The Miami City Commission agreed to sell the historic Jackson Medical Office in downtown Brickell to billionaire Ken Griffin so it can be moved to Coconut Grove. The commission also approved new sidewalk protections for pedestrians at construction sites.
The Miami City Commission on Thursday approved the sale of the historic Jackson Medical Office to billionaire Ken Griffin for $2.98 million, the first step in a proposed deal to move the Brickell building to Coconut Grove and transfer title to Dade Heritage Trust.
“We are thrilled to have found a long-term solution to preserve our 121-year-old historic headquarters building,” Chris Rupp, executive director of Dade Heritage Trust, told commissioners before the vote.
Others urged delay, however, saying the deal lacked transparency.
Dade Heritage Trust announced this week that it had identified a Coconut Grove location for the 1905 wooden cottage it now leases from the City of Miami, but the organization has not disclosed the proposed site.
Becky Roper Matkov, the past executive director of Dade Heritage Trust and a member of The Villagers, another preservation organization, said the public deserved to know the details of the deal before moving forward.
“This appears to be an excellent deal for Dade Heritage Trust, but the public is still entitled to hear details of how this plan will ensure the building’s structural safety prior to and during the relocation,” she said.
The proposed move, which will need approval by the city’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board, would mark the second time Griffin has spearheaded the relocation of a historic building in Miami.
Griffin previously cut a deal with Vizcaya Museum and Gardens to move the historic Villa Serena home from his bayfront estate just south of the Rickenbacker Causeway to Vizcaya Village. Separately, Griffin donated $20 million to Vizcaya.
Read more: Vizcaya Village: A Major Gift and a Major Move
In other action Thursday, the City Commission:
- Approved new rules for sidewalk closures at construction sites that are intended to keep sidewalks open and safe for pedestrians, with certain exceptions. The measure was sponsored by District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo. “As a downtown resident, I thank you very much for this,” Mayor Eileen Higgins told Pardo. “It’s going to make a big difference walking around.” Read more: Sidewalk Protection Ordinance Heads to Final Vote
- Withdrew a proposed change that would have allowed historic structures like The Hangar at Regatta Harbour in Coconut Grove to operate as year-round event venues. Read more: Event Ordinance Affecting The Hangar Returns for City Vote
- Deferred a decision on whether a property owner should be allowed to remove 15 trees — 10 hardwoods and five palms — and relocate five others at a property on El Prado Boulevard in the South Grove. Read more: City Board Tosses One Tree Appeal, Grants Two Others
