Approved by Miami-Dade County voters in November 2004, the $2.9 billion Building Better Communities Bond Program includes over $450 million for countywide cultural facilities development. The BBC program encompasses an array of community capital improvements, ranging from water and sewer infrastructure projects to healthcare facilities and elderly housing, and is funded by bonds to be sold over the next 15 years and repaid by debt service millage. The most comprehensive, countywide bond program in more than three decades, the BBC program is the largest of its kind in the Southeastern U.S. and the third largest in the nation.

The BBC program includes funds for the design and construction of a new Miami Art Museum and Miami Museum of Science in Bicentennial Park, key projects in establishing Miami-Dade's international status as a major cultural center. It also provides substantial funds for 18 other projects that continue the work of developing the network of excellent neighborhood cultural facilities throughout the county.

GOB Allocation: $1 million

GOB funds will used to complete this cultural center’s new Music Building which complements the other spaces that form the Center’s campus, including a black box theater, art gallery and teaching spaces for dance and the visual arts.

GOB Allocation: $15.5 million

This project includes the planning, design and construction of a cultural museum and nature center located in the restored Virginia Key Beach Park, a protected natural resource. The Cultural Center and Museum Complex will exhibit the history and culture of African Americans and Caribbean Americans, and will house traditional museum spaces, meeting rooms, dining and banquet facilities, café, gift shop, nature center, and offices. The Complex will present the history of the park and South Florida during the civil rights era, and the significance of the natural environment of the barrier island on which the park is located.

GOB funds will help in the transformation of this local icon, built in 1926, into a 21st century theatrical venue. The plan to return great regional theater to Coconut Grove must address the structural deterioration of the building, and provide a venue capable of serving as the home for GableStage, the planned successor theater company for the Playhouse.

Status: In response to the BCC's resolution (R-627-10) requesting a recommended course of action for the reconstruction, management and operation of the Coconut Grove Playhouse, the Department has worked closely with the Playhouse board to develop a plan to return great regional theater to Coconut Grove. On February 7, 2012, the BCC approved resolution R-158-12, authorizing staff to proceed with the first stage of the plan - resolving all liens and encumbrances affecting the title of the Coconut Grove Playhouse and to bring to the BCC agreements necessary to do so. After the conveyance of the property to Miami-Dade County, the plan calls for the development of a new 300- seat theater, and the establishment of GableStage as the manager and operator of the new Playhouse. The construction project would address the historic preservation issues, provide parking for the theater and surrounding businesses and educational neighbors, and leave a planned footprint for an additional larger theater that could be built at a later date along with other complementary and appropriatelyscaled development to help support the non-profit theater operations. In addition to the $15 million of GOB funds, the Playhouse capital project also has $5 million of Convention Development Tax (CDT) bond funds available to be used to launch work on the project.

GOB funds are designated for site acquisition, design, and construction of an approximately 15,000 square foot exhibition and office space for the Cuban Museum Inc., an organization dedicated to showcasing Cuban cultural heritage through music, dance, literature, history, theater, and the plastic arts.

Status: A bid opening for the construction phase of the project occurred on September 27, 2010. TGSV Enterprises, Inc., a local construction firm, submitted the lowest bid for approximately $2.9 million, with the next lowest bid being less than $20,000 apart. The Museum is proposing an aggressive 10-month construction schedule. Commencement of construction is subject to the availability of GOB funding and the development of a viable business, programming and operating plan.

GOB Allocation: $0.7 million

Designed by Philip Johnson as part of the earlier Decade of Progress bond issue, this Spanish-Mediterranean-styled downtown cultural center serves as the home for the Miami Art Museum, the Historical Museum of Southern Florida and the Main Library. GOB funds will be used to repair and upgrade this complex.

GOB funds will complement other funding to develop a new Science Village, a new Garden House/Education/Administration building (previously called the Education, Library and Archives building) and a new Welcome Center (previously called the Gallery Building), as well as renovations to the garden's infrastructure and existing facilities.

Status: Construction of the Science Village is underway and approximately 75% complete. This complex has several buildings (including a café, butterfly shadehouse, laboratory and education building for scientists); and the full complement of buildings at the new Science Village is expected to be open to the public by the end of December 2012. The Gardens also have recently completed several infrastructure improvements including ADA upgrades to the Visitors Center and refurbishment of their signature Gatehouse to restore it to its original splendor, including power washing, painting, replacing outdated systems and upgrading to impact resistant windows.

