Miami developer Jorge M. Pérez: Reporting on efforts to rescue relics is misleading | Opinion

After reading the Miami Herald’s recent article on Related Group’s Miami River development, I must correct the record and the alarming lapse in journalistic integrity it represents.

The sensationalized headline on Jan. 9, “Experts appalled at efforts to give away relics,” is as misleading as it is inflammatory. Worse still, the article serves as a megaphone for biased voices pushing inaccuracies and advancing personal agendas.

I feel the article offers skewed narratives and claims and an outright refusal to engage with the organization whose work they are mischaracterizing.

The Related Group has been working diligently for the past four years, with a team of professional archaeologists, to excavate, catalog and preserve hundreds of thousands of artifacts discovered at our Miami River site. The site was originally developed over 50 years ago with multi-story office buildings and parking structures.

To date, we’ve invested more than $45 million in the archaeological process and all the items discovered are being stored in climate-controlled care.

The work has been conducted in accordance with all applicable archaeological regulations and guidelines. We’ve presented an Archaeological Action Plan to ensure the site’s historical significance is properly honored.

This plan includes interpreting the findings, curating critical artifacts and thoughtfully integrating these historical snapshots into the development itself. It also includes an on-site archaeological exhibition space with direct public access to the riverwalk.

Despite our careful approach, we find ourselves under attack by a select few, which is then amplified by the Miami Herald’s unbalanced coverage. At every turn, our critics have shifted the goalposts.

First, they claimed we were moving too quickly. Now, they accuse us of taking too long. Initially, we were faulted for lacking a plan of where the artifacts should go; now that we’ve developed a thoughtful, comprehensive one, we’re criticized for not implementing it fast enough.

The truth is that we’ve met every deadline and taken the time necessary to do this the right way — an effort that honors the area’s history while setting a much-needed standard for future preservation efforts.

Following federal guidelines, we first offered the artifacts to the indigenous tribes through the Office of the State Archaeologist at the state of Florida, which is the prescribed and only avenue to do so. Any items they request will be donated to them. HistoryMiami Museum is interested in some of the remaining artifacts and as we finalize that donation, we are committed to ensuring the process respects tribal interests.

For the other items, we reached out to more than 75 universities and museums in Florida and nationwide, many of which showed interest. Despite these efforts, some have chosen to misinterpret our intentions. One professor in California objected to our outreach, mischaracterizing it as inappropriate. Her email became the centerpiece of the Miami Herald’s recent story, which failed to include our perspective or acknowledge the extensive work we’ve done.

Furthermore, her response states that we did not involve state tribes, which is a falsehood that the Miami Herald perpetuated even though they have previously reported the state tribes’ involvement.

Rather than spotlighting our collaborative efforts, the Miami Herald amplified the lone dissenting voice, making this professor’s seemingly uninformed response the centerpiece of its article.

Related Group took on this project knowing it would be complex. We have the resources, expertise and determination to see it through — and to do so responsibly. But even as we exceed regulatory requirements and create policies to protect and celebrate our community’s history, we find ourselves battling misrepresentation.

For our community to thrive, it must evolve. Our project is aligned with the rules and regulations and we’ve worked with the input of many key stakeholders including the Miami River Commission, the Dade Heritage Trust and the Downtown Development Authority.

What we need now is fair, balanced and objective reporting. Without it, the future of thoughtful and responsible development in Miami is at risk.

Jorge M. Pérez is the founder, chairman and CEO of The Related Group, a real estate development company in Miami.

This story was originally published January 14, 2025 at 6:10 PM.