An earlier version of this story incorrectly identified the owner of Cantelop Property Investment, Inc., as Lt. Gov. Carlos Lopez-Cantera. The property owner is the lieutenant governor's father, Carlos C. Lopez-Cantera Sr. Friday, Feb. 27, 4:01 p.m.
A zoning proposal meant to spur redevelopment in Little Havana would benefit some well-heeled, well-connected men.
The plan, which would affect roughly 140 acres of East Little Havana, would increase the maximum height and number of units allowed per acre for dozens of properties in Miami Commissioner Frank Carollo's district.
Among those who stand to benefit the most from the proposed upzoning is Carlos C. Lopez-Cantera Sr., father of Lt. Gov. and former Miami-Dade County Property Appraiser Carlos Lopez-Cantera.
Lopez-Cantera Sr. owns property along Southwest Eighth Avenue just south of where Teatro Marti used to be. According to records from the property appraiser's office, Lopez-Cantera Sr.’s company, Cantelop Property Investment, Inc., bought the property at 438 SW Eighth Ave. for $540,000 in 2010. That company sold the land to another company, Cantelop Properties 7, LTD., for $600,000 in 2012. Cantelop Properties 7, LTD. is owned by Virginia Holdings Corporation, which is owned by Lopez-Cantera Sr.
If the proposed zoning changes are approved, the maximum height on Lopez-Cantera Sr.’s property would increase from five stories to eight (or 12 under certain conditions), and the number of units allowed per acre would more than double. It would also mean fewer restrictions on what kind of commercial uses can exist there. These changes would likely result in significantly increased property value.
Lopez-Cantera Sr. said by phone Friday afternoon that he was "just as surprised as anyone else when he heard about the zoning changes." He stressed his property is relatively small -- 1/4 acre -- and said it would be hard to develop.
Also likely to see a boost in his property value is former State Rep. Manuel Prieguez.
Prieguez’s company, Manny Seafood Corporation, owns property along the Miami River. One of his lots along the river is currently zoned for low density multi-family housing. The change would increase the maximum height on his land from three stories to five, almost double the density, and would allow for a variety of commercial uses.
Companies tied to Prieguez have contributed at least $2,500 to Carollo's campaigns since 2008.
Prieguez once served as one of Carollo’s appointees to the Waterfront Advisory Board, but Prieguez resigned from the board in April.
The landowner with perhaps the most at stake is Brickell Motors owner Mario Murgado.
Murgado paid $3.2 million (through his company Mar-660 SW 4th Street, LLC) in October for about 75,000 square feet of property that sits vacant at 660 SW Fourth St., across from Ada Merrit K-8 Center. The zoning change legislation was introduced about a month later.
Because the land is zoned for community facilities like schools, Murgado cannot build anything on it without going through a public hearing, and even then, the density allowed is still relatively low. The proposed changes would give Murgado the ability to build up to five stories for more than 100 units, and would open up the land to some commercial uses.
Following publication of this story, Murgado sent WLRN a statement regarding the Fourth Street property. He wrote in an email the lot is located close to his flagship dealership, and it would be used to house excess inventory.
"We are not real estate developers and have no plans to develop the lot apart from paving, lighting and beautifying it with proper landscaping," Murgado wrote. "Any inference to the contrary is completely false."
Murgado donates frequently to Republican candidates. He gave $2,000 to Congressman Carlos Curbelo in the last election. Murgado, his family and his companies have given more than $4,000 to Carollo’s commission campaigns since 2008.
"If I need help with an event or charity, I know I can count on him,” Carollotold Automotive News about Murgado in 2011.
Carollo, who supports the zoning changes, said he was unaware of any campaign donors benefiting from the proposal, and would not say whether he would recuse himself if that were the case. Carollo refused to answer and walked away when asked whether he had spoken with Mario Murgado or Manuel Prieguez regarding the zoning changes.
Watch Commissioner Carollo respond to questions about campaign donors who would benefit from the zoning changes below:
Carollo said it is unfortunate some residents are living in "deplorable conditions," and that the intent of the plan is to "bring Little Havana back to its original state."
"I am not in favor of gentrification, but at the same time, we're trying to make sure that area becomes what it used to be," Carollo said.
Miami planning and zoning director Francisco Garcia said he expects the zoning changes will come up for final approval in April.
Cultural anthropologist and Little Havana resident Corinna Moebius is opposed to the upzoning. Moebius, who recently co-authored A History of Little Havana and leads tours of the neighborhood, fears the changes will lead to the displacement of residents and erode the iconic neighborhood's identity just so a few may profit.
"There are folks who look at our neighborhood, and all we are is a spreadsheet and a map," Moebius said. "We are just some expendable thing in the way of profit."
