Miami city officials are holding off on a proposal to transfer ownership of the historic Olympia Theater to a charter school operator following pushback over a lack of public input and transparency.
During last week’s meeting, the Miami City Commission unanimously agreed to defer voting on the purchase and sale agreement to July 24. Meanwhile, city staff will host public meetings to gather community feedback and clarify the terms of the proposed contract.
Built in 1926, the Mediterranean-style venue in downtown Miami has long been a cultural landmark. After operating for decades as a movie palace and theater hosting world-class performers, philanthropist Maurice Gusman deeded the declining property to the city in 1975, saving it from demolition. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1984, but despite its prestige, the now 99-year-old building has since fallen into disrepair and city officials have struggled to reopen or redevelop the space.
Under the current proposal, the city would sell the theater and adjacent property at 174 E Flagler St. to the nonprofit that runs SLAM Academy, a charter school network co-founded by Miami-based rapper Armando “Pitbull” Pérez. The site would be transformed into a performing arts school and event space that SLAM would operate in collaboration with Miami Dade College. The preliminary plan calls for the school to lease office space to the college, offer student internships and use the theater for both school functions and public programming.
City Manager Arthur Noriega opened the discussion by addressing concerns about the pace and public perception of the proposed deal. “I think in terms of public perception, [this item has] moved rather quickly, and it kind of has, but more from a timeliness perspective,” he said, noting that the intent behind the agreement was to activate the Olympia Theater in time for the upcoming school year.
Mr. Noriega acknowledged the challenges the city has faced as the caretaker of a nearly 100-year-old building that holds historic designation but requires extensive repairs. “There was a reference to the issue of whether we are good stewards of our city assets, and this is probably a prime example of where we’ve as a city have never really been able to commit significant resources to a building that’s almost 100 years old, is historic and in desperate need of a considerable amount of work, upwards of $35 million to $40 million,” he said.
He also addressed community concerns that the proposed partnership between an educational institution and a historic theater might seem like an “odd marriage.” Given the public feedback voiced during the meeting’s comment period, Mr. Noriega recommended postponing the vote on the purchase and sale agreement to allow more time for community input and discussion.
He explained that the revised agreement would return to the commission after additional public outreach, adding that the city would not finalize the transaction unless Miami Dade College’s role is more clearly defined. The deal is also contingent on resolving ongoing litigation with the Gusman family, which previously owned and managed the theater.
Commissioners expressed support for revitalizing the Olympia Theater but emphasized the need for transparency and safeguards before relinquishing public ownership.
Commissioner Ralph Rosado requested that the final agreement include a minimum number of days per year when the theater must be open for public use for events such as concerts, film festivals, or cultural programming. He also called for at least three community meetings to be held before any final vote, with options for both in-person and virtual attendance to ensure all interested stakeholders can participate.
Commissioner Joe Carollo agreed with Mr. Rosado’s push for a guaranteed number of public access days and asked that SLAM and its partners commit upfront financial resources to cover the theater’s renovations, potentially through bonded funding. He also criticized the city for its long-standing neglect of the venue’s maintenance needs and questioned why Miami should give away a historic property rather than invest in its preservation.
Commission Chair Christine King echoed concerns about the compressed timeline and said commissioners had not been fully briefed on all the terms of the proposal. Commissioners Damian Pardo and Miguel Gabela ultimately agreed to defer the vote to allow more time for community input and deeper conversations around the terms.
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