On November 3, City of Miami voters will decide whether to turn over approximately 27.6 acres of publicly owned Virginia Key waterfront to a private developer under a lease that could last as long as 75 years. The proposal calls for an $80 million redevelopment of the Rickenbacker and Marine Stadium marinas, adding boat storage, restaurants, retail and parking. And the deal voters are being asked to approve in 2026 originated with a City procurement issued back in 2017.
The Miami-Dade Democratic Party urges City of Miami voters to vote NO on Referendum 3. Virginia Key sits alongside the already environmentally stressed waters of Biscayne Bay, and environmental advocates are raising serious concerns about the project’s proposed expansion. Local 10 reports that accommodating larger yachts would require dredging in the Bay’s naturally shallow waters, with advocates warning about potential impacts to seagrass, manatees and surrounding habitat. They are also concerned about the cumulative environmental impact when this project is considered alongside other major development proposals for Virginia Key.
This proposal also threatens the character of a waterfront that generations of Miami residents have actually been able to use. Opponents say hundreds of middle-class boaters could be displaced from the two existing City-owned marinas as the property is redeveloped for a larger and more commercial marina operation. Rickenbacker Marina has been operated by a local family business since 1983, while the adjacent Marine Stadium Marina has remained a City-operated public marina.
And Miami could lose more than affordable boating access. Gramps Getaway, a locally owned waterfront restaurant, is part of the property affected by the redevelopment. Opponents warn that local businesses like Gramps could ultimately give way to national operators as the waterfront becomes more heavily commercialized. The developer disputes that claim and says Gramps can remain, but approving a lease potentially lasting three generations would fundamentally change who controls the future of this public land.
Miami does not have to choose between improving its marinas and protecting its waterfront. We can demand investment that protects Biscayne Bay, preserves access for middle-class boaters, supports local businesses and reflects the value of public land in 2026, not a deal originating in 2017. On November 3, vote NO on City of Miami Referendum 3 and protect Virginia Key for generations to come.
