Grand Central Park Gets A New Landlord - Operations Remain The Same.

Oct. 9, 2012 - PRLog -- October 9 – Miami, FL – The site of the Former Miami Arena, currently the site of Grand Central Park, the largest pop-up park in the nation, changed ownership last week.  The 4.7 acre parcel, was sold by Palm Beach Polo Club owner Glenn Straub to Old Arena, LLC, controlled by Miami Worldcenter principals, Art Falcone and Nitin Motwani.  The sale was recorded last week in the Miami-Dade County tax roll at $35 million.

Bradley Knoefler, Founder and President of the Omni Parkwest Redevelopment Association Inc. (501(c)(3)), a Florida non-profit corporation based in Miami, was positive about the purchase and pointed out that the ownership change will have absolutely no effect on the Park project.  “Grand Central Park simply has a new landlord and will continue to operate as a community recreational and activity center for the two years remaining on our lease,” stated Knoefler.  “We have met with the new owners, including Nitin Motwani, and they are very excited about maintaining O.P.R.A. and the Park’s role in continuing to improve the neighborhood and as a catalyst for redevelopment. What Nitin and the Worldcenter team have already been able to do in bringing Will Call and the Downtown ArtHouse to their site clearly demonstrates their commitment and the vision we share for the area. We are eager to work with them and to further the neighborhood’s exciting transformation.”

Grand Central Park is a public / private joint venture created by O.P.R.A., a community-based not-for-profit group, founded by Bradley Knoefler in 2009, that focuses on progressive, low-cost urban renewal projects. The Park was designed by Walter Meyer of Local Office Landscape, a Landscape Architecture firm located in Brooklyn, New York, and is located on nearly five acres of a formerly blighted parcel in downtown Miami, where the Miami Arena once stood. Grand Central Park has vastly improved the neighborhood for a minimal cost and provides needed recreational space and community activation for the thousands of new downtown Miami residents.   The park has always been temporary in nature since it was constructed in 2011, planning to exist for a minimum period of three years, while the final status of the site is determined.

“The acquisition certainly makes strategic sense for the Worldcenter Group,” stated Knoefler, who also owns property in the neighborhood.  “Recent developments in downtown Miami, such as the announcement of a Miami – Orlando passenger rail service on the adjacent railroad tracks and the connection of the Miami Metrorail to the airport, have made the site more attractive for a Transit Oriented Development in recent years.”  

Knoefler is still optimistic that a portion of the site can be permanently turned into a park or public green.  “We always knew that something big would go there, but we still are hopeful that whatever happens we can keep a portion of the green, community space,” he added. “This is perfect site for a public private partnership and we are open to work with the new owner to explore that option.”

For questions and further information, please visit www.grandcentralpark.org or contact Bradley Knoefler at 305.527.7332 or info@grandcentralpark.org.