Brickell's Momentum Continues with Big News at Our Breakfast Briefing
Brickell showed up. Our latest Breakfast Briefing drew a standing-room crowd at the fantastic Dua Miami, with residents, neighbors, and business members filling every seat to hear directly from the leaders shaping our neighborhood.
Thank you to Miami-Dade County Commissioner Vicki Lopez, City of Miami Commissioner Damian Pardo, City of Miami Commissioner Ralph Rosado, and Brickell Police Commander William Gonzalez for spending the morning with us—and to everyone who joined the conversation.
Here is what our speakers shared, in the order they appeared.
Commissioner Vicki Lopez: Working Together for Brickell
Commissioner Lopez, a Brickell resident for eleven years, cleared up a common question about who cleans the bay. The County’s Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM) handles compliance, not cleanups, so keeping our shoreline clean takes a team effort.
She thanked everyone who joined the International Coastal Cleanup and emphasized cooperation with her City colleagues.
“Your commissioners are not working in a vacuum,” she said. “We’re working together.”
She also addressed the recent construction rig collapse near the Jade. After heavy rain, the rig lost its balance when it was moved. No one was seriously injured, but the site has been red-tagged, OSHA is on site, and work cannot resume until the County approves a safety plan, including closing the street during similar operations.
“Why does it have to happen before you demand safety plans from developers?” she asked, adding that she is considering an ordinance to make those plans mandatory.
During the Q&A, residents raised concerns about 30-day condo rentals without background checks. Commissioner Lopez encouraged condo boards to take a stronger role and said she will raise the issue with the Secretary of the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR).
She also urged BHA to build a strong relationship with the next State Representative for District 113 so Brickell’s priorities are heard in Tallahassee.
Referendum Three: Vote NO on the Virginia Key Marina
BHA leadership urged residents to vote NO on Referendum Three, the Virginia Key marina referendum. After sitting down with both the current operator and the proposed developer, BHA concluded that the proposal is not fair to taxpayers.
“This deal on the table is not a good deal,” BHA leadership told the room, calling on the City to start over with a new, competitive bidding process to choose the right provider.
BHA also invited Aabad Melwani, president and current operator of Rickenbacker Marina, to speak directly with residents about the referendum. We thank him for joining us and sharing his perspective.
The proposal would lease approximately 27.6 acres of City-owned waterfront for an initial 45 years, with renewals that could extend the arrangement to 75 years.
Read BHA leadership’s full position here.
Commissioner Damian Pardo: “It’s Safe, But It’s Not Ready”
Commissioner Pardo said the “white glove” traffic program on the Brickell Avenue Bridge is being coordinated with the City of Miami Police Department before expanding citywide.
“We want to make sure we get it right,” he said.
On illegal short-term rentals, a resident and former chair of the City’s Code Enforcement Board described years of weak enforcement and a task force that was requested by our associations but never fully created.
Commissioner Pardo thanked him for his service and invited him to join a public, Sunshine-noticed meeting with Commissioner Rolando Escalona, City staff, and residents to work toward a solution.
He then spoke against the proposed $450 million general obligation bond, where he respectfully disagrees with the Mayor. He agrees that fire stations and police facilities need investment, but warned that the bond would add an estimated $120 to $130 a year to tax bills, skipped review by the City’s Finance and Audit Committee, and overlooks public-private partnerships that could be funded without raising property taxes.
He also noted that a proposed oversight committee would only begin its work after the bond is issued.
“Yes, it’s safe,” he said, “but it’s not ready.”
The Mary Brickell Foundation: Celebrating Our Namesake
The morning continued with a look at Brickell’s history. Introducing the Mary Brickell Foundation, one speaker reflected on how quickly our skyline is changing.
“Pieces of the sky are disappearing,” they said, pointing to preservation wins like the Miami Marine Stadium and the Olympia Theater as proof that history keeps Miamians rooted here. “Brickell is Brickell because of you.”
Historian and tour guide Cesar Becerra, president of the Mary Brickell Foundation, reminded us that Mary Brickell, who came to Miami with William Brickell in 1870, helped start the area’s first business—a trading post whose vault became the first bank—and served as her own real estate agent.
“This is a very bright, shiny city,” he said, “but we have a really interesting history.”
To honor the 105th anniversary of her passing, the Foundation is launching a 37-day celebration from January 13 through Mary Brickell’s birthday on February 20, with approximately a quarter of the events taking place here in Brickell. The calendar will be released soon.
Thank you to Cesar Becerra, Executive Director Kate Gaucher, and Elena for joining us.
Commissioner Ralph Rosado: A Major Win for the WaterfrontCommissioner Ralph Rosado: A Major Win for the Waterfront
Commissioner Rosado shared news that was only hours old. The Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA) had just been notified that it won just over one million dollars through the Florida Inland Navigation District (FIND) grant program for the Baywalk by the Pérez Art Museum Miami (PAMM), connecting to the former Miami Herald site.
“The DDA led the charge with the City in putting that together,” he said, “and we think it’s possibly our biggest grant yet.”
He also shared that five parks in Greater Downtown have been funded, four of them in Brickell: Brickell Park, Miami Circle, Fort Dallas Park, and Brickell Flatiron Park.
A new Traffic Control Unit is placing officers and public service aides at the most challenging intersections during rush hour, including the Brickell Avenue Bridge, and the DDA is funding trash cleanups along the bay.
Brickell Police Commander William Gonzalez: Hearing From Our Community
Brickell Police Commander William Gonzalez closed the program by asking residents to share their experiences and priorities through the City of Miami Police Department’s Community Sentiment Questionnaire.
BHA is helping the Police Department reach Brickell residents. Please take a few minutes to complete the survey or scan the QR code on the attached flyer.
Community feedback helps local officers better understand residents’ concerns and determine where attention and resources are most needed.
Thank You to Our Supporters
This program was made possible by Mueller and Associates and CBT Builders.
Our thanks to Helmut Mueller and Josh Alvarez for their generous support and commitment to bringing the Brickell community together.
Help Shape Our New Website
A new BHA website is on the way, and we want it built around what residents need. Tell us what you would like to see.
Until Next Time
For more than three decades, the Brickell Homeowners Association has been the voice of Brickell residents. Mornings like this remind us why that work matters.
Thank you for being part of it, and we will see you at the next Breakfast Briefing.
