# Developers in Florida want to declare a Forest area a slum. Seize the land. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [December 28, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370 "2014-12-28T18:22:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370/1 "2014-12-28T18:22:54Z")
Columbus sailed the ocean blue in 1492 and discovered a slum? :dubious: Natural and largely untouched rare [pine rocklands](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Florida_rocklands) are a public nuisance? I guess that’s one way to look at undeveloped land. It’s certainly not mine. If I understand this wikipedia article correctly the pines are protecting what soil there is from erosion. People that care about the environment vs developers for $1 billion amusement park. Who will win? > [@](#): > > The South Florida rocklands ecoregion, in the tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests biome, occurs in southern Florida and the Florida Keys in the United States, where they would naturally cover an area of 2,100 km2 (810 sq mi). These forests form on limestone outcroppings with very thin soil;[2] the higher elevation separating them from other habitats such as coastal marshes and marl prairies.[3] On mainland Florida, rocklands exist primarily on the Miami Rock Ridge, which extends from the Miami River south to Everglades National Park. South Florida rocklands are further divided into pine rocklands and rockland hammocks. > **[Miami officials may designate environmental area as ‘slums’ to allow for...](https://www.nydailynews.com/2014/12/27/miami-officials-may-designate-environmental-area-as-slums-to-allow-for-amusement-park/)** > > The developers of a nearly $1 billion amusement park in south Florida plan to really slum it for the location. Officials with Miami-Dade County seek to designate a piece of the 480-acre stretch of … [http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article4696344.html#storylink=cpy](http://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/community/miami-dade/article4696344.html#storylink=cpy) > [@](#): > > The developers of a nearly $1 billion amusement park in south Florida plan to really slum it for the location. > > Officials with Miami-Dade County seek to designate a piece of the 480-acre stretch of rare environmental land as a “slum” so the builders 20th Century Fox and Sony Music can build its $930 million “Miami Wilds” amusement park at the site, reports the Miami Herald. ---
**Author:** ![FairyChatMom](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fairychatmom/32/21906_2.png) [@FairyChatMom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FairyChatMom)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370/2 "2014-12-28T18:26:14Z")
Florida politics is just corrupt enough that this should be a slam dunk for the developers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 6:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370/3 "2014-12-28T18:35:15Z")
As if the US really needed another amusement park. There’s dozens failed and derelict ones already. Quite a few in Florida. I know of two right here in Arkansas. Dog Patch, and Magic Springs. Magic Springs is open right now but it was closed and derelict for 5 years. I’m never sure if its still open or not. Six Flags in New Orleans was never repaired after Katrina. Many more across the country. [Here’s a list](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_defunct_amusement_parks) Why not revitalize one of the failed parks in Florida? They could reopen several failed parks with a 1 billion investment. Why destroy natural forests? ---
**Author:** ![PunditLisa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/4af34b/32.png) [@PunditLisa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PunditLisa)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2014, 10:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370/4 "2014-12-28T22:51:14Z")
If it’s any consolation, the public in Maui were able to successfully quash a developer’s plan to put a resort on Honolua Bay. The developer ended up selling the land back to the state for fair market value. So it can happen. But enough people have to be both opposed to the plan AND willing to put in some time and energy to fight it. If enough people complain, politicians DO listen, because most want to stay in power over all else. > **[Honolua Bay Saved! | Save Honolua Coalition](https://hawaiianpaddlesports.com/news/honolua-bay-maui-saved/)** > > Honolua Bay is a very special place to Maui residents and visitors alike. Recently the land surrounding Honolua Bay was saved! Learn more ---
**Author:** ![Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/slow_moving_vehicle/32/291_2.png) [@Slow\_Moving\_Vehicle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Slow_Moving_Vehicle)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 2:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370/5 "2014-12-29T02:42:31Z")
Wait, this is real? Not a Carl Hiassen novel? God, I hate Florida… ---
**Author:** ![silenus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/silenus/32/166_2.png) [@silenus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/silenus)\ **Post date:** [December 29, 2014, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/developers-in-florida-want-to-declare-a-forest-area-a-slum-seize-the-land/708370/6 "2014-12-29T03:03:50Z")
Call Tim Dorsey. If ever there was a job for Serge, this is it.