Jungle Island Secures Voter Approval for New Hotel
ESJ Capital Partners' Jungle Island has secured voter approval from City of Miami residents for a new hotel. ESJ acquired the iconic South Florida attraction in 2017 and is in the process of transforming the park into an eco-adventure themed destination.
The approval allows for the development of a family-friendly hotel with 300 rooms and a maximum height of 130 feet. It also extends Jungle Island's lease from 2060 to 2099, along with a 15-year extension.
No exact time for groundbreaking has yet been established, but ESJ is currently exploring a variety of options and looks forward to working through the various stages of the approval process with the City of Miami.
"This has been a huge team effort on behalf of ESJ Capital Partners, spearheaded by Micha Dubernard, with the Jungle Island team," said Arnaud Sitbon, CEO of ESJ Capital Partners. "We very much look forward to bringing this exciting project to life."
"First and foremost, we are extremely grateful to the citizens of the City of Miami for their confidence in our vision of a new Jungle Island. I can assure you that we will not let them down," said Elie Mimoun, COO of ESJ Capital Partners. "As to next steps, we have all been focused on the referendum process, so we have not wanted to get ahead of ourselves. We will now be looking at a variety of options as to those next steps for the hotel. In any case, we need to now work through the City's clearly defined Planning & Zoning process, and we will of course continue to work with all of our neighbors. "
The hotel's strategic location will provide a new offering for locals and tourists alike, and will be distinguished by a family-friendly eco theme that offers unobstructed views of Biscayne Bay. Close to PortMiami, the world's largest passenger port, as well as Miami Beach and Downtown Miami, the hotel will be the first of its kind in South Florida.
Earlier this year Jungle Island reopened with the official launch of its newly renovated ballroom and event spaces. New attractions include an outdoor simulated skydiving experience titled SuperFlight, and new water play elements called NeoSplash.
Most recently, Jungle Island debuted themed escape rooms designed with families and friends in mind, and is currently in the process of phasing in new eco-adventure amenities including an aerial play and rope course experience named 'Tree Walk Village,' a beach club, a zip-line experience, a Crystal Lagoon, and a lazy river.
For more information about ESJ, visit http://www.esj.us.
About ESJ Capital Partners, LLC
ESJ Capital Partners, LLC is a full-service real estate asset management firm with a diversified national portfolio of more than 3 million square feet comprised of education facilities, apartments, and entertainment destinations. ESJ, an SEC registered investor advisor, offers real estate and private equity investments, as well as providing securities brokerage services. For additional information, visit www.esj.us
