A valuable parcel of downtown Miami real estate, originally purchased for the expansion of Miami Dade College, has been transferred to the state of Florida following a vote by the college's Board of Trustees. The land, valued at over $67 million, is now slated to be considered as a gift for a proposed Donald J. Trump presidential library and hotel, a decision the college's former president has called "unimaginable."
Eduardo J. Padrón, who served as president of Miami Dade College from 1995 to 2019, expressed strong opposition to the transfer, stating the land was essential for the future growth of the college's Wolfson campus. The move has ignited a debate over the use of public assets and the process by which the decision was made.
Key Takeaways
- Miami Dade College's Board of Trustees voted to transfer a downtown lot, valued at over $67 million, to the state of Florida.
- The land is proposed to be gifted for a Donald Trump presidential library and hotel, a project supported by Governor Ron DeSantis.
- Former college president Eduardo J. Padrón criticized the decision, stating the land was acquired in 2004 for campus expansion to serve a growing student body.
- The student population at the relevant campus has grown from 19,500 to over 27,000 since the land was purchased.
Details of the Land Transfer
The decision to convey the property to the state was made during a special meeting of the Miami Dade College (MDC) Board of Trustees. The meeting's advance notice described the agenda item vaguely as a discussion of “potential real estate transactions.”
According to Trustee Roberto Alonso, the board acted on a request received from Governor Ron DeSantis's office on Tuesday, September 16. The request asked the college to transfer the property to the state for a purpose described as being for the public good, without providing further specifics at the time.
On the same day as the trustees' vote, Governor DeSantis announced that the Florida Cabinet would vote on September 30 to gift the land to the Presidential Library Foundation. The stated purpose is to establish a library honoring the 45th and 47th President, Donald J. Trump. The project also includes plans for an attached hotel, which would be a first for a presidential library.
Criticism from Former College Leadership
Eduardo J. Padrón, President Emeritus of MDC, voiced significant concern over the land transfer. He stated that he was unaware the college was even considering giving up the property. Padrón led the college when the land was acquired in 2004.
"It’s very difficult to understand this because the public has not had a chance to even have a say on this," Padrón told WLRN. "It's just frankly unimaginable that this decision was made without any real discussion of the consequences of what that will do to the college."
Padrón emphasized that the land was purchased to address the space constraints of the growing Wolfson campus. He recalled the effort involved in securing the parcel for the college's future. “There was a lot of sacrifice in order to gain that piece of land for the expansion of the college, and there’s a lot of history to it,” he said.
Background on the Property
Miami Dade College purchased the land in 2004 for $24.8 million. At the time, Padrón told the Miami Herald that the downtown campus was “landlocked” and needed space to expand. Today, the Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser estimates the market value of the parcel exceeds $67 million, though its true value could be higher if sold on the open market.
Original Plans for the Site
According to Padrón, several development ideas had been considered for the property over the years. These included a conference center to avoid the costs of renting external venues and a new facility for the New World School of the Arts, an MDC partner institution.
He clarified that his objection is not related to the proposed library's namesake but to the loss of a critical asset for the college's educational mission. He hopes for public scrutiny of the deal before the final cabinet vote.
A Prime Downtown Location
The property in question is one of the few remaining undeveloped lots in a highly desirable area of downtown Miami. It currently functions as a parking lot for college staff and visitors.
Its strategic location on Biscayne Boulevard places it directly across from the Kaseya Center, a major arena for sports and entertainment. It is also adjacent to the historic Freedom Tower, a property owned by the college where Cuban refugees were processed in the 1960s. Other nearby attractions include:
- Bayfront Park
- Bayside Marketplace
- Perez Art Museum Miami
- Frost Science Museum
Student Growth at Wolfson Campus
In the fall of 2003, around the time the land was purchased, the Wolfson campus had an enrollment of 19,500 students. As of 2024, that number has increased to over 27,000 students. The total enrollment across all Miami Dade College campuses and online programs is nearly 59,000.
Support for the Presidential Library
Proponents of the project argue it will bring economic and cultural benefits to the area. Trustee Roberto Alonso stated he was not aware of any current master plan for the site and believes there is no immediate need to expand the Wolfson campus footprint.
"The college and our community have so much to gain from a presidential library," Alonso said, arguing it would serve as an economic engine and a place of learning. He believes it will complete the cultural center of downtown Miami.
Several state officials appointed by Governor DeSantis have also publicly endorsed the land gift. Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier and Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia both posted on the social media platform X, expressing their support for the vote to transfer the land to the Trump foundation.
"I’m REALLY looking forward to this being one of my first votes as a cabinet member,” CFO Blaise Ingoglia wrote on X shortly after the MDC Board of Trustees' decision.
