Developer wants to build largest mall in U.S. near Miami Lakes

The developer responsible for Mall of America in Minnesota, currently the largest mall in the United States, is planning to outdo itself in Miami.

Dubbed American Dream Miami, the mall would double as a theme park with simulated ski slopes, a Legoland, submarines and sea lions.

Developer Triple Five recently submitted plans to Miami-Dade County officials for the project, which  could cost up to $4 billion and would stretch over 200 acres at the intersection of I-75 and Florida’s Turnpike, a publication reported.

Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez called the project the largest economic development in the county’s history. The proposal said 25,000 jobs would be created to build the project, with another 25,000 employees to operate it, the Miami Herald reported.

Triple Five would acquire most of the land from the Graham Companies, with much of it being farmland. Roughly 80 acres is owned by Florida, and some of that is leased to Miami-Dade Public Schools. The developer would pay $7 million to compensate the school system for waiving its lease, followed by another $11 million to the county for the land itself, the newspaper reported.

Triple Five has not requested any subsidies or tax breaks and would spend an estimated $50 million in taxes annually for the project if it is built. [Miami Herald] — Sean Stewart-Muniz