The Miami River has long been a center of marine commerce, but attracted a lot of residential development during the boom. Marine interests can now claim a legal victory in efforts to keep it as a working river.
Two controversial residential projects on the Miami River, whose city approvals were challenged in court for undermining the marine industry and the city�s comprehensive plan, have reached the end of the line.
The Florida Supreme Court denied the landlords� request to reverse a lower court opinion affirming that the city had acted inappropriately by changing the land use from marine industrial to accommodate Hurricane Cove and Coastal on the River. Separately, the state had come to a similar conclusion.
The first lawsuit was filed in 2004 and led to changes in the city�s comprehensive plan that was first sensitive to residential development and later affirmed the marine industry�s important economic presence on the river.
�We are thrilled about it,� said attorney Andrew Dickman, who represented the marine industry in the case. �It�s the end of the line for them.�
Dickman said the marine industry and neighborhood residents who support the industry have come to terms with the city. �They amended the comprehensive plan in a way that is pro-working waterfront as opposed to the prior language that led to litigation,� he said. �There was a lot of fuzzy language and developers took advantage of it.�
The city�s approvals came at the height of the residential real estate boom that produced thousands of condominiums all over the city, and generated jobs and housing along the river tied to the development of dozens of highrises. The boom also displaced businesses along the river that threatened to completely shut down marine business activity on the waterway, which was a focal point of trade with the Caribbean. Struggling businesses like yacht repair company Merrill Stevens eventually closed and was sold. (A new owner plans to reopen it.)
Since the litigation was filed, millions of dollars have been spent to dredge the river and clean it up. The remaining marine business has stabilized and more may return now that the Supreme Court has settled the outstanding conflict, Dickman said.
�We will work with the city, county and all Miami River stakeholders to position the Miami River as a world class destination for shallow draft shipping, mega yacht repairs, local marinas and the host of related businesses that support a working waterfront of this caliber,� said Rick Eyerdam, executive director of the Miami River Marine Group Miami River Marine Group Latest from The Business Journals Foreclosure Roundup: Miami River condo project sunkMerrill-Stevens boatyard faces more layoffsMiami River still struggling amid some signs of hope Follow this company , a marine industry advocate.