Voters rejected Virginia Key redevelopment deal. What happens to the marinas now?

Miami Herald · Ana Claudia Chacin · 2026-11-05 10:15 UTC

After voters rejected bid from a developer to lease and redevelop Virginia Key land, Aabad Melwani, Gramps Getaway continue month-to-month lease until new deal

On Tuesday, about 65% of Miami voters rejected an $80 million redevelopment plan for two city-owned marinas and waterfront land on Virginia Key. It was the second time in recent years that voters rejected a long-term lease of the almost 28-acre property, which includes the Marine Stadium and Rickenbacker marinas.

But Tuesday’s rejection of Miami’s Referendum 3 doesn’t mean the current operator of Rickenbacker Marina — and its tenant, the Gramps Getaway bar and restaurant — gets to stay forever. Instead, it takes commissioners right back to the drawing board on an issue that has plagued the city for over a decade — with many of the same players vying for the valuable chunk of land.

Moving forward, the City Commission could decide to put out a new request for proposals and take another bid to voters in the future, or commissioners could decide that the city should run both marinas itself. The city already runs the Marine Stadium Marina.

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