Renderings of David Beckham’s plan to build a complex called Freedom Park were revealed for the first time last week, at a meeting last week where commissioners asked to move forward with a city referendum on the deal.
In a presentation, architects for Beckham and partner Jorge Mas said the plan could include:
- A 25,000 seat stadium
- Garages with 3,750 parking spaces
- Rooftop soccer fields on top of the garages
- Surface parking lots
- 600,000 square feet of retail and restaurant
- 400,000 square feet of office
- 750 hotel rooms
- A pedestrian bridge from the Miami Intermodal Center
Around half of Melreese would be developed. Beckham and Mas would allow the city to keep the remaining space, including existing baseball fields and a water park, but a major rebuild of the park would be needed, with most costs to be covered by the city.
Arquitectonica envisions that a golf facility, playground, farm-to-table restaurant, and skate park could be built by the city on the remaining land, funded by taxpayers. The Beckham partnership would contribute $20 million over 30 years (worth about $4 million in today’s dollars) towards construction.
Beckham and Mas say that total investment on their half could be up to $1 billion. They are offering to pay the city a minimum $3.5 million an annual rent for the land.
Miami’s city commission deferred a vote on holding a referendum until this week, but two of five commissioners are already in favor. Just one more vote is needed to approve a referendum, which could be approved at another commission meeting scheduled for July 18.
Arquitectonica is the architect.
