In the decade or so since it was conceived, the Miami Worldcenter project promised to transform a desolate swath north of downtown Miami into a busy shopping community. It’s promised to bring modern retail infrastructure to a corner of the city where most shops were built over 50 years ago.

Ahead of a key vote by the City Commission, project managing director Nitin Motwani suggested another goal is to get Miamians used to the idea of a car-free downtown.