Village at Gulfstream - Adventura, FL

A recent Milhaus site visit to Village at Gulfstream spurred significant debate regarding project viability. specifically, is project viability discernible in Miami on a short-term basis, the poster child of the current economic collapse. Arguments can be made that delivering a project in Miami is a success of some magnitude in and of itself, however, the significant vacancy and lack of any significant traffic begs the viability question. Although the Village at Gulfstream begs this question, so do the majority of project in the greater Miami area, so a successful project will likely only be known in years to come.
Gulfstream also questions gaming (horse track & casino) as a mixed use driver. Vegas does mixed use successfully, but such an anomaly can't be recreated. Lack of ability to attract a hotelier or residential user at Gulfstream seems an argument to the contrary, however, a new Whole Foods would indicate the success.
Reality is that Gulfstream is an extremely complex site in any market, sandwiched within depressed demographics, quasi industrial uses, low end retailers, highway/thoroughfare barriers, and competitive market forces. The only real chance for success here is creation of an entire neighborhood within the site, and that was the original plan. With parking, infrastructure, and pads ready for hotel and residential uses, time will likely produce success. Without a sponsor like Forest City, this site would probably not have made it, but with their backing, long term, I would bet that this one becomes a success.