Commissioners press state to fund SkyRise Miami tower

Miami-Dade commissioners have unanimously approved a resolution that pushes Florida’s lawmakers to give state dollars for the construction of a 1,000-foot observation tower in downtown Miami.

The glass and steel tower, called SkyRise Miami, is being planned by Jeff Berkowitz, who requested public financing for the $430 million project even though he had previously told media outlets that construction would be funded privately, according to ExMiami. Berkowitz is using a good portion of his own time and money on the project.

“I am spending seven days a week working on this,” Berkowitz recently said. “It’s exhilarating getting up in the morning.”

The letter lists the benefits the tower would bring to Miami, including the creation of $1.3 billion in annual economic benefit and the collection of $16.7 million in taxes for local coffers. The commissioners called the tower a “public asset” that, as the tallest skyscraper in Florida, would attract more than three million visitors every year. [ExMiami] – Angela Hunt