Miami-Dade and developer Terra have agreed to early terms of a project near Dolphin Station that is expected to yield the county more than $4 billion over a century. Commissioners June 15 approved a 97-year contract with the Miami firm for construction of Upland Park, a mixed development to span 43 county acres where the Dolphin Expressway and Florida Turnpike intersect in the unincorporated Beacon Lakes area. Terra will pay all costs, including $20 million to integrate Dolphin Station into the 3-million-square-foot project, which will feature offices and retail, 1,700 apartments, a hotel, school and science facility, according to county Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Morales. The development and lease agreement will generate $1.17 billion for the county, which will collect $3 billion more in real estate taxes. Terra CEO David Martin said by email Tuesday that Upland Park will have 200,000 square feet of retail and create “thousands of jobs.” Lobbyist Brian May, speaking for Terra June 10, said the project will have 1,837 residences. Some will be marketed to military personnel stationed at the US Southern Command in Doral, and Terra will try to offer others at workforce rates, he said. “The intent of the project is to keep the development cost relatively low so we can offer a project targeted to those defined as workforce – 80% to 140% of the area median income,” he said. Terra agreed to a $1 million deposit to guarantee it will permit and finance the project, plus a non-refundable $4 million development fee. The firm’s next step is to submit design and construction packages to the county’s Internal Services Department, which will determine “appropriate small business program measures.” Mr. Martin said his firm will provide more specifics, including a construction timeline, in “the coming months.” The project will feed and connect with the East-West Corridor, a planned rapid bus route to run from Miami International Airport to West Miami-Dade on the Dolphin Expressway. 

Project Summary by Arquitectonica

Overview

• Materplan, 603,000 ft² (56,000 m²), 40 ft (15 m) - 3 floors, 540 units