The next major project to sink millions of dollars of new investment into the Coconut Grove waterfront is expected to begin next month.
The long-awaited construction of a mixed-use development called The Harbour is scheduled to commence in July.
That’s the latest word from Ignacio Garcia-Menocal, co-founder and CEO of Grove Bay Hospitality Group.
Mr. Garcia-Menocal told Miami Today the work will begin in July and major construction should be finished by the end of 2018.
A companion project to build a municipal parking garage is already under way, Mr. Garcia-Menocal said, with site preparation work progressing just off Pan American Drive.
Grove Bay Hospitality Group says it intends to transform the Grove waterfront into a great destination for dining and retail.
The Harbour is to include two upscale chef-driven restaurants, an expansive and elevated indoor/outdoor event space overlooking the bay, a casual outdoor restaurant with an entertainment area, a marina with 400 boat slips, a public baywalk with new floating docks and finger piers, retail shops geared to serve the marine community and local neighborhood needs, and a public mini-park.
The plan is to remake the waterfront in an area that for years was home to Scotty’s Landing and the Chart House restaurants.
In summer 2013, the Miami City Commission agreed to lease about 7 waterfront acres to Grove Bay Investment Group LLC for $1.8 million a year upon completion, and about $17.9 million of privately-funded improvements to redevelop a marina, construct restaurants, improve the baywalk, fund part of the garage and make other improvements.
City voters approved the plan in November 2013. Litigation stalled the project for more than two years.
The public-private project to redevelop the city-owned waterfront north and east of City Hall includes the realignment of Charthouse Drive to open up views of Biscayne Bay.
A major component of The Harbour will be Grove Bay Garage, built and operated by the Miami Parking Authority, under the control of the city’s Off-Street Parking Board.
The Grove Bay group is contributing $4 million toward construction of the garage, which has a total price tag of about $8 million, according to the authority.
The public parking facility is being redesigned, after bids came in more than double what was expected. One major change will lower it from three levels to two, according to Authority CEO Art Noriega, in comments to the parking board in April. But even with one less level, Mr. Noriega said, interior changes should result in about the same number of parking spaces: 333.
The garage will be framed by ground floor retail spaces.
The parking board approved hiring RH Engineering Group Inc. for project management in April.
Design and architectural work on the garage is from Wolfberg Alvarez & Partners.
The parking board, on a separate contract, hired KVC Constructors Inc. for site clearing, demolition, cutting and excavation, as well as protecting all trees on the site, and relocation of a water main.
Source: Miami Today