The City of Miami is moving forward on a new public safety building at Freedom Park to house a new police headquarters and fire station, pending a traffic study and a town hall for community input.
On Dec. 11, commissioners reviewed options for replacing the city’s aging police headquarters and weighed the pros and cons of three sites: the existing downtown location, a downtown site near Biscayne Bay, and Freedom Park near Northwest 37th Avenue. Commissioners approved moving forward with Freedom Park, contingent on a comprehensive traffic analysis and a public town hall to address neighborhood concerns.
The current police headquarters at 400 NW Second Ave., built in 1975, has long faced structural challenges including flooding, corroded pipes and sinkholes in its parking lot.
In October, commissioners debated relocating the department to Freedom Park or rebuilding on the existing downtown site, noting that downtown rebuilding posed logistical challenges and limited opportunities to monetize the property. Freedom Park, while farther west, offers central geographic access, minimal flooding risk and the space to combine a new public safety building with the city’s forthcoming administration building, creating a city campus.
Staff from the city’s Department of Real Estate and Asset Management (DREAM) presented an updated analysis at the Dec. 11 meeting. They reviewed floor plans and configurations for each site, saying that rebuilding at the existing downtown location would be “technically possible” but inefficient and costly. Two appraisals placed the downtown site’s value between $69.8 million and $80 million, a potential source of funding for the new public safety building if the present site were sold or leased.
Biscayne Park, three blocks from Biscayne Bay, was dismissed due to flood risk and vulnerability during emergencies. Based on these factors, the administration ultimately recommended moving forward with the Freedom Park site, which offers central access, minimal flooding risk, and the ability to house both police and fire operations alongside the new administration building.
Commissioner Joe Carollo supported the Freedom Park site, highlighting the potential to offset roughly a third of the estimated $300 million construction cost by monetizing the existing downtown property.
Commissioner Miguel Gabela, whose district includes Freedom Park, said he was “halfway convinced” and emphasized the need to address traffic and noise concerns.
“Before moving forward… I’d like to have assurances of how we’re going to take care of the traffic situation,” Mr. Gabela said. “Also… let me have a town hall to see what the feeling is,” he said. Commissioners agreed that a vote would be contingent on his satisfaction with a traffic study and public engagement.
The commission voted to direct staff to proceed with planning at Freedom Park while addressing Mr. Gabela’s traffic study and town hall requests, keeping the project’s ultimate approval flexible.
Commissioners also discussed future opportunities to use downtown sites for other city needs. Ideas included relocating Bayfront Park offices and possibly incorporating police substations, fire facilities, or even residential units above city operations, which could create additional revenue streams while maintaining public safety coverage in the downtown area.
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