Separating REALITY from FICTION:
Debunking the Centner Website Claims
In late February 2024, the Centners published a website with a "Myths Vs Facts" section, which made various claims about the License Agreement with the City of Miami and the Omni CRA plan for the expansion of iPrep.
Here is the rest of the story.
- Since its inception, the Omni Redevelopment Plan contemplated developing 21 acres of land owned by the Miami-Dade County Public School (MDCPS) district. Several projects were discussed and some were even started during this phase.
- The land owned by the school district was a crucial component to the Omni Redevelopment Plan. Because that land is owned by a public entity, the City of Miami cannot generate tax revenue from it.
- In Early 2017, the Miami City Council passed a resolution specifically engaging the MDCPS district. Notably, the plan impacted by the resolution named iPrep Academy in connection with Biscayne Park.
- The school would be built on the paved portion of Biscayne park. In other words, it would go on top of the parking lot facing Temple Israel.
- The green space adjacent to the parking lot, currently leased by Temple Israel and Bridgeprep Academy, would be kept as a true green space for the public, according to the Omni Redevelopment Plan.
- In exchange, the school district agreed to trade 21 acres of land, including the very valuable piece of property located at 1500 Biscayne Boulevard, 1498 NE 2nd Ave., and the parking garage adjacent to 1498 NW 2nd Ave.
- That exchange is vital because the City of Miami would have the ability to develop that property and generate tax revenue to the tune of $400 million per year.
- Moreover, the tax revenue alone would have funded more than the mere development of a public school. Projects such as affordable dorm-style housing for children who have aged out of the foster care system and the potential for housing for an aging population were in the works.
- The Omni Redevelopment Plan took years to develop. The funding mechanism was predicated on a 21-acre land trade between the MDCPS district and the City of Miami.
- Under the Omni Redevelopment Plan, iPrep Academy would be built on the paved portion of Biscayne park. In other words, it would go on top of the existing parking lot facing Temple Israel.
- The green space adjacent to the parking lot, currently leased by Temple Israel, would be kept as a true green space for the public, according to the Omni Redevelopment Plan.
- Former Commissioner Ken Russell always planned to move forward with this deal. When Alex Diaz de la Portilla became the chairman of the Omni CRA, he prioritized himself, as evidenced by his recent arrest and removal from the City Council.
- The original plan always had a component of public purpose. However, for the Omni CRA to follow through on the plan, it would have needed to be extended because of the sunset provision built into the agency.
- In July 2020, the Miami-Dade County Commission voted to extend the life of the Omni CRA to 2047. However, the sunset provision has not been eliminated because it needs to be ratified with two votes on the City Commission. Former Commissioner Diaz de la Portilla never took the vote to the commission and as of today, the Omni CRA is still set to expire in 2030.
- Why does this matter? By extending the Omni CRA, the developments generated by the agency would yield $1.4 billion in revenue.
- As it stands right now, Centner Academy has exclusive use the field at Biscayne Park. The public today does not always have access to the park during park hours.
- According to the license executed between Centner Academy and the City of Miami on November 10, 2022, “parties, receptions, conferences, meetings, socials, and any other Special Events will be permitted via a Parks Use permit only.”
- Centner Academy applied for and was issued a permit for school recreational activities that began August 14, 2023 and expires June 14, 2024 from 7 AM to 5PM.
