Donald Trump Miami resort won development approval for a three billion dollar condo project less than a week before he took office with the help of a Trump-endorsed council member.
Trump’s Miami resort was given the green light by the Doral City Council in January to build 1,498 luxury condo units across four 20-floor towers on his Doral resort property.
The project is expected to cost an estimated $3 billion and when completed, units will likely go for around $2 million apiece.
The Miami Herald reported that Trump Miami development approval initially split members on the council 3-2 during it’s initial passage in August. But, final passage after Trump won the presidential election in November was unanimous.
Councilman Rafael Pineyro, who initially opposed the project in August, got onboard in January. He claimed to have secured a good-faith commitment from the Trump Organization to back the city’s efforts in opposing the relocation of a Miami-Dade waste incinerator within Doral’s city limits, the Herald reported.
Mayor Christi Fraga who also changed her vote said her hands were tied because a different council approved the land-use map designation for the project which left her no choice but to back the Trump Miami development approval or risk facing a lawsuit.
Nicole Reinoso, a newly elected council member who Trump endorsed in the November election, also voted in favor of the project.
Eric Trump, the Executive Vice President of the Trump Organization, was present at January’s meeting and praised city commissioners for their unanimous vote approving the site plan.
“We’re building something that everyone will be incredibly proud of. We took a hotel that was in poor condition and transformed it into one of the greatest golf resorts in the world,” Trump said according to The Herald. “We’ve become dedicated stewards of the community, and now we’re re-envisioning Doral. This is Doral 2.0, and our family will continue to make this city proud.”
