AMERICAS - The procurement director behind the proposed redevelopment of Miami Beach’s convention centre has allegedly become the target of a criminal investigation, US media reports claim.
According to The Miami Herald, Gus Lopez resigned suddenly from his position as Miami Beach’s procurement director on 30 March under threat of termination. At the time, city manager Jorge Gonzalez told the newspaper that Lopez had been insubordinate and proved incapable of handling his duties.
Gonzalez has since accused Lopez of favouritism and questionable behaviour following allegedly inappropriate correspondence about the convention centre project. The Miami Herald has confirmed a police investigation has now been launched at Gonzalez’s request related to “potentially inappropriate actions involving a procurement director”.
The news threatens the city’s plans for the redevelopment of the Miami Beach Convention Center, which officials claim is in dire need of improvement and expansion.
The City of Miami Beach originally published plans for a US$650m upgrade of the 55-year old Miami Beach Convention Center in 2011. The proposal would have seen the venue overhauled while increasing exhibition space by about 90,000sqm.
The plans were rejected on cultural and financial grounds last year and have since been superseded by Gonzalez’s new $334m project to redevelop 21 hectares of wholly-owned city land beneath and around the convention centre. The site also incorporates the city hall, a theatre, parking garage and other commercial properties, and is zoned for more than 6.2m square feet (576,000sqm) of floor area ratio including existing buildings.
The project is aimed at improving Miami Beach’s viability for exhibitions and conventions by delivering a much-needed upgrade to its venue facilities, as well as creating an entertainment hub. The plans also include a convention-style hotel and adjacent properties for mixed-use.
However, redevelopment is dependent on attracting private funding. As a result, the City of Miami Beach is now working with consultant Strategic Advisory Group to find a development partners for its redevelopment project and published a request for qualifications in March 2012.
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