Miami, FL
Amid possible eviction, what will happen to animals at Miami Seaquarium?
MIAMI – With Miami-Dade County issuing the owners of the Miami Seaquarium an eviction letter on Monday, Local 10 News is working to address your questions about what could happen to the animals at the marine park.
A Sunday deadline for the park owners to vacate the premises came and went Sunday, with the park operating business as usual on Monday.
Its owners plan to fight any eviction.
‘The animals belong to the company’
During a March 7 news conference where Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava and County Commissioner Raquel Regalado announced the county’s decision to terminate Miami Seaquarium operator the Dolphin Company’s lease, the Mayor told Local 10′s Christina Vazquez “to be clear, the animals belong to the company, they do not belong to the County.”
The county, she said, “does not have the ability to intervene at this point, only the U.S. Department of Agriculture can do that.” She confirmed that the Dolphin Company, as owners of the animals, could transfer the animals to other parks in its portfolio.
Regalado added that from what they understand it also “depends on the animal” because “some of them are owned outright, some of them are leased, some could return to their lease holds.”
On Monday, Holly, of SoFlo Animal Rights, told Local 10 News that she does find it “frustrating” that the Dolphin Company, as the owner of the animals, is able to, in her words “traffick” them to other facilities.
“We know it is very complicated,” she said about the intersection the animals have with different federal regulatory agencies based on species, “but ultimately what is so sad is the animals are just property so even if they do close and the animals are removed it is still sad, but yet, the one good thing is that it would be one less marine park so it signifies a change in public opinion, so that is something to celebrate, but right now we are sad.”
Contingency plans
During an interview on April 12 with Local 10 News, Miami-Dade County Chief Operations Officer Jimmy Morales said that the county is working on contingency plans in the event the Dolphin Company should abandon animals if it does eventually vacate the premises.
Those plans include working with federal partners who have jurisdictional and regulator oversight over certain animals as well as assessing County resources where permissible like Zoo Miami.
Dolphin Company officials say they plan to stay.
Federal oversight agencies
In the past year, federal agencies have also decided to transport some of the animals at the Miami Seaquarium to other facilities.
In those cases, it would be the decision of the federal agency and the private partner taking in the animal, rather than Miami-Dade County.
For example, in August of 2023, following the passing of beloved orca Lolita, two of Lolita’s dolphin companions, Loke and Elelo, were taken to the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago.
A spokesperson for that institution said at the time that it “responded to an urgent need to provide sanctuary for two Pacific white-sided dolphins…from the Miami Seaquarium living in insufficient environmental conditions. The transport of 40-year-old female dolphin Loke and her 5-year-old son, Elelo to Shedd’s 3-million-gallon cold water habitat took place on August 3 under authorization from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Fisheries Office of Protected Resources.”
A month later, the third of Lolita’s dolphin companions, Li’i, Elelo’s father, was transferred from the Miami Seaquarium to SeaWorld San Antonio.
A SeaWorld spokesperson told Local 10 News in a news release that “the expedited transport of this 40-year-old male dolphin to AZA-accredited SeaWorld San Antonio took place on September 24, 2023 under authorization from the NOAA Fisheries Office of Protected Resources.”
In November, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service confirmed that it was working with “an experienced team of manatee rescue and rehabilitation experts to assist with the transport effort of manatees from Miami Seaquarium.”
Copyright 2024 by WPLG Local10.com – All rights reserved.
Miami, FL
Jarvis Landry Doesn’t Hold Back on Dolphins Offseason
Getty
(Photo by Cindy Ord/Getty Images for SiriusXM )
The Miami Dolphins are in the middle of a rebuild under new general manager Jon-Eric Sullivan. This offseason, Sullivan cut ties with players like Tyreek Hill and Tua Tagovailoa and then traded away Jaylen Waddle.
Moreover, the team brought in former Green Bay Packers QB Malik Willis, drafted Kadyn Proctor in Round 1, and selected several pass catchers to help their new signal-caller. Miami also drafted Jacob Rodriguez to be their leader on that side of the football, potentially.
While there’s still more work to be done, Sullivan has laid the foundation for what he hopes will turn the Dolphins into a contender in the AFC. Nonetheless, one person who is fully on board with what Miami has done this offseason is former Dolphins wideout Jarvis Landry.
“I love the [Proctor] pick,” Landry said in a May video from “4th And South.“ Miami Dolphins, the GM, hey, he’s doing amazing. He is doing amazing. I’m excited to see how [the Proctor pick] works out. Malik Willis will get some protection up front. I still want to see them add more firepower on the edges, maybe even at tight end, and keep building.
“They added pieces on the defensive side of the ball during the offseason, including a couple of cornerbacks and safeties and things like that. But I would love to see them get Malik Willis a couple more weapons on the outside to do his thing [as] Jaylen Waddle left [and] Tyreek left.“
Jarvis Landry Excited About Miami’s Future
Moreover, Landry provided an exciting outlook for Miami under Sullivan as the general manager is only getting started in molding the Dolphins in his vision, especially with the draft capital that the team had in this past draft.
“I think the city of Miami is excited,” Landry added. “With all of these draft picks and the draft capital Miami acquired, and don’t forget, they traded back and got more value and more picks [in this past draft]. I think they’re the only team to have this many picks in this year’s draft, which is probably a record.“
Dolphins Were Reportedly Looking at a Veteran Wideout
While Landry would like for the Dolphins to add another receiver, they were reportedly trying to do that. On May 8, ESPN NFL insider Adam Schefter shared that Miami was one of the teams interested in signing Jauan Jennings before he made his decision to sign with the Minnesota Vikings.
