Casino megaowner Genting has been given the go-ahead to build a 300-room hotel or another commercial structure depending on market conditions on the site of Miami-Dade’s Omni bus terminal. The county commission’s transportation committee has backed up the proposal by a 90-year-lease contract for the public property.
There were no other applicants for the county bid to redevelop the bus terminal and revamp the adjacent Metromover station. The project foresees the construction of the Genting tower with a ground floor retail area, as well as a refurbished bus station with air-conditioned waiting rooms. As for improvements to the Metromover station, those will focus on the redevelopment of parking lots aiming at boosting train and bus ridership and reducing traffic congestion.
According to county authorities, Genting will generate about $55 million in rent and percentage of revenue for the county for the duration of the lease.
Miami-Dale Commissioner Sally Heyman has referred to the deal as “a win-win for the county that wants to get transit projects going”.