WEST MIAMI-DADE, Fla. (WSVN) — In less than a month, Miami-Dade County voters will decide if a university’s proposed expansion is a “fair” move. More room for students would mean relocating a South Florida festival.
Each day leading up to next month’s election, we’ll take a look at key races and issues. Tonight, 7’s Danielle Knox explains the possible impact of a proposed expansion at Florida International University.
This land at Tamiami Park along Coral Way has been home to the Miami-Dade County Youth Fair and Exposition for the past 43 years.
Now Florida International University wants to take over that land … permanently.
Mark Rosenberg, President, Florida International University: “Our intention is to expand the university into that land.”
FIU says its student population is booming at a rate of 2,000 students per year, and the campus is literally running out of room.
Mark Rosenberg: “We do not want to close our doors to the sons and daughters and the grandsons and granddaughters of families in this community.”
At issue is 64 acres of county-owned land. The fair has been leasing that land from the county and has a tenant agreement that runs through 2040, but now FIU wants to acquire it and have the fair move to another site.
Bob Hohenstein, President and CEO Miami-Dade County Youth Fair & Expo, says he has “no desire to leave.” The number one issue is finding the right alternative site.
Bob Hohenstein: “There is no site that has been identified that meets the perimeters of our needs and meets the needs and requests of our landlord, which is the county.”
The next problem is money. Relocation costs could exceed $80 million in construction alone. FIU vows the move would be at no cost to students or the county.
Mark Rosenberg: “There will be no increase in property taxes, there will be no increase in tuition.”
Rosenberg said the state will fund the re-location costs. But Hohenstein said, in the end, it will come out of taxpayers’ pockets.
Bob Hohenstein: “This is not cost-free to the taxpayers of Miami-Dade County.”
FIU’s expansion plan includes building residence halls, increasing the number of academic buildings and adding space for scientific research.
Mark Rosenberg: “To help investigate obesity, AIDs, aging, autism, attention deficit disorder, all issues that affect our Miami-Dade County population.”
Hohenstein says the fair’s attendance numbers are up 22 percent, and thousands of vendors and employees depend on the annual event.
Bob Hohenstein: “It leaves us in a very difficult position from a business perspective, but it also impacts families. It impacts the people who work here.”
Miami-Dade commissioners unanimously approved adding the referendum to the Nov. 4 ballot — a big boost to FIU. Hohenstein calls the language vague.
Bob Hohenstein: “Their are a lot of unanswered questions that the Miami-Dade County voters are being asked to decide on.”
Rosenberg insists the expansion is not only important to the university but to the entire community.
Mark Rosenberg: “We expect anywhere from 1,000 to 1,500 new jobs will be created permanently on that expansion site.”
Will the referendum pass? Will the fair move? It’s only a matter of time before this roller coaster ride is put to rest.
Possible new sites for the fair are near Sun Life Stadium, near the Homestead Air Reserve Base and west of Miami Lakes.
Miami-Dade County Voters will get their say on the expansion during early voting on Oct. 20 or on election day.
Coming up tomorrow, building a new courthouse would cost taxpayers. Why judges want you to voice your choice on the issue.