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City Council approves expansion of COHIA campus at Slade Park after debate over green space and public access
Summary
The City Council voted to approve a conditional use permit allowing Cohia Career and Collegiate Academy to add 250 students and new campus buildings at Slade Park. Council members and residents debated loss and preservation of park space, public gym access and contamination testing before the motion passed on second reading.
Cohia Career and Collegiate Academy secured City Council approval to expand its campus at Slade Park, adding about 250 students and several new buildings after council members voted in favor on second reading.
The vote comes after months of public hearings and revisions to the school’s plan intended to preserve park space and expand recreational amenities for Hialeah residents. “We are here for a conditional use permit for the student enrollment increase of 250 students,” Jose Cueto, attorney for the applicant, told the council at the meeting’s public hearing.
Why it matters: Cohia’s campus sits inside Slade Park, and prior versions of the proposal would have removed both softball fields. The revised plan keeps the northern softball field, relocates and upgrades the southern field, and adds a gym the school will build that the city can program for public use two evenings a week plus weekends and holiday breaks. Supporters say the changes protect public recreation while allowing the school to expand; some neighbors urged delay for more outreach and environmental testing.
What supporters said: Carlos Alvarez, founding principal of Cohia Career and Collegiate Academy, told the council the school is “a true community partner” that enrolls roughly 76% Hialeah residents and had revised plans after hearing public concerns. Student speaker Nicole Solkandos, a senior at Cohia, said, “Approving this expansion means investing in a better equipped environment for us to learn, grow, and prepare to give back to the city that gave us so much.”
Park access and program commitments: The school’s representatives and Parks Department staff described specific access commitments. Deputy Parks Director Michael Festa said the project will deliver dedicated pickleball courts, restore tennis courts, expand summer programming by returning a rec center classroom to Parks use, and create a new turf multipurpose field that the city can program for open play. Architect Rolando Yanes said environmental borings and soil testing done to date do not show contamination in the west-side build area; he added that any future building permits will require further testing and remediation if needed.
Concerns and requests for more outreach: Several residents and community members urged the council to slow the process, ask for clearer written commitments about public access and programming, and provide additional notifications. Resident speakers raised questions about prior notifications and requested a town hall and written agreements specifying when and how city residents could use the new facilities. One speaker urged the council to “table the matter and have a town hall” to give residents more opportunity to review the details.
How the council acted: A motion to approve the conditional use permit was moved and seconded during the meeting’s second-reading session. Council roll call recorded a majority of “yes” votes (motion moved by Councilmember Rodriguez; second by Councilmember Zogby), and the council announced the motion carried and the item was approved on second reading.
What remains: The council approved the expansion with the project team’s commitments to construction and park programming. Council members and staff said specific operational and scheduling details — including the city’s formal agreement to program the gym two weeknights, weekends and holidays — will be finalized through the city’s internal agreements with the school and through future permitting. Architect Rolando Yanes and Parks leadership said additional soil testing and required environmental approvals will be completed during permitting; city and applicant representatives said they will continue to meet with neighbors before construction begins.
Ending: With the approval, Cohia will proceed to final permitting and design for the expanded campus. The council noted the project’s altered design preserves at least one existing softball field and adds new amenities the Parks Department can program for residents, a key point in the debate that preceded the vote.
