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If it’s ever completed, SkyRise Miami — the proposed bayfront tourist attraction which some have already derisively tabbed the “Paperclip Tower” — is slated to be 1,000 feet tall, making it the tallest building in Florida. In addition to a bungee jump, it would have a ballroom, three observation decks, a restaurant, and a nightclub.
But after Gov. Rick Scott announced his budget yesterday, SkyRise won’t be getting additional funding help from one important source: state taxpayers.
See also: That Giant SkyRise Miami Thing Could Actually Break Ground by Next Month
Scott approved the biggest budget in state history — $77 billion — but vetoed a $2 million request from SkyRise developers. “My focus is on what’s good for taxpayers,” Scott said about the budget.
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Jeff Berkowitz, the SkyRise developer, was not available for comment by press time; Scott’s office also did not immediately have a statement available.
It’s not clear how the lost taxpayer funding will impact Berkowitz’s plans for the mega-structure. But construction is apparently still set to begin later this year for the proposed Biscayne Bay tower, with an opening tentatively planned for 2017.
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