Back in October, we shared plans from Miami-Dade County to convert unused lots on the Eastern side of Miami Springs into three high-rise 10 story rental apartment towers with 1,426 units.
That plan has now been replaced to create “affordable townhomes.” More on that in a moment…
First, let’s discuss the lot in question. The main parcel includes a 167,140 sq ft lot located on South Royal Poinciana Blvd and LaBaron Drive on the north side, Sheridan on the east, Oakwood on the south, and Ragan Drive on the west. The property is valued by the county at $1.3 million. (See map below.)
The State of Florida passed the LIVE LOCAL ACT. That act can allow Miami-Dade County to preempt our local municipal governance. Thus, Miami Springs has very little power to stop the action based on the LIVE LOCAL ACT. In other words, we can’t stop the additional residential density being added to our community by outside forces.
Here’s some of what the LIVE LOCAL ACT provides:
- Preempts local governments’ requirements regarding zoning, density, and height to allow for streamlined development of affordable multifamily rental housing in commercial, industrial, and mixed-use zoned areas under certain circumstances.
- Removes a local government’s ability to approve affordable housing on residential parcels by bypassing state and local laws that may otherwise preclude such development, while retaining such right for commercial and industrial parcels.
- Removes provision in current law allowing local governments to impose rent control under certain emergency circumstances, preempting rent control ordinances entirely.
- Requires counties and cities to update and electronically publish the inventory of publicly owned properties which may be appropriate for affordable housing development.
- Authorizes the FHFC, through contract with the Florida Housing Coalition, to provide technical assistance to local governments to facilitate the use or lease of county or municipal property for affordable housing purposes.
- Requires local governments to maintain a public written policy outlining procedures for expediting building permits and development orders for affordable housing projects.
In other words, protections Miami Springs has in place to only allow developments that are in congruence with the rest of the community is completely bypassed by the county.
THE TOWNHOMES
As discussed earlier, “the Developer revised the proposal to pivot from rental housing to a for-sale townhome model.” According to County documents, the newly constructed townhomes will be made available “affordable prices” to first-time homebuyers earning up to 120 percent of area median income. Furthermore, priority to purchase the townhomes shall be given to persons who work at Miami International Airport or who work for an airline that provides service at Miami International Airport provided that such airline worker is based at Miami International Airport, or to employees of Miami-Dade County who work for the Miami-Dade Water and Sewer Department.
If, after 6 months from the date that any such Dwelling Unit is offered or marketed for sale to MIA Workers and WASD Employees in good faith, no MIA Worker or WASD has bought any Dwelling Unit, the Developer may request the County Mayor or Mayor’s designee to waive this requirement for that Dwelling Unit.
How many townhomes?
According to Miami-Dade County Commissioner, Kevin Cabrera, there will be 20+ residential units that will be available for sale. Cabrera claims these townhomes will be sold for approximately $450,000 per unit.
We are happy to see that these will not be rental units. We like the idea of homeowners that are just as invested in our community as everyone else.
We have not seen any renderings. Furthermore, we have not seen any official documents or plans with the number of units per parcel. The only claim to the number of parcels is what Commissioner Cabrera said during the April 1st County Commission Meeting.
What do you think?
Let us know in the comments section below or share your thoughts on social media.
