA AWARDS, GREEN EDUCATION & OUTREACH AWARD” “BEST NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION” awarded to MRC –Miami Today, 2004 2011 FINALIST –Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce “MOST POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT” for the Miami River Greenway, Urban “PROCLAMATION OF APPRECIATION” for volunteer Miami River Greenway Environment League, 2004 beautification events –City of Miami, 2010 EXCELLENCE AWARD for the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, American Landscape Architects, 2003 Aston Martin Residences under construction, featuring the public In 2020, RMK Merrill-Stevens historic shipyard completed significant riverwalk. renovations including a new seawall, new sheds, new shiplift, etc. River Landing completed construction in 2020, featuring the public riverwalk, 420,000 sq ft of retail and 503 residential units. “In 2020 RMK-Merrill Ste- “Mast Capital commends TESTIMONIALS vens was proud to have the Miami River Commis- “Related Urban appre- “Following the Miami successfully completed a sion for its decades of suc- ciates the ongoing part- River Commission’s (MRC) $35 million modernization cessful efforts improving nership with Miami Dade advisory recommendation of the historic 100-year the Miami River District, County, and the Miami of approval, I’m happy to old boatyard, featuring a which in part attracted Mast River Commission’s sup- commence construction in new seawall, infrastructure Capital to the area. In 2020, port for “River Parc”, 2021 of a waterfront res- and ship lift. Now we are we were pleased to have which is currently under taurant featuring the pub- hiring 200 new additional completed construction of construction. This sig- lic Riverwalk, and a new employees in various full Waterline Miami River, fea- nificant public-private headquarters for NuMarine time jobs that pay above turing enhancements to the partnership is construct- Yachts in Little Havana. the County average. RMK- public Riverwalk and 346 ing the public Riverwalk, The MRC always goes Merrill Stevens applauds residential units on a river- 2,500 new affordable above and beyond to im- the Miami River Commis- front site in Little Havana and market rates resi- prove the exciting mixed- sion’s direct support for which previously sat vacant dential units, riverfront use Miami River District, for the Miami River, such as for over 20 years. We feel restaurants and retail. The example contracting the cleaning up the natural this project plays a key role MRC’s public meeting was Scavenger Water De- environment, marketing in the revitalization of the a helpful venue for posi- Contamination Vessel, via the Annual Miami River Miami River, and look for- tive communication with pressure washing the Miami Map and Guide, Miami ward to Phase 2, which the Miami River District’s River Greenway, landscap- River Calendar, and much breaks ground in 2021 and surrounding residents and ing, painting over graffiti, more.” will deliver 342 additional businesses.” – Alberto picking up litter, etc.” - Greg Cox, units.” - Camilo Miguel Jr., Milo, Jr. Related Urban – Arturo Ortega CEO RMK-Merrill Stevens CEO of Mast Capital Subcommittee Reports MAMI RIVER GREENWAY Dr. Ernest Martin, Chair URBAN INFILL James Murley, Chair IN 2020 THE MIAMI RIVER GREENWAY continued THE MRC’S URBAN INFILL SUBCOMMITTEE contin- construction, featuring a public pedestrian & bi- ued efforts to assist implementing various cycle pathway, landscaping, decorative lights, way- adopted and award-winning plans, including finding signage, historic markers, informational the Miami River Corridor Urban Infill Plan, kiosks, benches, art installations, and other ameni- Miami River Corridor Multi-Modal Transporta- ties. In 2020, another 5 sections of the public Riv- tion Plan, Miami River Greenway Action Plan erwalk were under construction by the private and and others, all available for downloading at public sectors. Over 6.75 miles of the public Mi- www.miamirivercommission.org. ami River Greenway have been constructed, with an additional planned 3.25 miles