Miami Springs voters reject property sale

Miami Springs voters decided not to let the City Council sell a parking lot next to a golf course to a hotel developer.

The referendum on the proposed $115,000 sale of the 10,299-square-foot property was rejected on Tuesday, the Miami Herald reported, citing the River Cities Gazette. A total of 1,039 Miami Springs residents voted against the sale, while 908 were in favor of it. The city has a total population of about 14,000, with 8,259 registered voters.

Tuesday’s turnout nearly matched the 2,018 ballots cast during last year’s municipal election, which included a mayoral race.

Miami Springs Mayor Zavier Garcia, a supporter of the property sale, told the Gazette he was not surprised by the referendum result but predicted a hotel would eventually be developed on the site anyways.

“I think the city still wins because I believe Manny Perez is still going to build a hotel there,” Garcia said. “Where we don’t win as much is that while it will still be a hotel, it won’t be a brand name hotel.” [Miami Herald] — Eric Kalis