“The interesting thing is I was told that there were a few other teams,” Schefter said during a May 8 appearance on the “Pat McAfee Show.” “I can go back and get the exact list. I think it was the Dolphins, the Commanders. There was somebody else that was interested.
“The Vikings were the only team, I believe he wound up visiting at all. That was the only one. The other teams, the Chiefs and Commanders also were interested in Jauan Jennings. New Orleans also expressed a little interest.”
Now, for the Dolphins, it will be interesting to see whether they look at other veteran wideouts who might be a good fit, especially as a mentor for the group.
Eduardo Razo Eduardo Razo is a sports writer for Heavy.com, covering the NFL, MLB, and college football. He has previously covered the NFL, NBA, NHL, and MLB for NBC Sports Washington and NBC Sports Bay Area & California, and has freelanced for PSG Talk, covering Paris Saint-Germain. He also worked as an editor at Athlon Sports, focusing on MLB and the NFL. More about Eduardo Razo
Miami, FL
Your 2026 Miami Dolphins Draft Picks Expectations
Highest ceiling: Proctor. There’s a reason they drafted him in the first round. If he loses 25 pounds, he can be a multi-time first team All Pro. But he has to put the work in and not be lazy.
Lowest ceiling: Caleb Douglas. Don’t see him fixing his drops. But I hope he proves me wrong.
Best overall pick: Jacob Rodriguez. Guy will be a sideline to sideline tackling machine.
Best value pick: Kyle Louis. He should have went in the 3rd round and will be a major contributor.
Best pick no one else sees as great…yet: Seydou Traore. The more tape I watch on this guy at Mississippi State, the more I like. If he refines his route running and hands, he could be our starting TE in 2 or 3 years.
Biggest reach pick: Caleb Douglas. See above. He should have went in the 5th, maybe 6th.
Biggest missed opportunity: Not drafting Bain. I sure hope those short arms limit him in the NFL. Now the guy has a huge chip on his shoulder and is pissed at the 14 teams that passed on him, including Miami. The guy was a menace in college. I’m not looking forward to facing the Bucs in the future.
Miami, FL
Miami Area Gets First New Manufactured Home Community in Decades
Miami-Dade County is one of the most desirable places to live in the country, but its median listing price of $595,868 is pushing many everyday people out of the market.
That’s why an affordable alternative is drawing attention.
Cottage Grove, a manufactured housing community under construction in South Miami-Dade, will feature 349 single-family homes with prices starting at just $129,900. It will be the first new manufactured housing development in Miami-Dade in decades.
“The interest has been tremendous,” Ross Partrich, the CEO of RHP Properties, which owns Cottage Grove, tells Realtor.com®. “The market is showing there’s a real need—we’ve had over 1,000 inquiries.”
RHP Properties has built manufactured housing communities across 31 states, including Florida, but this is its first project in Miami-Dade.
“Cottage Grove addresses a critical gap in the housing supply at a time when rising home prices and construction costs are putting homeownership out of reach for many families and when supply is shrinking due to redevelopment,” says Partrich.
According to the Manufactured Housing Institute, approximately 22 million Americans reside in manufactured homes. These homes are faster and cheaper to build.
“There’s much less waste and more precision when you’re building in a factory,” says Partrich. “The economies of scale are better, and we’re passing on the savings to our residents.”
About the community
At Cottage Grove, homeowners will own their houses but lease the land beneath them, paying $1,445 a month in lot rent.
Partrich says residents of the community will enjoy five-star amenities.
“That includes a beautifully maintained pool with a large sun deck, contemporary clubhouse, fitness center, yoga and lounge rooms, scenic biking and walking trails, and serene gazebos,” he says.
While many manufactured housing communities in Florida are age-restricted to 55 and older, this 92-acre community will welcome residents of all ages.
“The playground, expansive green spaces, and gated entrance add to the community’s appeal for families,” says Partrich.
Partrich says people have already begun putting down deposits on the homes—each of which has four bedrooms and is around 1,600 square feet.
“They’re spacious, with open floor plans, multiple living areas, and kitchens equipped with stainless-steel appliances and islands,” he explains.
The first group of homes is expected to be completed and move-in-ready by late summer.
Durability and long-term value
In hurricane-prone Florida, durability and safety are key considerations.
Homes in Cottage Grove meet a set of quality standards from the Department of Housing and Urban Development.
They’re set on concrete foundations, and Partrich says they’re able to withstand hurricane-force winds—which gives residents added peace of mind.
Over the past seven years, manufactured homes sold without land have appreciated by 51.6%, according to the Realtor.com Perks of the Park: Mobile Homes as an Affordable Alternative Report.
By comparison, median single-family homes rose 58.6% over the same period.
“Financing has typically been more challenging to obtain on manufactured homes, with fewer lenders and higher interest rates,” Florida real estate agent Cara Ameer tells Realtor.com.
“Most manufactured housing communities use land leases, adding a monthly fee that can make it harder for some buyers to qualify or stay long-term. As a result, appreciation has historically been more limited,” Ameer explains.
But Florida real estate broker Jeff Lichtenstein, CEO of Echo Fine Properties, says he believes manufactured houses will only continue to rise in popularity, especially in the Sunshine State.
“Stronger manufactured homes are going to be big,” he says. “The reason is that people just want a piece of the American dream and don’t want to be stuck in rentals. These, in many cases, are stepping-stone communities that let someone get started and not be forced to move two counties away. It solves the problem of homeownership, individual placement, and a sense of community.”
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