Committee approves extensions for infill/homeownership projects; commissioners debate prioritizing county lots and duplexes

The Miami-Dade County Housing Committee approved item 2C, which covered infill and homeownership projects, after a discussion about how to prioritize limited homeownership funding to maximize long-term community benefit.

Commissioner Raquel Regalado led the discussion about infill properties and homeownership buckets, saying the county should prioritize county-owned lots for homeownership projects rather than distributing limited homeownership funds widely to outside developers. Regalado suggested the county consider using homeownership funds to support owner-occupants who buy duplexes, triplexes or fourplexes and rent other units at lower prices as a way to expand affordability and create generational wealth.

Vice Chair Ben McGee said he preferred to move the item as presented, citing finance and lender processes already under way for some projects, and offered to bring a separate item later to implement prioritization policy. Commission Higgins requested that future homeownership allocations include a stronger emphasis on cost-per-unit and county lot prioritization.

Nathan Cogan of Housing and Community Development said staff did not currently have a formal prioritization rule for infill homeownership and that changing priorities could affect projects that have already arranged financing. The committee approved the item without amendment and members agreed to consider bringing forward a separate policy item addressing prioritization and use of funds for duplex/ triplex approaches in future meetings.