BACKGROUND
The Lowdown
Adam Neumann (WeWork co-founder) and his wife Rebekah want to build a private school called SOLFL on the site of the former Rader Memorial United Methodist Church at 205 NE 87th Street in El Portal. The school would serve up to 350 students and cost around $45,000. Residents are concerned about developer transparency, requested special exceptions and changes to our comprehensive plan, traffic, and more. Get involved now to save our Village's character and autonomy.
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Join the Save El Portal What's App Group
Connect with neighbors who share your concerns and stay up to date. We're not anti anything. We're pro El Portal! Join the group.
3
Contribute to the Legal Defense Fund
Our lawyer is working tirelessly to represent our Village's best interests. Read the Miami Herald story and get in touch to contribute to the fund.
4
Attend Meetings
Attend upcoming El Portal meetings and go on the record to vote "No." The monthly council meetings are the fourth Tuesday of every month at 7PM at City Hall. Stay attuned for other impromptu Town Halls and Planning and Zoning meetings.
5
Get Others Involved
Even though the meetings have been standing room only, it still represents a small sub section of our community. Talk to others, share this website, and encourage others to take these steps!
TESTIMONIALS
What Community Members are Saying
"It is important that El Portal's community plan is followed and current zoning enforced by the El Portal Council -- no exceptions. This project is welcomed where it belongs in Z5 at the Little River Farm, which the developer also owns."
Noel P.
El Portal Resident
"The problem is not the school, it's the requested changes in the code. Once a precedent is created, we open Pandora's box. Any changes for future developers will be approved because of the established 'precedent.'"
Ximena S.
El Portal Resident
"No good intentions are coming with this developer that has no respect for the community. The real intentions are to take over and build without abiding by our codes and standards. Vote no and let's keep the Village the gem it's always been!"
Ramona S.
El Portal Resident
READING
Get Educated
Some reasons neighbors are concerned:
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The project requires special exceptions and changes to our comprehensive plan, and includes a solid eight foot wall along the entire primary frontage, which does not conform to the Village’s vision for NE 2nd Avenue as an active main street.
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As a nonprofit, the school would pay no property taxes to the Village.
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Concerns about traffic, demolitions of residential buildings, and buying up of other residential property that will become non tax paying.
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A lack of transparency. The Developer’s rep agreed to town hall meetings, but the 70-year-old church was demolished two days before the first public meeting, without warning to residents.
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When residents pushed back, the developer floated building an out-of-character, six-story affordable housing tower instead, using Florida's Live Local Preemption. Our Attorney described this as a commonly-used pressure tactic to strong-arm approvals.