Type: Suburban Office, Retail
Project: 7360 North Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida

Role: Owner's representative, Developer, 1983
Description: Redevelopment of Corporate Facility
Outcome: Site redeveloped by Homart for mixed use

HERON CENTRE, located at 7360 North Kendall Drive, Miami, Florida is a 6-1/2 acre site located immediately opposite one of the top ten shopping malls in the United States owned by the Equitable Life Assurance Society of the United States.

This 6-1/2 acre site is improved by an office building constructed in 1968 as the world headquarters for Burger King Corporation. The project was taken over in April of 1988. The project was turned over to the project manager and the existing leases other than Burger King Corporation were negotiated to termination in order that a complete asbestos removal program could commence.

The responsibilities of the project manager involved formulation and creation of the development plan and the feasibility for same. The selection and hiring of professionals in conjunction with the asbestos removal process, the bidding of the work and the supervision of the asbestos removal process to completion.

During this time period architectural firms were interviewed and a base building architect was selected to complete fully engineered architectural drawings for a complete renovation of the existing office building with an exterior renovation that would bring the project into a more contemporary setting.

A complete site plan, including constructed parking, was completed. These proposals were submitted along with engineering studies and other environmental research, together with the appropriate traffic engineering studies to the South Florida Regional Planning Council in an Application for Development of Regional Impact. This application was granted with a Letter of Sufficiency, which results in a Development Order for an additional 400,000 square feet of office space and retail development on the 6-1/2 acre site which is in addition to the existing 120,000 square feet.

As project manager the selection of materials and supervision of the architectural and engineering team was handled on a continuous basis, resulting in a bid package which renders the project economically feasible.

The marketing team was assembled and the professionals necessary to implement the marketing plan were retained. The media campaign was designed as well as the fictitious tenant plans, marketing work letter for tenant finishes, and appropriate financial proformas necessary for the undertaking of such a project.

This project management assignment included the management of significant complex litigation, which involved sensitive environmental issues including asbestos related matters.