MIAMI (WSVN) - The Miami Freedom Park project cleared a major hurdle when city commissioners approved a final zoning vote.
The Miami Commission’s decision on Tuesday night allows the construction of the soccer stadium to begin in the near future.
David Beckham and co-owners Jorge and Jose Mas can now apply for permits.
The decision came to a vote with no discussion. All commissioners voted yes, except for Commissioner Manolo Reyes.
“It’s not enough,” said Reyes.
Reyes, a consistent opponent to the project, said the city is conceding too much.
“Every time that we lose green space, it’s a big loss,” he said.
The $1 billion project will bring a 25,000-seat soccer stadium, an office park, a hotel, a retail village and a 58-acre public park. It replaces the city-owned Melreese Country Club near Miami International Airport.
Golfers at the country club on Wednesday weighed in on the commission’s vote.
“I’ve been coming here since I was a kid,” said a golfer. “It’s sad to see it go; it’s all for money.”
“I think the soccer stadium will be great for the local community. I think another location probably would have been best,” said retired teacher Maria Rodriguez.
Rodriguez said she worried for the hundreds of children who benefit from the golf programs offered by the nonprofit First Tee.
“We’re going to lose that,” she said. “I know they’re going to be moving somewhere else, but the local kids around here may lose out.”
The project faces another potential hurdle ahead: safety concerns from the county regarding its proximity to MIA.
Those behind the project have not given a date as to when groundbreaking would begin.
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