Allen Morris Park Community Meeting Recap
The Brickell Homeowners Association recently joined Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez, residents, community stakeholders, and Allen Morris Company representative Javier Fernandez for a community conversation regarding the future of Allen Morris Park.
This meeting represents the latest chapter in a conversation that has spanned years. The future of Allen Morris Park has remained an important community issue through multiple administrations, from former Commissioner Ken Russell, to Commissioner Sabina Covo, Commissioner Joe Carollo, and now Commissioner Rolando Escalona, while also involving Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez. Throughout these leadership transitions, the Brickell Homeowners Association has continued to monitor the site, advocate for transparency, and seek updates on behalf of the community.
Along the way, we sought answers from the former City of Miami Parks Director Chris Evans to better understand the status of the park and its future. Following his departure, many questions remained unanswered, while his replacement was found. Resident Elena Kasparis has also remained actively engaged in the process and created a petition in 2023 to help raise awareness and advocate for the park’s future. You can view the petition here.
BHA members from Brickell Flatiron have also remained informed and engaged throughout the process, regularly communicating with City officials and representatives of the Allen Morris Company to seek updates and advocate for clarity.
This meeting marked an important opportunity to reestablish direct dialogue. Allen Morris Company representative Javier Fernandez walked attendees through the history of the property, explained the current status of the project, and answered questions from residents. The discussion also allowed Commissioner Lopez to hear residents' concerns firsthand while providing updates on the County's role moving forward.
During the discussion, Javier Fernandez shared that the prolonged legal disputes surrounding the property had significantly impacted the family's willingness to consider future land donations to the City. They explained that the experience created frustration after substantial time and resources were spent defending previous approvals. To learn more see the slideshow below.
Javier Fernandez noted, however, that they remain open to future conversations with Miami-Dade County and neighborhood stakeholders regarding potential park contributions as part of any future development approvals. While no commitments were made, they expressed a willingness to explore opportunities that could benefit the community.
Residents raised questions regarding the proposed development, public access, traffic, tree preservation, construction impacts, and the long-term vision for open space within the neighborhood. Throughout the meeting, many residents expressed skepticism about the long-term plans for the property. Much of the concern centered around an email communication that included the phrase "Brickell Park – Future Supertall Sales Center," which led some attendees to question whether a future supertall tower is ultimately planned for the site. While representatives reiterated that no future plans have been finalized, many residents said the communication created immediate distrust and raised concerns about what future development applications could propose. Attendees emphasized the importance of transparency, communication and continued engagement as the project moves forward.
Commissioner Vicki Lopez addressed several of these concerns during the meeting and later shared a follow-up video recap, which you can watch here. During the discussion, she reaffirmed her commitment to protecting the existing tree canopy on the property and announced her intent to bring forward an amendment at the July 21 Miami-Dade County Commission meeting to remove the Rapid Transit Zone (RTZ) zoning designation from the parcels. If approved, future development proposals for the site would once again fall under the jurisdiction of the City of Miami.
We appreciate everyone who participated in the conversation. Constructive dialogue between residents, property owners, developers, and public officials remains an important part of shaping our future.
We will continue to share updates as additional information becomes available. We are also exploring the formation of a resident committee to help stay engaged on this issue. If you are a Brickell resident and would like to get involved, we encourage you to sign up using the link below.
