Developers have received approval to refurbish an ageing marina on Miami’s Miami River. The site is to be transformed into a modern megayacht marina. It will be known as Miami Mega Yacht Club.
Miami Mega Yacht Club will be on the site of Brisas del Rio Marina. A few minutes from downtown Miami and South Beach, the facility will be dramatically overhauled. Brisas del Rio Marina currently accommodates 45 boats. Featuring covered dockage, some of the structures date to the 1940s and reflect the wear of time.
A few years ago, the Miami River Commission noted that it would make a good megayacht yard and mixed-use site. The property owner, Homero Meruelo, hired HCD Developers to redesign the facilities. Plans for Miami Mega Yacht Club were presented to the commission’s Urban Infill Working Group & Greenways Subcommittee in February. That committee recommended that the full Miami River Commission approve the project. “It’s the right thing for the river,” says Jim Murley, the committee chairman. “The concept is sound. This is the right land use… It’s a very important industry in the region.” On March 3, the commission unanimously granted the go-ahead. One commission member called it “a breath of fresh air.”
Miami Mega Yacht Club will have 16 slips for purchase, for megayachts from 164 to 262 feet (50 to 80 meters). They, too, will be covered. Covered parking for three cars will also come with each slip. Captain’s quarters will overlook the slips, too, an unusual feature. For further convenience, Miami Mega Yacht Club will provide storage for tenders and supplies. A business center, concierge, and transportation will be at the disposal of captains, crew, owners, and guests alike.
Another noteworthy feature at Miami Mega Yacht Club: a clubhouse for captains and crew. The clubhouse will include a gym, pool, media room, dining area, coffee shop, and of course an Internet room. The idea is to provide crewmembers with a welcoming space much like other modern marinas.
It will be even more important for the crew aboard megayachts being serviced at the marina. That’s because Miami Mega Yacht Club plans also include a flexible shed for repair work and/or more storage. The space could additionally house more recreation and relaxation space. Regardless, Miami Mega Yacht Club will have an all-new building for related marine businesses.
In petitioning the river commission for approval for Miami Mega Yacht Club, the developers noted that megayachts mostly frequent Palm Beach and Broward counties, not Miami Dade. Bringing more of them to Miami will mean a big economic impact. As proof, they cited a 2006 study stating that the megayacht industry contributed more than $700 million to all three counties. Furthermore, the study showed, the 1,500 megayachts in their waters that year helped create nearly 7,400 full-time jobs.
No variances or zoning changes are needed to make Miami Mega Yacht Club a reality. However, dredging does need to be done. A new seawall is also in the plans. The next step is the creation of construction documents and obtaining construction permits. Those permits may take up to a year to be granted. If all goes according to plan, Homero Meruelo informed the commission that the Miami Mega Yacht Club could be operational by summer 2015.
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