If you live in the Brickell area, you have probably noticed a particularly large construction project. Although it seems as if a city in itself is growing in the midst of downtown Miami, it is actually the biggest private project in the country at the moment: the Brickell City Centre.

Combining retail shops, a condominium, a hotel and even restaurants, the Brickell City Centre is an immense $1.05 billion project that began in July 2012 and is expected to be finished in the end of 2015, with a projected opening date in 2016. The project is managed by Swire Properties, Inc., a multinational corporation that focuses on “local businesses, civic and environmental achievements.” Due to the rapid growth of the City of Miami, the Brickell City Centre is a perfect opportunity to create jobs and attract tourism, reviving the city’s economy.

“[The Brickell City Centre] would be beneficial because it can increase tourism, and while it would disturb the already terrible traffic, it would bring more business to the area. I don’t believe it needs more business, but its never bad to have more people spending money in the area. The downside of course, is that it’s an expensive project that isn’t truly necessary. It would affect the traffic flow and make things more difficult. Knowing Miami, they probably don’t have a plan of routing traffic and people more efficiently to their destinations,” senior Julian Sanchez said.

Approximately 1700 construction jobs will be produced from only the construction of the project, and approximately 6200 direct and indirect jobs will be created once the City Centre opens. The 565,000 ft. retail area will serve as a mall inside the City Centre, which is expected to attract tourism and revive the local economy. Most importantly, the City Centre will contribute $9.6 million in ad valorem (property) taxes to Miami-Dade County. Also, real estate prices have increased up to 50% (More Statistics here). Property owners living in the area will benefit tremendously from the rising real estate costs, which will in turn increase existing property values.

“I think that the construction will affect its residents, it’s going to bring a lot of money so that can help clean up that part of town but it will also bring in a lot of traffic. Though it doesn’t really have any affect on me personally I think it will be good for the people that live there; they just need to find new ways to get around,” junior Lauren Kerzner said.

To some the construction of the Brickell City Centre simultaneously represents benefits and drawbacks. The City Centre is intended to revive the local economy by making jobs available and contributing a significant tax revenue for the county. However, Brickell’s rapid development will become an issue due to a rapid growth of population density and local traffic. The only thing that is left to do is wait util 2016 to witness the finished project and truly see its effect in the city.