The next capital project slated to break ground is the new Welcome Center located adjacent to the Visitors' Center. Plans are already submitted for permitting and the contractor has been selected through a competitive process, with a contract currently being finalized. The site already has been fenced off and the relocation of trees and plants started in this area in preparation for the start of construction as soon as permits are in hand.

The final capital project is the renovation of the existing Garden House and addition of an Education Building. This project is in the final design stages and will soon go out to bid. In addition to planning and design work on the new buildings, Fairchild has made significant improvements to the infrastructure of the Garden, including the Garden House Auditorium building, lighting, telephone and electrical system upgrades, and a comprehensive re-design and build-out of the irrigat

Located on 14th Street, between Biscayne Boulevard and NE 2nd Avenue, immediately north of the Arsht Center, the Anderson Opera Center is projected to provide three rehearsal halls, coaching and practice rooms, administrative and technical offices, costume and wig shops, storage, a music library, and housing for members of the Young Artist Studio and season artists. It will also include a 485-seat theater for use by the Florida Grand Opera (FGO) and other community arts groups, along with a parking garage.

Status: The land for the Anderson Opera Center has been secured by the FGO with private funds. With the purchase of an interim headquarters building in Doral, the FGO has focused its energy on the growth of the company at the Arsht Center. The FGO is also exploring joint use development options on the property adjacent to the Arsht Center to develop its permanent headquarter facility.

GOB funds are being used for the design and construction of structures to provide critically needed parking and related improvements to serve patrons and users of both the Hialeah High School Performing Arts Center and the Milander Park complex. Street improvements will create a pedestrian-friendly link between the two community and cultural destinations. Miami-Dade County's second largest municipality, the City of Hialeah, will be responsible for implementing the project.

Status: GOB funds are making much needed parking in the area available to patrons of both the Hialeah High School Auditorium and the Milander complex, which are located within blocks of each other. The City of Hialeah has completed the construction of the parking structure and related improvements at the Hialeah High School site. This parking facility is located in close proximity to the Hialeah High School Auditorium and is serving both students and community patrons. The Hialeah High School Auditorium has undergone extensive renovations as a result of a School Board and County partnership (CDT-backed County funding contributed over $3.4 million as part of the Department's Existing and Neighborhood Cultural Facilities program). The City also has begun construction at the Milander complex, including the parking facility and street improvements to connect the two sites. Of the $10 million GOB allocation, $7.5 million is currently under contract, with approximately $5.5 million reimbursed to date.

GOB Allocation: $2 million

Located in Liberty City, this 1000-seat theater is operated by the Miami-Dade County Park & Recreation Department. GOB funds will be used to continue the upgrades to the venue’s theater, sound and communications systems and to front-of-house spaces.

GOB funds will complete the renovation and expansion of the historic theater. Phase III includes the expansion of the stage house, adding adequate wing space and back of house support spaces, a welcome center, gallery, and administrative offices.

Status: During 2009, the Department worked closely with the Black Archives History and Research Foundation of Southern FL, Inc., owner and operator of the Lyric Theater, and the County Attorney's Office, the City of Miami, and the City's Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) to obtain the necessary approvals for the conveyance of the County-owned land immediately to the east of the Lyric necessary for the theater's expansion of the stage house and the creation of a load-in area. Construction of phase III began shortly after the land issues had been resolved in early 2010, and currently stands at approximately 70% completion. Of the $10 million GOB allocation, $6.5 million is under contract and $6.2 million has been reimbursed to the grantee. In January 2011, the State Attorney's Office notified the Department of an ongoing investigation being conducted related to the capital project. Based on this notification of preliminary findings of alleged misuse of public funds, staff acted immediately and ceased all payments to The Black Archives. The Black Archives has cooperated fully with the ongoing investigation and with our request for a full accounting of their actions to address this serious and urgent matter. As a result of the investigation and among other remedies, the Black Archives has terminated the contracts with the project's architect, contractor, and the project manager.

