Previous PostRickenbacker Marina’s Longtime Operator and Key International Team Up in Redevelopment Bid
Master plan prioritizes public access, recreation and additional community space on Virginia Key
Expanded public spaces, restaurants overlooking the Miami skyline, a ‘living shoreline’ along Biscayne Bay, family-friendly events and new amenities for boaters are all in store for one of South Florida’s most beloved marinas. A team of local entrepreneurs and civic groups, named Marina PARC (Public Access-Recreation-Community), have teamed up to reimagine the Rickenbacker Marina on Virginia Key as part of a City of Miami RFP process intended to maximize the property’s public benefit and commercial value. Marina PARC is led by the Melwani family, which has operated the Rickenbacker Marina since 1983, and Key International, one of South Florida’s premier commercial and residential developers.
Marina PARC has enlisted designers, local businesses, and cultural and environmental nonprofits to bring its vision for a revamped Rickenbacker Marina to life. The master plan, designed by Stantec’s Miami office, includes an expansive baywalk offering sweeping views of Miami’s skyline and Biscayne Bay. A publicly-accessible boat launch will serve recreational boaters from the community, while a pavilion and café (or ventanita) will appeal to cyclists and watersports enthusiasts. Nearby, expanded public space will be activated for outdoor events. A watersports concession will allow the public to explore Virginia Key’s native habitat by kayak, stand-up paddle board and more.
The marina’s redevelopment will also satisfy growing demand among boaters. The number of registered vessels in Florida has grown 50% since 1987, yet the number of boat slips in the State has remained flat throughout that 30 year span, according to a 2016 report by Miami-Dade County. This pent-up demand coincides with a surge in commercial and residential development along the water, putting added pressure on the community’s existing marinas to enhance their services.
Central to the vision for the new Rickenbacker Marina is a state-of-the-art automated dry rack facility, floating piers, and wet slips capable of accommodating vessels from 40- to 120-feet. All told, the revamped marina will be home to more than 750 boats stationed at one of Biscayne Bay’s most desirable locations. Two restaurants – one casual and one more upscale – will be open to the public.
“Managing the Rickenbacker Marina has been our family’s life’s work for the past 35 years,” says Marina PARC managing principal Aabad Melwani. “We’ve transformed the marina into one of the most sought-after in all of South Florida, and we’ve done so responsibly and with the City of Miami’s best interests in mind. Now, working with a team of like-minded entrepreneurs, we’re going to ensure the marina remains an asset for our community for generations to come.”
The Melwani Family is partnering with Key International, which has been active in real estate development since the 1970s. Key’s development history includes hotels, office buildings, marinas, retail centers, and residential communities. Current and past projects include the Eden Roc Miami Beach, 1010 Brickell, The Marriott Stanton South Beach, 400 Sunny Isles and The Harbour.
“There are few places in South Florida as important as Virginia Key, so any development that takes shape at the Rickenbacker Marina must be done responsibly and with the environment’s best interests in mind,” explains Key International’s Diego Ardid. “Our family, like the rest of our Marina PARC team, is approaching this project with the goal of preserving the natural habitat, improving the marina’s facilities, and creating new ways for the public to enjoy Biscayne Bay.”
Conservation is at the heart of Marina PARC’s plan. The property’s landscapes, created by Miami-based landscape architect Raymond Jungles, will feature a lush canopy of native trees and environmentally-sensitive hardscape materials. A mangrove rejuvenation project developed with Mangrove.org, now underway, is restoring thousands of linear feet of shoreline along the Miami Marine Stadium basin. Miami-based Ocean Consulting will work with Stantec to oversee environmental permitting and coastal engineering. All new buildings within the property will be LEED certified, using solar power and sustainably-sourced materials wherever possible.
The public will be able to explore the surrounding natural habitat on their own or through eco-tours led in conjunction with the Marjory Stoneman Douglas Biscayne Nature Center and Miami Waterkeeper. Those with a sense of adventure may choose to launch non-motorized vessels through a concession operated by Miami’s own TKS Watersports, which will offer lessons and equipment rentals and sales. Visitors choosing to remain dry will be able to learn about Miami’s colorful maritime past through a series of interpretive exhibits curated by HistoryMiami.
Submissions to the City of Miami’s Request for Proposals were due on May 24 and will now be considered by an appointed Selection Committee which will make a recommendation to the City Manager. The Manager will then recommend one proposal for approval by the City Commission.