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Miami Dade College Revotes to Transfer Prime Downtown Parcel for Trump Presidential Library Amid Open‑Meetings Lawsuit

The Miami Dade College board held a second vote to transfer a nearly 3-acre (1.2-hectare) downtown Miami parcel for Donald Trump’s planned presidential library despite a lawsuit alleging the first vote violated Florida’s open meetings law. A judge has temporarily blocked the transfer while the case proceeds; a trial is scheduled for August. The lot, assessed at over $67 million in 2025, could be worth much more to developers. Community members raised transparency concerns after the board’s September meeting provided limited public notice and neither vote was livestreamed.

01:47 AM, 12/03/2025Politics
Miami Dade College Revotes to Transfer Prime Downtown Parcel for Trump Presidential Library Amid Open‑Meetings Lawsuit

Miami Dade College's board on Tuesday voted again to transfer a nearly 3-acre (1.2-hectare) downtown Miami parcel intended for former President Donald Trump's planned presidential library, despite an ongoing lawsuit that alleges the initial decision violated Florida's open meetings law.

Legal challenge and temporary block

A local activist sued the college, arguing the board failed to provide adequate public notice for a special Sept. 23 meeting when it first approved the land gift. A judge has temporarily blocked the college from completing the transfer while the legal challenge proceeds; a trial is scheduled for August.

Property value and development potential

The waterfront lot — among the last undeveloped parcels on the palm-lined stretch of Biscayne Boulevard — was assessed at more than $67 million in 2025 by the Miami-Dade County property appraiser. Real estate experts say the site could be worth several hundred million dollars on the open market because of its location and development potential.

Public reaction and transparency concerns

The board convened at its Hialeah campus, in a predominantly Cuban American and Republican-leaning suburb, where dozens of students, faculty, alumni and local officials attended to comment on the transfer. Many speakers said they expected an opportunity to weigh in and felt shut out by the earlier vote.

Critics also noted that an agenda released before the September meeting merely stated the board would consider conveying property to a state trust overseen by Governor Ron DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet, without identifying the specific parcel or explaining the rationale. Neither the Sept. 23 vote nor Tuesday's re-vote was livestreamed, unlike most other board meetings.

How the transfer would work

A week after the initial board decision, Gov. DeSantis and the Florida Cabinet voted to transfer the site to a state trust — a step that moved the deed toward the foundation established for Trump's presidential library. The foundation is overseen by three trustees: Eric Trump, Michael Boulos and attorney James Kiley.

With litigation still pending, the transfer remains on hold. The August trial is expected to determine whether the college's initial meeting violated the state's open meetings law and whether the transfer can proceed.

Report by: Kate Payne

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