TALLAHASSEE, Florida (AP) -- The state is selling 82 acres near Hialeah for $12.3 million to a mega-mall developer for what will be the nation's largest shopping mall and entertainment complex.
Gov. Rick Scott and the Florida Cabinet approved the 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.
The American Dream Miami mall is expected to create some 25,000 jobs.
According to the American Dream website, the $4 billion project will include:
- a 300,000-square-foot DreamWorks theme park,
- an indoor ski and snowboard park featuring a 12-story ski slope for skiing, snowboarding and tubing,
- a 225,000-square-foot water park and submarine rides,
- a NHL-size ice rink
- a 2,400-3,000 seat performing arts theater for live concerts and productions,
- movie theaters,
- miniature golf course,
- and an aquarium featuring 10,000 sea creatures.
For dining, shoppers will have 150,000 square feet of the finest restaurants and global cuisine to choose from.
It's proposed by the developer of the Mall of America in Minnesota, the nation's largest.
