Miami Approves Land, Loans for Little Havana Workforce Housing

The City of Miami Commission approved the transfer of two vacant parcels totaling more than one acre in Little Havana to private developers for mixed-income rental housing, according to commission agenda documents. The half-acre-plus site at 1340 SW Eighth Street goes to N.R. Investments for an 11-story building with 114 apartments under the Live Local Act. A 0.6-acre site at 1251 SW Seventh Street is headed to Mabruk USA for a 12-story, 105-unit project, city records show. Both projects received up to $4 million each in forgivable loans from city funds. N.R. Investments' funding draws from District 3 capital reserves, the affordable housing public benefits fund and MiamiCoin cryptocurrency proceeds. Mabruk USA's loan comes from federal HOME Investment Partnership funds, per the agenda attachments reviewed ahead of the December 2025 vote. About 80 apartments in the N.R. project will offer below-market rents for households at 60%, 100% and 120% of Miami-Dade's area median income. Mabruk's building reserves all 105 units for those earning up to 80% AMI. The approvals include a reversion clause: If developers do not build, the properties return to city ownership, city documents state. Flagami residents near the sites, bounded by SW Eighth Street and Tamiami Trail, stand to gain from the housing boost amid rising rents. Related projects nearby include Flagler Villas at 5215 W Flagler Street, a six-story senior complex with 60 units at 30% AMI under construction since January 2025 by Related Urban, financed by city Forever Bonds and HUD funds. Brisas del Sol, another 146-unit development nearby funded by $2.25 million in city HOME funds, recently held its grand opening, per the city website. Former Commissioner Joe Carollo, whose District 3 covers the area, pushed the no-bid transfers before resigning in December 2025, citing years of inaction on the long-vacant lots, commission meeting records indicate. The deals align with city efforts to deploy surplus land for housing, including a January 2025 settlement purchasing a Little Havana parcel at 14th Avenue between Seventh and Eighth streets for $9 million earmarked for affordable units.