Florida Governor Ron DeSantis and other state officials have approved the transfer of a parking lot near Miami’s Freedom Tower for the planned Donald Trump presidential library. The decision was made by DeSantis, Attorney General James Uthmeier, Chief Financial Officer Blaise Ingoglia, and Agriculture Commissioner Wilton Simpson in their roles as board members of the state’s Internal Improvement Trust Fund. They voted unanimously to deed the 2.6-acre parcel at 500-540 Biscayne Boulevard for this project.
The move follows a recent vote by the Miami Dade College board of trustees to give the land to the state. The college originally bought the property in 2004 for $25 million, but previous attempts to develop it were unsuccessful. The site is currently used as a parking lot for college employees.
Freedom Tower, owned by Miami-Dade College and located adjacent to the proposed library site, recently underwent a $25 million renovation. Built in 1925, it is known as one of downtown Miami’s most historic buildings and served as a refugee center for Cuban immigrants during the 1960s and 1970s.
“Having the Trump Presidential Library in Miami will be good for Florida, for the city, and for Miami Dade College,” DeSantis said in a statement. If completed, this would be Florida’s first presidential library.
Donald Trump maintains his primary residence at Mar-a-Lago Club in Palm Beach. Eric Trump, co-leader of The Trump Organization and son of Donald Trump, stated that “the Donald J. Trump Presidential Library Foundation is committed to building the presidential library at the site next to Freedom Tower.” He added on X: “It will be the greatest Presidential Library ever built, honoring the greatest President our Nation has ever known,” and described it as “one of the most beautiful buildings ever built, an Icon on the Miami skyline.”
