American Legion Post To Be Developed For Mixed-Use

Last year, Global City Development and Midtown Group announced that they would redevelop an underused waterfront Upper Eastside property owned by the American Legion. The parcel at 6445 Northeast Seventh Ave. would be transformed into a mixed-use waterfront project with 237 apartments, plus state-of-the-art facilities for military veterans of American Legion Post No. 29.

But Global City also announced plans for a second phase of development on surrounding land, which has drawn the ire of neighbors.

This week, in advance of Veterans Day, Global City Development trumpeted its work for veterans, highlighting that the 15K SF facility will overlook Biscayne Bay and feature a community ballroom, fitness center, physical therapy areas, and a swimming pool, plus group therapy services and post-traumatic stress disorder treatment.

Global City Investments principal Diego Procel has a son who is a Marine, and the company hoped that the facility would engage a new, younger generation of veterans. As The Real Deal reported last year, Global City leased the American Legion's land for 75 years to create the mixed-use project. Demolition began in the area in the spring.

Global City also proposed plans for a second phase of construction that would be built on surrounding land owned by the developer. It sought zoning for a Special Area Plan and floated plans for three 15-story towers.

Neighborhood residents, and the mayor, opposed that plan. The developers had tried to count Legion Park, which stretches from Biscayne Boulevard to the bay, as part of its acreage in order to qualify for the SAP. The Urban Development Review Board is in the process of considering the plans.

Global City Developement was not available for comment.