New Marlins Ballpark Plan Would Use Redevelopment Funds

Miami Mayor Wants To Use New Ballpark To Improve Neighborhoods

The latest plan to build a new Marlins ballpark in downtown Miami “involves using millions of dollars of money meant to improve blighted neighborhoods,” according to Rabin, Haggman & Vasquez of the MIAMI HERALD. Money from a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), by law, “must be used to spur economic development in ‘blighted’ neighborhoods” and tax money created from a CRA “stays inside the district.” But Miami Mayor Manny Diaz “described using CRA money to build a new ballpark as money well spent.” He “believes a baseball stadium would anchor redevelopment on the downtown’s western flank.” Rabin, Haggman & Vasquez report the plan also calls for the city of Miami to “deed property to Miami-Dade County so the Marlins –- which would lease the stadium –- could receive a tax break.” And it “requires money, once again, from the state Legislature.” Marlins execs and MLB are “undertaking a new study to determine updated costs to build on a nine-acre plot of land.” The goal is to “have a plan in place to pass along to city and county commissioners before the legislative session begins in March.” Florida state Rep. Carlos Lopez-Cantera said that he will “sponsor a bill this year to provide a $60[M] subsidy for the stadium project” (MIAMI HERALD, 1/9).