Airport City plans unveiled to city officials

MIAMI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT, Fla. (WSVN) -- Airport City is what Miami International Airport could become.

A developer has proposed a plan to make MIA like no other airport in the country.

The new plan wouldn't be your average airport. It would include a four star hotel, a pool and a dry cleaners, along with a pet spa. "The idea is to generate revenues without the airport having to get ourselves in any more debt," said MIA director Jose Abreu.

The estimated $512 million project is financed by Odebrecht USA. One of the plans is to turn the east area of the airport into a $359 million business park where travelers can hop on and off from a mover to get to their destinations. "There are a lot of business that is conducted. People fly in and fly out, and they have meetings close to the airport," said Odebrecht President Gilberto Naves. "There is a lot of business at the airport and a lot of offices. You can have any office space at the airport or close to the airport. In this case it would be right in front of the airport.

The added retail and restaurants can turn MIA into a destination of its own. "This is an anchor office park and hopefully it will be aviation-driven, folks that are within the business of aviation," said Abreu. "Then you have a four star hotel with meeting rooms, large meeting rooms."

Airport City could not only impact travelers, but would also create thousands of jobs. "It would generate lots of jobs. We estimate around 5,800 jobs," said Naves. "During construction, around 10,000 jobs, and after construction for the operation, this is without any public funding."

The new plan could create a whole new city in Miami.

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