Just days after one Worldcenter lawsuit was settled, another has been filed.
Developer Martin Margulies filed suit last week against the city of Miami and Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency over the $88 million Tax Increment Financing approved for Worldcenter by commissioners late last year, according to Law360.
In the lawsuit, attorneys for Margulies argue that the meeting where approval for the TIF agreement was granted wasn’t properly noticed, and didn’t give enough time for city residents to voice their opposition. The suit also claims that the agreement will displace poor residents and gentrify the area, but won’t reduce slum or blight.
Margulies recently completed the Bellini project in Williams Island. In 1982, he led opposition to a sculpture at the Port of Miami.
Update: Worldcenter’s developers have released the following statement: ‘Miami Worldcenter and the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA have diligently worked to create a robust community benefits package that guarantees priority hiring for local residents, opportunities for neighborhood businesses and hourly pay in excess of living wage. This benefits package and the corresponding TIF agreement have rightfully received an unprecedented level of public scrutiny, and we believe the strong community support that the project has earned including the benefits that it is bringing to the community – coupled with the CRA’s unanimous vote of approval – speaks for itself.’
