Southeast Overtown Park West CRA approves $280 million budget, hires law firm for housing subsidy agreement

The Southeast Overtown Park West Community Redevelopment Agency approved a $280,000,000 operating budget and tax increment fund and authorized its executive director to hire Koziak Trope and Brockmorton LLP as special counsel for a housing subsidy agreement with Avante Housing Group at a meeting Sept. 11, 2025.

The agency voted unanimously to approve the budget, ratify employee handbook amendments effective Oct. 1, 2023, and authorize the law firm engagement after the chair called for and received motions to adopt the items as presented and to withdraw item 3 from the agenda.

Board staff opened the meeting by reading the agenda. The agenda reading listed an operating budget and tax increment fund “in the amount of $280,997,692,” and a separate resolution authorizing the executive director to engage Koziak Trope and Brockmorton LLP to act as special counsel for the CRA in a housing subsidy agreement matter with Avante Housing Group. The reading also referenced amendments to the Southeast Overtown Park West employees handbook effective Oct. 1, 2023, shown as exhibit B.

During a brief exchange on the record after votes were taken, a meeting participant corrected the budget figure read aloud. A staff member clarified on the record: “It’s supposed to be $280,000,000. Million.” The agency’s vote summary and the formal resolution passed at the meeting list the budget and tax increment fund as $280,000,000.

Public comment included a presentation in support of a historic-preservation and interpretation project led by Professor Vasquez of Miami Dade College. A resident who identified themselves during public comment urged the CRA to support making historic Overtown materials widely available and to explore virtual- and augmented-reality presentations of historic sites. “Making it a virtual reality, an augmented reality experience people can experience in person or from their homes would really help elevate the opportunity here in the Overtown area,” the resident said. The speaker also said the Miami-Dade Heritage Trust is pursuing historic designation for parts of Overtown.

The meeting record shows the following formal actions were moved, seconded and approved unanimously: approval of the minutes; withdrawal of agenda item 3; and approval of items 1 and 2 (item 1 approved as amended). The chair announced that the motion carried unanimously and then adjourned the meeting.

The items approved affect the CRA’s operating funds and tax increment revenues for redevelopment work in Overtown, and authorize legal representation for a housing subsidy matter involving Avante Housing Group. The agenda did not include further details in the public record about the scope or dollar value of the housing subsidy agreement, and the CRA did not take additional public action on substantive terms at this meeting.

The meeting concluded with the chair thanking advocates and adjourning the session.