Over Objections, Cabinet Approves Land Sale For Mega-Mall
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TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — Florida is selling 82 acres meant to be used as the spot for the nation's largest shopping mall and entertainment complex near Hialeah.
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet approved the $12.3 million sale Tuesday despite objections that the land should have been put up for bids. Critics said developers are paying owners of the rest of the 200-acre site more per acre than the state is getting.
The Miami-Dade County school system, which leases part of the land, will get $8.25 million for its lease, which it broke. The developer needed the school board to give up the lease on the 45-acre piece of land it was sitting on in case it needed to build a school.
The American Dream Miami mall is expected to create some 25,000 jobs.
The $4 billion project will include a ski slope, water park and submarine rides. It's proposed by the developer of the Mall of America in Minnesota, the nation's largest.
Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez said the venture promises to provide a historic boost to the county's economy.
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