Christina Crespi, Executive Director, Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA)

June 2026 — Invest: spoke with Christina Crespi, executive director of the Miami Downtown Development Authority (DDA), about how downtown Miami is pairing rapid development with business incentives, public realm investment, and new approaches to mobility and public safety. “Downtown Miami is constantly evolving and fueling the momentum that is driving smart growth in business,” Crespi said.

What impact are the DDA’s business incentive programs having, and how do you measure success?

Downtown Miami is constantly evolving and fueling the momentum that is driving smart growth in business.

To support that growth, we launched the Business Incentive Program, and over the last three years, we have awarded more than 50 business incentive grants. Those grants translate to more than $1 million in impact, and the results are tangible. Close to 30 businesses have opened their doors and are currently operating in downtown. 

We also use the results as a feedback loop. The board recognized that downtown’s momentum is not only about startups, fintech, and traditional office users. There was also an appetite for more restaurants, so we elevated grants to attract food and beverage, including awards of up to $75,000 for qualifying projects.

That shift has helped support local operators and also land recognizable brands. We have seen strong demand from restaurateurs and new concepts, and we are also seeing major organizations choose downtown for their footprint, including FC Barcelona, which is coming into downtown Miami and opening a presence here, along with a museum concept tied to the global attention coming to the region.

Another trend we are seeing is that companies focused on aesthetics and longevity are establishing operations downtown, which speaks to how the district is diversifying.

What role does placemaking play in creating a more vibrant and livable downtown Miami?

Placemaking helps downtown compete globally and serve the people who live, work, and visit here every day. Downtown Miami is not only a business district. It is also a cultural destination, and the public realm has to reflect that.

We support arts and culture through our Downtown Creative Collaborator Grants program. That funding helps activate public spaces through concerts and programming that draw people into downtown and support local institutions. Placemaking also shapes perceptions. It signals to residents and investors that downtown is a place people want to spend time, not just pass through.

Vibrancy is not accidental. It comes from consistent activation, strong maintenance standards, and public spaces designed to support activity for different audiences at different times of the day.

How is the DDA using arts, culture, and creative programming to activate public spaces, especially around major events?

We look at major events as both a cultural opportunity and an economic opportunity. Downtown has become a hub for large-scale programming, and we want to make sure those moments translate into long-term value for the district.

We are preparing for extended activations in and around Bayfront Park, and we want to tie that to businesses, including pop-ups and partnerships with property owners. The goal is to provide amenities that meet demand, whether that is more food and beverage, retail activation, or other experiences that keep people in the downtown core.

We have also seen how large events can reintroduce downtown to locals and reinforce its identity for visitors. Ultra is a strong example. It draws people from more than 220 countries, and that level of exposure supports hospitality demand, business visibility, and investment confidence.

Beyond headline events, we are also focused on everyday activation. We are exploring ways to use underutilized spaces, including areas under the Metromover, in partnership with the county. We have already done this in two instances and are evaluating additional opportunities. We have also added more dog-friendly spaces and are looking at options that better serve children and families, because livability depends on what downtown offers day to day.

What initiatives is the DDA leading to improve safety, cleanliness, and overall quality of life?

Quality of life shows up in visible services, coordinated partnerships, and how quickly issues are addressed.

One program we are especially proud of is our Downtown Enhancement Team. We employ close to 70 formerly homeless individuals to clean streets, pressure wash, and help maintain the district. They are also our eyes and ears. They report instances of graffiti, and we have removed thousands of instances as part of maintaining a clean, business-ready environment. The team also supports landscaping and beautification work.

On public safety, we have strengthened partnerships with the Miami Police Department and invested in both technology and coverage. We launched a drone policing pilot program that improves response time and situational awareness. The drone can reach a scene quickly, providing eyes and ears before police arrive. The program is showing results, and we expect expansion.

We have also added security cameras and license plate readers across the Central Business District and into Brickell and Edgewater so we can monitor what is happening in real time at the crime center, in partnership with Miami PD. We are also funding additional police hours so coverage can be directed to areas where residents and businesses have raised concerns, including areas along the river and other key corridors.

In addition, we have our downtown ambassadors in orange shirts. They support safety without functioning as law enforcement. They provide directions, assist with homeless outreach, and can escort someone to their car if they do not want to walk alone at night. That combination of cleanliness, outreach, and safety is how we build a downtown that feels welcoming and functional.

How is the DDA working to improve connectivity through transit, walkability, and other mobility options?

Mobility is a constant focus, and we approach it through planning, partnerships, and services people can use immediately.

Downtown has the Metromover, which is free and helps people circulate within the district. In addition, we launched our Freebee program, and the board has opted to expand it. We are adding an on-demand service with additional vehicles designed to hold more people, with launch timing in March 2026. The goal is to improve circulation through the district and into Brickell, then back into the Central Business District and Edgewater.

We are also advancing water-based mobility. A water taxi is now connecting Miami Beach to downtown at the Omni, and we were at the forefront of that effort. We are working with the city to add additional stops along the Bay and the river, and we have identified 17 potential locations. Using the waterfront for mobility can help people move quicker and avoid traffic.

Walkability is also foundational. Our signature Baywalk project is designed to create a more continuous waterfront connection from Brickell through the Central Business District and into Edgewater. The next missing link is a connection near the Pérez Art Museum area, and the concept includes a pedestrian bridge over the bay that improves access to the water and ties key destinations together. That project will be moving forward through the city process in the coming months.

What long-term planning and development efforts are shaping downtown’s future?

Downtown is in a significant delivery cycle. We are tracking major projects across residential, hospitality, office, and mixed-use, and that scale affects everything from infrastructure and mobility to the services and amenities downtown requires.

We are seeing continued investment that reinforces downtown and Brickell as competitive business centers, including major office planning and wellness-oriented amenities in new developments. We are also watching the continued evolution of the skyline through projects that will deliver over the next five to seven years.

One of the most consequential long-term efforts is the redevelopment of the Government Center area into a transit-oriented development. That effort is expected to introduce a major mix of uses and better connect the east and west sides of downtown, especially in areas that have been underutilized for years.

Hospitality and event capacity are also expanding. The Gale Hotel includes a convention center component that can help downtown compete for larger conventions and elevate downtown’s visibility for major events.

From a market intelligence standpoint, we also maintain tools that help stakeholders track the pipeline. Our website includes a 3D development pipeline map where users can see downtown projects in real time, and we are evaluating ways to evolve that platform further.

What are the biggest challenges the DDA and the city are facing, and how are you working to address them?

Downtown’s biggest challenges are the ones that tend to accompany rapid growth: transportation, homelessness, and infrastructure keeping pace with development.

Transportation is always a key component. We are implementing services and advocating for improvements with the county and city, but the pace of growth means demand changes quickly. We are also watching how driverless cars and automated mobility might be integrated in downtown, because rideshare and automation could change circulation patterns and how people move around the core.

Homelessness is another ongoing challenge. We will continue our outreach work and coordinate with partners. County-level investment in homeless programming is significant, and expanded mental health resources could create meaningful movement for the population that needs services.

Finally, infrastructure has to catch up with development, including sidewalks, walkability, and the broader public realm. As more people live and work downtown, expectations rise for a pedestrian-friendly environment. We are focused on working with city partners on what we need to deliver so downtown becomes more walkable and more comfortable in the near future.