A grant agreement for the remainder of the allocation ($3.5 million) has been executed. An advancement of $875,000 on this grant agreement has been used by the Black Archives to pay the sub-contractors which had worked on the project in order to satisfy most of the liens placed on the p

GOB funds will be used for the design and construction of a new 120,000 square foot (phase 1), environmentally-friendly facility for presenting exhibitions, expanding the organization's art collection, and offering educational programs. The Miami Art Museum (MAM) will be part of the Museum Park project in downtown Miami (Bicentennial Park) and is to include a sculpture garden.

Status: The total project budget is $220 million with $131 million in site, building design and construction, approximately $70 million for an operating endowment and $19 million for transitional expenses. The $100 million of GOB funding will be used for the design and construction of the Museum. MAM secured a $35 million private donation of funding and art work from Jorge M. Pérez and already has reached $67 million in private contributions for its capital campaign.

The design architect for the project is Herzog & de Meuron, who is working with Handel Architects as the executive architects. The project team includes Paratus Group as the project manager, Stuart-Lynn Company as the cost estimator, and John Moriarty & Associates of Florida as the construction manager (CM) for pre-construction and construction services.

An initial grant agreement totaling $235,000 was issued in 2008 for GOB-eligible project planning costs. A second grant agreement for $8.4 million covering design and project administration costs also has been spent. A third grant for $4 million was executed in late January 2010 to sustain work on the completion of the planning and design phase of the new building and to maintain this project's tight timetable. A fourth grant agreement totaling $6.892 million was issued to complete the 100% construction documents and begin construction. This enabled MAM to complete the construction documents and partially cover some early construction costs for the foundations/parking garage construction package. A f

The new Miami Science Museum (MSM) will be a 250,000 square foot green building on an approximately 4-acre site that will house a Planetarium, an Aquarium, interactive exhibitions and a Learning Center, accompanied by external areas to include a living core (Aquarium and Wildlife Center) and a Science Playground. The building itself will be an exhibit of science and technology and MSM will seek LEED certification.

Status: The total project budget is $272 million with $178 million in site, building design and construction costs, approximately $69 million in exhibition costs (design and fit out), and $25 million in Owner's costs, which includes fixtures, furniture, and equipment.

The design architect for the project is Grimshaw Architects and they are working with Rodriguez and Quiroga Architects as the executive architects. The project management team is Oppenheim Lewis. The Construction Manager (CM) is Suffolk Construction Company, Inc.

An initial grant agreement totaling $3.3 million was issued in 2008 for GOB-eligible expenses including concept design, project management, cost estimating, and administrative costs. A second grant agreement in the amount of $9.35 million was executed in December 2009 to cover the costs of schematic design, models, project management and project administration. A third grant agreement in the amount of $8.1 million was issued in March of 2011 to complete the design development documents and begin construction for the foundations' scope of work. A fourth grant agreement in the amount of $30 million was issued in February of 2012 to complete the construction documents on the museum building and begin the construction of the foundations, parking level and museum drive.

Groundbreaking for the new Miami Science Museum occurred on February 24, 2012. The museum has completed the first set of Construction Documents (CDs) for the foundations and pile package and

GOB Allocation: $8 million

Located in Little Havana, Miami-Dade County Auditorium is a 2,429-seat theater that serves a wide variety of cultural and community groups. GOB funds will be used to upgrade the theater systems and audience amenities as well as to add a campus of ancillary spaces that will support the performance and rehearsal needs of cultural groups.

GOB Allocation: $6.346 million

A converted grocery store located in the heart of Hialeah, the Milander Auditorium will be re-built as a multi-purpose cultural and community space. The flexible-use auditorium will be designed to serve as a state-of-the-art cultural center adjacent to the existing library and recreational complex along 49th Street.

GOB funds have been re-programmed for the development of a theater/cultural center as part of a mixed-use development on the NW 7th Avenue corridor.

Status: The proposed funding earmarked for the Carver Theater project has been reallocated to the Transit Village, a transit hub at the intersection of NW 7th Avenue and 62nd Street, a public-private partnership development across the street from the Carver Theater site. The Carver Theater is privately owned and acquisition of the property and the required capital work to reopen the theater are estimated to be in excess of the GOB funding allocation. The existing Carver Theater facility is closed and based on a site visit by the Department of Cultural Affairs, is in need of extensive rehabilitation to convert it into a viable cultural facility.

