The Weekly Dirt: Florida’s proposal to develop in state parks a no-go

Gov. Ron DeSantis’ administration is pitching a last-minute plan to redevelop portions of nine state parks. 

In South Florida, these include Oleta River State Park in North Miami Beach and Dr. Von D. Mizell-Eula Johnson State Park in Fort Lauderdale. 

It would involve building park lodges and cabins, pickleball courts and 18-hole golf courses at parks that are home to sensitive and protected habitats. Anastasia State Park in St. Augustine, Jonathan Dickinson State Park in Hobe Sound and Hillsborough River State Park in Tampa Bay are also on the list. 

Florida’s environmental agency gave the public little warning, with just six days’ notice and  limited details about the proposals. All of the public meetings were set to be in-person only on Tuesday, but the state said this weekend that meetings are now expected for the first week of September.

The proposal has quickly drawn criticism from Senators Rick Scott and Marco Rubio, U.S. Rep. Brian Mast, Sen. Gayle Harrell, state Representatives Toby Overdorf and John Snyder and local commissioners — all Republicans — the Tampa Bay Times reports.They signed a letter addressed to DeSantis calling the meetings on Tuesday “absolutely ridiculous” and suggested holding meetings after Thanksgiving. 

The state’s proposal for Oleta, which is on the waterfront near Florida International University’s North campus and near the mega development called SoLé Mia, suggests three additions: the design and development of up to 10 cabins, up to four pickleball courts and a disc golf course with a restroom and parking spaces. 

“Alternatively, to increase and diversify opportunities for overnight stays in the park, glamping sites may be considered in the same area where additional cabins may otherwise be constructed,” the plan amendment states. 

It’s unclear what’s driving this push, but all signs point to DeSantis, who the Tampa Bay Times said is “well known” to love golf and who once received a $28,000 golf simulator from a wealthy donor. 

It’s often easy to be critical or make fun of Florida. The Florida Man stories write themselves. But our parks, home to native birds, insects, mangroves, flowers, waterways and more, are part of what makes the Sunshine State so special. 

There are plenty of other places to play pickleball or golf. 

What we’re thinking about: What will happen to the long-delayed Mandarin Oriental hotel and condo project in Boca Raton now that lawsuits from disgruntled buyers are beginning to pile up? Send me a note at kk@therealdeal.com. 

CLOSING TIME 

Residential: Biohacking wellness influencer Gary Brecka paid $19.5 million for a penthouse at Grove at Grand Bay in Coconut Grove. LPH Grove Grand Bay LLC, led by aluminum mogul Delfin Gilbert, sold the lower penthouse in the north tower of the Miami complex at 2669 South Bayshore Drive. 

Commercial: JBL Asset Management paid $22.3 million for the Ridge Plaza retail center at 9000-9200 West State Road 84 in Davie. Continental Realty Corporation sold the 138,600-square-foot shopping center, which was completed in 1984 on a 13.5-acre site. 

NEW TO THE MARKET 

The waterfront 10,000-square-foot mansion at 516 Mola Avenue in Fort Lauderdale hit the market for nearly $50 million. The 1.2-acre estate, with 740 feet of water frontage, a pool deck and summer kitchen, was built in 2020. It was designed by Max Strang. The six-bedroom, seven-bathroom home is on the market with Compass agent Tim Elmes. 

A thing we’ve learned 

In a very unlikely situation, an Electoral College tie could be possible come November, putting the decision in the hands of Congress through a process laid out in the Constitution, according to McClatchy News. That could result in a President Donald Trump and Vice President Tim Walz, though I feel the need to again emphasize how unlikely this is. 

Elsewhere in Florida 

• More than 62 percent of Coral Gables residents who voted last week rejected the annexation of Little Gables. Coral Gables Commissioner Ariel Fernandez asked the city attorney to draft a resolution halting all annexation efforts of the area, which is bound by Southwest Eighth Street, Southwest 16th Terrace, Cortez Street and Southwest 40th Avenue, according to the Miami Herald. 
• Eleven of the 23 candidates that Gov. Ron DeSantis endorsed lost local school board races on Tuesday. Six of those candidates won, and six are headed to runoffs, the Herald reports.  
• Visit Florida, the state’s tourism organization, removed its LGBTQ travel section from its website, Forbes reports. Stacy Ritter, who leads Visit Fort Lauderdale, said the state has “decided to inject” itself into the culture war, “which is bad for business.”