Nearly a century after it first opened its doors, Miami’s iconic Olympia Theater is at the center of a heated debate over its future.
Once a glamorous silent movie palace and performance venue graced by legendary artists like B.B. King, Luciano Pavarotti and Elvis Presley, the landmark now faces a decaying structure, mounting legal pressure and a controversial redevelopment proposal involving the famous rapper Pitbull’s charter school network, “Sports Leadership and Management (SLAM).”
The city-owned theater, which opened in 1926, has fallen into serious disrepair. The city estimates suggest that restoring the Olympia and its adjacent 10-story building could cost upwards of $40 million but beyond the big price tag lies a deeper complication: a long-standing legal battle with the heirs of Maurice Gusman, who gifted the building to the city in the 1970s under certain conditions.
“The city has been sued by the Gusman heirs,” said City Manager Arthur Noriega. “Specifically for what, in essence, is the desire to have the operation of the theater fall in line with Gusman’s original intent.”
Now, an unexpected player has stepped into the scene: SLAM, a charter school network co-founded by Pitbull. SLAM, along with nonprofit education partners Mater and Somerset Academy, is proposing a dramatic $50 million investment to restore the Olympia Theater and convert the office building into a performing arts-focused charter school, called the Miami Innovation and Arts Academy. Under the deal, the school would acquire the property from the city for just $10 through a quitclaim deed.
The proposal has not left anyone indifferent. At a virtual meeting on Monday and a tense in-person gathering on Wednesday, residents voiced concerns about the rushed fashion and lack of transparency of the deal.
“The community was left completely in the dark,” said Sandy Moise, one of the attendants at the Wednesday meeting.
Others questioned why no competitive bidding process had been conducted for such a valuable and historic property.
Still, not everyone is opposed. With the theater facing potentially irreversible decline and no other viable offers on the table, some view the SLAM proposal as the best chance to preserve the landmark.
“I don’t see a long line of people with their checkbooks out to take over,” said Patricia Kawaja. “I’m very happy the school has made a proposal, and I think we should go with them.”
Even the attorney for the Gusman family, Tim Barkat, supports the plan.
“I’ve been litigating this case for six and a half years,” Barkat said at the Thursday city hall meeting. “I’m tired. We have found somebody that is making promises.”
The SLAM proposal promises not only restoration but also community access to the theater for public events at least half the year. The school says the project will provide performing arts education to underserved students while preserving one of Miami’s last remaining atmospheric theaters.
However, critics remain skeptical. Some describe the deal as a “no-bid giveaway”of a valuable public asset, with some residents concerned about the long-term implications of relinquishing public control.
“It’s a done deal,” said resident Albert Gomez. “Based on the language they used today, I’m sure the decision has already been made.”
The Miami City Commission was initially scheduled to vote on the proposal in late June, but mounting public pressure led to a postponement. The next vote is expected on July 24.