The Transit Village project is anticipated to create seamless access for commuters to and from the Liberty City area and connectivity between Miami-Dade and Broward Counties while serving several municipalities. The planned development includes affordable housing, retail/commercial space, and a multi-level parking garage component. A multi-purpose theater with an arts center component has been incorporated into the village plan. A significant modification of the Carver Theater project was approved by the Board of County Commissioners (BCC) on October 4, 2011 via resolution R-755-11. It authorized the transfer of funds from the Carver Theater project, which was deleted, to the Transit Village project.

Approval of the award of the Transit Village development project to the Carlisle Development Group, LLC was approved by the BCC on March 1, 2011 via resolution R-138-11. Carlisle estimates that the Transit Village project will cost approximately $45 million. The County's Internal Services Department's Real Estate Development Division will monitor the housing component, and the Department of Cultural Affairs will monitor the theat

GOB Allocation: $10 million

The South Miami-Dade Cultural Center has been designed by local, world-renowned architectural firm Arquitectonica Int. Inc. and is a key component of Commissioner Dennis C. Moss’ Plan for the development of downtown Cutler Ridge. Construction is scheduled to begin in late 2005, with a facility opening projected for late 2007. The Center is comprised of a 71,500 sq. ft. Main Building housing a 966-seat theater on three levels, orchestra pit, stage area with fly loft space, multi-purpose room, dressing rooms, administrative offices, and a separate 7,500 sq. ft. Activities Building providing rehearsal, small-scale performance, and classroom spaces. Adjacent to the South Miami-Dade Government Center, the Cultural Center will also provide a plaza and lawn for outdoor concerts, festivals, and art fairs.

GOB Allocation: $10 million

This Miami Beach-based museum showcases American and European decorative and fine arts produced between late 19th to mid-20th centuries. The expansion with GOB funds is anticipated to include such elements as additional exhibition space, a new auditorium, classrooms and educational spaces, public amenities, and a state of the art study center to enable the public access to the museum’s extensive collection. The Wolfsonian’s holdings include more than 100,000 objects, rare books, and archives, and were conservatively valued at $75 million in 1997 when Mitchell Wolfson, Jr. donated it to Florida International University.

GOB funds will be used for the planning, design and construction of a cultural museum and nature center located in the restored Virginia Key Beach Park, a protected natural resource. The cultural center and museum complex will exhibit the history and culture of African Americans and Caribbean Americans, and will house traditional museum spaces, meeting rooms, dining and banquet facilities, café, gift shop, nature center, and offices. The complex will present the history of the park and South Florida during the civil rights era, and the significance of the natural environment of the barrier island on which the park is located.

Status: In 2007, the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust (VKBPT) selected Coral Gables-based BEA International and Charleston, South Carolina-based Huff + Gooden Architects to design the 30,000- square-foot museum that will honor the once-segregated "colored-only" beach and preserve the beach's natural habitat. The Trust also hired exhibit designers Haley Sharpe Design to collaborate with the architects and museum staff on the planning work for the facility. After the firm of BEA International filed for bankruptcy, the VKBPT engaged the firm of Judson and Partners, which had been ranked second in the architectural selection process. Unfortunately, Mr. Clyde Judson, principal of Judson and Partners, passed away soon after starting work on the project.

The Department had issued a grant agreement for a $5 million Convention Development Tax grant awarded by the Board of County Commissioners in 2000 for the design and construction of the Museum. Funds from this grant will be used for the design and construction of the project prior to the expenditure of GOB funds. No reimbursements from this grant have been processed and the project is currently on hold since the City of Miami has not funded the Virginia Key Beach Park Trust for the past two years.

GOB Allocation: $50 million

GOB funds will be used for renovations and upgrades to the Main House and Gardens of this National Historic Landmark property. In addition, the Vizcaya farm village will be restored and reactivated for cultural and educational programming. Vizcaya was built by American industrialist James Deering, who wintered on the property from 1916–1925. Today, the European-inspired estate includes a house filled with art and furnishings, ten acres of gardens on Biscayne Bay, a hardwood hammock (native forest), and a historic village.

GOB Allocation: $4 million

GOB funds will used to create the first cultural center in this West Miami-Dade County neighborhood.