OPINION: The whole idea behind the creation of the Gateway Overlay District was to encourage more retail and restaurants. Unfortunately, the City’s plan isn’t working as intended as it hasn’t brought in the kind of restaurant and retail that was forecasted by the politicians at the time.
It might have had something to do with the idea that a few apartments would magically infuse the area with extra daily shoppers and restaurant clients. That math never made any sense. However, an office / retail mix did. You see offices have employees that need breakfast and lunch. Those employees are paid. And as employees often do, they take a lunch break to grab a bite locally and spend their money locally. Oh and offices bring clients to the area that also spend money.
…It doesn’t take an MBA grad to figure this out.
Meanwhile, the Miami Springs City Council, in a split 4-1 vote, approved the first reading of an ordinance that would expand the usage within the Gateway Overlay District to include Gymnasiums, Health Clubs, Dance Studios or other centers where physical activity lesssons are conducted.
Now, to be clear, we love having gyms and health clubs in Miami Springs and don’t have a particular problem with gyms being added within the Gateway Overlay District. We’re just pointing out that we’re not getting what we were sold by the pre-COVID politicians and administration that sold us the whole Gateway Overlay District creation. The prior city management and politicians are all gone now and as expected, we’re dealing with the mess they created.
For the record, here’s how your Council voted on this ordinance:
- Councilman Jorge Santin:Â NO
- Councilman Joseph Dion:Â YES
- Councilman Orlando Lamas:Â YES
- Councilman Fabian Perez-Crespo:Â YES
- Mayor Walter Fajet:Â YES
NOTE:Â The ordinance is not yet official as it must go through a second reading which is expected at the next City Council Meeting.
