Miami Herald breaks ground at site of new Doral home.
Miami Herald staff.-
In a symbolic gesture that signals the start of a move from Biscayne Bay to Doral, Miami Herald officials and local dignitaries on Thursday held a groundbreaking ceremony at the site of the media company’s new home.
The Miami Herald Media Co. — which also encompasses Miami.com, MiamiHerald.com, el Nuevo Herald and HCP/Aboard custom publishing — will move into a 15-acre site at 3511 NW 91st Ave. by May 2013.
“Needless to say, we are very, very excited to be embarking on this new era for The Miami Herald Media Co.,” said David Landsberg, the company’s president and publisher.
He said the new site will offer a “modern, state-of-the-art printing plant” and offices that “suits a modern media company.”
The company’s news and business division will move into an existing two-story, 158,000-square-foot facility that used to house the U.S. Southern Command building.
Thursday’s groundbreaking was for the construction of a three-story, 119,000-square-foot industrial plant that will house the printing presses.
“I’m very proud that one of the oldest institutions of South Florida has decided to make Doral their home,” said Doral Mayor Juan Carlos Bermudez. He added that even as politicians often disagree with reports published in both newspapers, “I think that a free and independent press is critical to a democracy.”
He said the company has been on the front lines for exposing corruption and other issues the public needs to know.
“As a politician, I’m glad you’re around even when I disagree with you.”
Last year, the company’s corporate owner, McClatchy, sold the media company’s current 13.9-acre bayside home to Genting Group, which plans to build a resort on the downtown Miami site.
Coincidentally this week in 1963, The Miami Herald unveiled its spacious new home on the bay, the project spearheaded by the James and John Knight, the brothers who owned the former Knight Ridder newspaper chain.
