Miami-Dade commissioners unanimously voted to allow Malaysian gambling giant Genting to build a hotel over the air space of a Miami bus station off Northeast 14th Street. The underlying assumption was that Genting ultimately would open a casino there.
Under the 90-year lease, Miami-Dade would have to approve any future effort to open a casino at the bus-station site where Genting plans to build a 36-story hotel, Genting’s lawyer Al Dotson Jr. said. Genting agreed to spend $16 million to upgrade the bus stop with an air-conditioned shelter. Before any construction can begin, Genting is required to pay the county $10 million in cash. Miami-Dade would give up development rights to the one-acre parcel.
Genting owns about 30 acres on adjoining land, including the Miami Herald building that it purchased for $236 million in 2011, plus another $185 million for the adjoining Omni retail and hotel complex. Originally Genting hoped to build a 5,000-room casino resort at the site.
Commissioner Joe Martinez said, “I am willing to live with a casino there. because it is coming.” He and other commissioners said the new arrangement was a win-win since Genting would improve the busy bus depot and take over maintenance expenses for that facility and the nearby Omni Metromover station.
Dotson noted for a casino to go above the bus terminal, Florida law must change, gambling expansion must be approved locally and Miami zoning law must change to allow slots or card games on the site. Miami-Dade, the property owner, would need to endorse any zoning-change request. “Then and only then would gambling go on that site,” Dotson said.
