Latest news with #OlympiaTheater
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Miami moves toward selling historic Olympia Theater to SLAM Charter School Network co-founded by Pitbull
The Miami City Commission voted unanimously Thursday to allow the city manager to begin negotiating the sale of the historic Olympia Theater to the SLAM network of charter schools, co-founded by musician and entrepreneur Pitbull. The proposed sale, which would transfer the deed for $10, comes with strong community opinions both for and against the deal. "Over the course of the last three weeks we've been having public meetings and it's been great to see today a lot of support from people who came to the first meeting and were initially skeptical," said Millie Sanchez, SLAM! Foundation chief administrative officer. SLAM's plan would convert the 10-story tower behind the theater into classrooms. The theater itself would remain a performance venue, offering at least 180 days of community programming such as concerts, civic events and a return of the Miami Film Festival. SLAM representatives emphasized that the venue would not become "just another school auditorium." "We want a school there. We don't want some hotelier there that's going to pocket money from the theater. We want to make sure that it's a civic philanthropy," said Timothy Barket, attorney for the Gusman family, which originally donated the building to the city in 1975. The family is currently suing to reclaim the property but supports the SLAM proposal and says the deal would resolve the lawsuit. Despite the commission's unanimous vote to move forward with negotiations, some city commissioners requested stronger terms in the contract, including an updated appraisal and formal partnerships with Miami Dade College. Those against the sale said they have concerns about the historical preservation of the iconic Miami landmark and said the process hasn't been transparent and has been rushed. "I think we should give it the time that it deserves to really review the details because the devil is in the details," said Denise Galvez Turros, former City of Miami historic preservation board member. "We have been slighted before in all these other deals when we give away our public institutions and parks, and so of course there's huge distrust when it comes to our city manager." "The Olympia Theater belongs to us; it belongs to the residents of the City of Miami," said Jessica Johnson. The city commission will recess for August. A final vote on the proposed sale is expected in September. The estimated cost to restore the theater exceeds $50 million.
Axios
22-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Axios
Miami to vote on transferring Olympia Theater to Pitbull-founded SLAM Academy
Miami commissioners are expected to vote this week on whether to transfer ownership of the historic Olympia Theater and its adjoining 80-unit building to SLAM Academy, the charter school system co-founded by rapper Pitbull. Why it matters: The downtown landmark, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, has fallen into disrepair in recent years, WLRN reports. Catch up quick: The city is proposing to give the property at 174 E Flagler St. to SLAM to convert it into a public charter school called Miami Innovation & Arts Academy. In exchange, the new owner will be required to make "all necessary interior and exterior repairs" to bring the building up to code within five years, reads a summary of the commission agenda item. The city, which was gifted the theater in 1975 by philanthropist Maurice Gusman, hopes the proposal can help settle a pair of lawsuits filed by the Gusman family accusing the city of violating the terms of the donation and failing to maintain the property. The latest: After commissioners and residents raised concerns about the proposal, a vote was deferred at the June commission meeting so the city could host a series of public meetings to further discuss plans. SLAM's chief administrative officer Millie Sanchez said at a meeting last week that the theater will be activated with community programming at least 180 days a year and that classrooms will be built in the adjoining building, according to CBS Miami. The renovations will cost an estimated $50 million, the outlet reported. What they're saying: City manager Art Noriega said at the June meeting that the city could not afford to renovate the theater itself. "The city has never had the resources to maintain this building. It will never have the resources, and it needs a good steward. The totality of this opportunity will be an incredible public benefit." The other side: Critics of the proposal have questioned why the city is giving away a property valued at over $5.47 million and have called for a competitive bidding process to find other suitors. Commissioner Joe Carollo said at the June meeting that a lack of political will, not insufficient funds, is to blame for the theater's decline. "Any city in America would love to have a jewel like the Olympia Theater." Orlando Alonso, a Miami concert pianist who has proposed an alternative adaptive reuse plan for the theater that includes a hotel project, has questioned the city's handling of public assets.
Time Out
18-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
Is the Olympia Theater officially dunzo? Here's the latest on Miami's historic venue
The Olympia Theater, a beloved cultural landmark in downtown Miami, is poised for a long-overdue revival. Originally opened in 1926 as a silent movie palace designed by architect John Eberson, it features a ceiling that mimics a starlit night sky and Moorish-style décor. Over the decades, it evolved from a movie house into a performing arts venue, with its history deeply entwined with the city's cultural growth. But for the last five years, the Olympia has sat empty. Now, the theater that once saw performers from Elvis Presley to Ella Fitzgerald and Luciano Pavarotti perform on its stage might open its doors once more. The Miami City Council will vote Thursday, July 24 on a proposal that would see public charter school Sports Leadership Arts Management (SLAM) taking over the title to the Olympia and the adjacent 10-story building on condition of restoring the theater according to historic preservation requirements. SLAM was founded by music superstar Pitbull, of all people. Well, if anyone cares enough about Miami history to save a historic landmark from disuse, it's him. Under the agreement, the City of Miami would deed the theater to SLAM, which would cover the estimated $40 million in repair and renovation costs. The charter would use the theater for community events and student productions, while the building behind it would be used for classrooms. The newly announced plan would address critical structural repairs, modernize the building's technical systems, and restore its elaborate design. Miami Mayor Francis Suarez and city commissioners have emphasized the importance of preserving the Olympia not just as a historic site, but as a site that could host concerts, theater, film, and community events, integrating it into revitalization efforts already underway throughout downtown Miami. If all goes according to plan, the Olympia Theater could reopen in time to celebrate its 100th anniversary, restored to the splendor that once captivated generations and ready to inspire new ones.
