Foundation cancels Beach convention center event after rulings on $1B redevelopment

A foundation with 33,000 members scrapped plans to hold its 2016 conference at the Miami Beach Convention Center, citing concerns that the proposed $1 billion redevelopment of the center could be delayed or defeated by voters.

The International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans sent a letter to city convention and tourism officials canceling the educational conference and the hotel reservations for would-be attendees, South Florida Business Journal reported. Miami Beach voters passed a charter change during Tuesday’s elections that requires a supermajority of 60 percent to approve leases tied to the convention center project. That outcome has fueled speculation that the South Beach ACE team selected for the redevelopment could file a lawsuit against the city.

In June, city commissioners chose South Beach ACE to rehabilitate the convention center and build an 800-room hotel and 90,000 square feet of retail and restaurant space. [SF Business Journal] — Eric Kalis