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Sunny Isles Beach
Imminent Collapse
Engineers say landmark pier in danger of falling apart
By Randy Abraham
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The owner of a resort is offering to contribute $2
million toward the pier’s renovation — for a price.
Photo by Laura Grant Behfar |
The
71-year-old, half-mile-long Newport Fishing Pier is
structurally deficient and needs to be removed and repaired
as soon as possible, said an engineering firm the city hired
to inspect the now-shuttered pier.
So, the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission will consider
forming a public-private partnership to help raise the $4
million-plus needed to repair the landmark pier today
(Thursday).
Dr. Robert Cornfeld, owner of the Newport Beachside Hotel
and Resort at
16701 Collins Ave.
and leaseholder of the landmark pier, offered to provide the
city with $2 million for the project. In exchange, Cornfeld
wants to split the net revenues from admission to the pier
with the city.
Under Cornfeld’s proposal, the city would control, operate
and become the lessee of the pier –– which is owned by the
state of
Florida –– and select an operator for the restaurant
adjacent to it. Cornfeld would provide input on the pier’s
design. When completed, city residents and guests of the
Newport Hotel could use the pier for free.
The city is still seeking grants to offset the remaining
costs. However, if repairs and reconstruction exceed $4
million, the city would receive 75 percent of the pier’s and
restaurant’s net revenues until the additional costs are
paid down by the other 25 percent of revenues.
Mayor Norman Edelcup said that a final engineering report
has not been completed yet, but cost estimates range from $4
million to $5 million. Miami-based Marlin Engineering, which
conducted the initial inspection, will soon undertake a more
comprehensive study. Although Marlin’s first report shows
that the pier’s boat dock requires only minor repair and is
otherwise in sound condition, the firm characterized the
condition of the pier itself as “serious” and warned that
“it could collapse at any moment.”
Edelcup said that if costs come within the estimates, he
would support repairing the pier. “I feel it would be an
amenity for the community,” Edelcup said. “It’s the only
pier left in
Miami-Dade County; the others have deteriorated or been
damaged by hurricanes. It’s one of the oldest remaining
piers in
South Florida
and over the years it has had millions of visitors.”
The Newport Fishing Pier was opened in 1936 and was
designated a historic site by the county in 1982. It was
closed six months ago after city officials deemed it a
public hazard. It sustained extensive damage from Hurricane
Wilma; operators completely closed it on June 28.
Efforts to repair the pier had started early last year, but
concerns arose about the pier’s structural integrity and the
dangers to area sea life.
The Sunny Isles Beach City Commission will meet at
7:30 p.m.,
Thursday, Dec. 13, at
Government Center, 18070 Collins Ave.
Comments? E-mail
letters@miamisunpost.com
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