Miami Herald
16-07-2025
- Politics
- Miami Herald
Is the Olympia Theater giveaway a done deal? Miami officials sure act like it
Monday night, the city of Miami held the first of three so-called 'community meetings' to unveil its backroom deal with Academica, the politically connected charter school giant poised to take over the historic Olympia Theater. What unfolded wasn't a forum — it was a coronation, a staged performance in which the public was cast as silent observers. From the outset, it was clear: This was not a conversation. It was a declaration. City officials and Academica executives spoke with the entitlement of a done deal. No artistic vision. No competitive process. No public mandate. Just the quiet conversion of Miami's most iconic cultural landmark into a taxpayer-funded playground for a charter empire. Under Gov. Ron DeSantis's budget, Florida charter schools receive $9,130 in public funds for each enrolled student. Academica's proposed SLAM school would enroll over 1,000 students — more than $9 million a year handed to a private operator occupying a city-owned theater rent-free. Yet they claim the plan uses 'zero public funding.' Public assets are very much in play. The city owns the air rights to the Olympia — undeveloped vertical space valued in the tens of millions of dollars. These rights exist because the building is historically protected and can't be replaced with luxury towers. Under city code, these Transferable Development Rights (TDRs) can only be sold to fund restoration of the building itself. Public dollars should and must be spent on the Olympia. To claim otherwise is false. Public comment at the meeting was a farce. Questions were screened, answers vague and the presentation bloated with self-congratulation. One attendee asked about traffic — thousands of students being dropped off daily in a congested downtown core. Officials waved it off with talk of 'public transit.' As if Miami's transit system is on par with New York's. It's not. When asked why the deal was being rushed, Academica said they needed to get it done before the school year starts. Never mind that renovations haven't begun and won't be completed for over a year. The rush isn't about students. It's about locking down the property before political terms expire and scrutiny intensifies. The city manager pointed to a failed 2022 RFP (Request for Proposal) as justification, claiming no serious proposals were received. What he didn't say: The RFP was designed to fail. It demanded a $40 million restoration at the proposer's sole expense — plus rent — on a building they would never own. Unsurprisingly, no one applied. Now compare that to what Academica gets: full control, no rent, no cultural obligations and millions in state funding. Had those terms been offered transparently, developers would have lined up around the block. In fact, I submitted a serious proposal with preservation architect Richard Heisenbottle. We offered a boutique hotel, jazz club, rooftop speakeasy and a programming team with experience at Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and New York City Center. No handouts — just vision, stewardship, and revenue. The city never replied. Academica's proposed 'Theater Programming Plan' includes LED walls, a SiriusXM affiliate, Verizon Innovation Lab and Telemundo Academy. It's not a vision for a historic landmark. It's a sandbox for vocational branding. For 16 years, the city has starved the Olympia — not for lack of funds or ideas, but for lack of will. Now, with months left in office, they're handing it off — not to cultural stewards, but to a for-profit school chain. This is not redevelopment. It's abandonment wrapped in the language of progress. The Olympia Theater is not a vacant lot. It is Miami's Carnegie Hall. Its fate should not be decided behind closed doors. It demands vision, transparency and public trust. The outcome of these public meetings should be the realization that the only ethical way forward is a transparent procurement process — one that is fair to all interested parties and that maintains city ownership of one of its most treasured assets. Orlando Alonso is a Cuban-American concert pianist, conductor and arts entrepreneur. He is leading a civic coalition to preserve and reimagine the historic Olympia Theater as a world-class cultural center.
CBS News
15-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CBS News
A new act for Miami's Olympia Theater? Charter schools unveil $50 million plan to preserve iconic venue
The historic Olympia Theater, a landmark once graced by legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Elvis Presley and Luciano Pavarotti, is at the heart of a controversial proposal that could transform the iconic space into an educational hub led by a charter school network. SLAM Miami, along with other local charter groups, including Mater Academy and Somerset, is spearheading an effort to take over the downtown venue. If approved, the City of Miami would eventually deed the property to SLAM, which plans to use the building behind the theater for classrooms and the theater itself for student performances and community events. "So, what we're proposing to do is actually to put programming for the school in the adjoining building, which is the 10-story facility," said Millie Sanchez, co-founder and chief administrative officer of SLAM Schools, during a Zoom meeting Monday night. "The building connects to the theater, and the goal is to re-energize the theater by supplementing the programming." Under the proposal, the school would use the neighboring building for academic purposes, while the theater remains a performance venue, hosting at least 180 days of community programming per year. "If we want people to care about and want this theater to live on for another 100 years, we need to educate," Sanchez said. "What better way than to bring arts programming into the building next door and have students intern and work with professionals in managing this beautiful space." Renovation costs for both the theater and the adjoining building are estimated at more than $50 million. Douglas Rodriguez, principal at Miami Tech and Mater Brickell Academy, said the initiative is backed by nonprofit groups with a history of managing public funding efficiently. "This collaboration is among nonprofit groups that have done this for decades," Rodriguez said. "Combined, we have over $200 million in grants—and we're not doing this at taxpayers' expense." Rodriguez also stressed the long-term value of involving students in cultural preservation. "You create that next generation of students who are going to be interested in preserving theater," he said. "We're only going to be here for a short time—and we need these kids for the next 100 years." Other proposals for the site have included converting it into a hotel or parking structure, but some residents expressed strong support for maintaining its original purpose. "I think it stays as a theater," said Oscar Orellana, a community member. "There's enough hotels and condos. Keeping it as a theater would be a perfect choice to preserve a little history." A final vote on the proposal is scheduled for Thursday, July 24. The Olympia Theater is located in Downtown Miami at 174 East Flagler Street.
