Allapattah Dulce Vida Housing Breaks Ground Amid Revitalization Push

City of Miami and Miami-Dade County leaders broke ground Feb. 13 on Dulce Vida, a $85 million, eight-story mixed-income rental community developed by Coral Rock Development Group at the site of the former Allapattah Branch Library, 1785 NW 35th Street. The project, advancing under Florida's Live Local Act, features 227 units—70 studios, 128 one-bedrooms and 29 two-bedrooms—with 40% reserved for households earning up to 60% of area median income (AMI), 35% at 100% AMI and 25% at 120% AMI, per project details from Coral Rock Development Group and city public works records. Financing includes a $54 million construction loan from Citibank, $15 million from Miami's Forever Affordable Housing Bond and tax credit equity from Affordable Housing Partners. Ground-level amenities feature an 8,500-square-foot public library replacement with multipurpose spaces, high-speed Wi-Fi and co-working areas, plus a resort-style pool, fitness center, yoga room, dog park and EV charging stations. A temporary library opens this month to maintain service, according to City of Miami Resilience and Public Works announcements. The development targets workforce housing near major employers like Jackson Memorial Hospital and University of Miami Health System, amid Miami's rising rents. Construction spans 18-24 months through 2027, with leasing potentially via lottery due to demand, as noted in Coral Rock's project release. Separately, Momentum Real Estate Partners proposed a 12-story Live Local Act apartment complex in Allapattah, per January public filings, while Miami advances the Allapattah Community Redevelopment Agency independently after county delays, city records show. Allapattah residents face added pressures from South Florida's 11,000-acre Everglades wildfire, which is impacting air quality; check miamidade.gov/airquality for real-time updates and limit outdoor activity if AQI exceeds 100. These projects align with state resilience efforts amid housing costs strained by national tariffs and steady Fed rates, connecting local growth to broader economic challenges.