The proposed American Dream Miami theme park and shopping venue has not yet received the official approval for construction, but the venture continues to press forward towards its October 19 date of approval, this  after clearing the most recent hearing before the county’s Government Operations committee.

We caught up to one of the projects biggest supporters, Miami-Dade County Commission Steve Bovo, who reiterated his support for theme park, but only if the county does not have to pay for it.

Bovo then said  that the county was not in the “position” to “turn away” any business opportunities that present themselves.

“If the county has to pay for it or partially pay for it, then I don’t support it anymore. This is going to be a private venture that wants to bring this tourist destination into Miami-Dade County, and its going to create upwards of 15-20 thousand permanent jobs, 10-15 thousand temporary jobs, and about $35 million in tax revenue.”

We are not in a position in Miami-Dade County to turn away business opportunities like that.

Bovo added:

So, I’m not a mall kind of guy, but I will tell you that this thing, if it draws what we expect because of the indoor pool, and the ski slope and all of that, and then have some ripple effect into the mall business, these guys know what they are doing. They have done this in other places, and its worked in other places.

When asked if he would be doing some skiing at the theme park, Bova quipped, “I’ll watch a lot and drink hot cocoa.”