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Board approves Palm Court public-housing redevelopment plan with phased construction to avoid displacement
Summary
Commissioners unanimously approved a redevelopment of the Palm Court public-housing site that replaces existing units and adds mixed-income affordable units; developer and Miami-Dade Public Housing said phasing would avoid resident displacement and the project will include community health space and on-site amenities.
Miami-Dade County commissioners unanimously approved zoning and related actions to permit redevelopment of the Palm Court public-housing site into a larger, modernized apartment complex with on-site community services.
Why it matters: The project is a public–private partnership between Miami-Dade Public Housing and Related Urban (the applicant). It replaces aging 1970s-era buildings and increases the total number of affordable units while committing to a phased construction approach intended to avoid on-site displacement of existing residents.
Related Urban’s principal, Albert Milo, told the board the development team "consciously did a site plan to build 316 units in the rear of the project in order to not displace any of the residents while this construction is going on." Milo said the plan replaces the site’s 91 units and adds 125 additional affordable units capped at 80 percent of area median income (AMI). He described the phasing: build the new rear structure, move residents into it, demolish the old buildings and construct frontage facilities that will include community health space.
Applicant counsel Javier Ravino and project team described multiple community meetings held with residents; Ravino said more than 100 residents attended two July outreach meetings. The applicant noted existing occupancy is lower than historical counts; Milo said 91 units exist on the site and 43 were currently occupied.
Commissioners asked for and the applicant agreed to a condition explicitly aimed at avoiding involuntary displacement related to construction. Commissioner Bastian moved the item consistent with staff recommendations and added a condition that the developer "shall agree that no resident will be displaced or forced to relocate at any time during any phase of the construction project," subject to HUD relocation rules and rights. The motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
Project amenities described in the record include on-site laundry facilities, fitness and community rooms, improved outdoor communal spaces, and coordination for temporary parking with an adjacent North Shore Hospital parking area during construction.
Next steps: The developer will proceed to site-plan stages, and the county will enforce the phasing and relocation commitments in coordination with Miami-Dade Public Housing and HUD requirements. The board asked for continued resident outreach and documentation of the relocation plan and master development agreement amendments as needed.
Vote: Motion passed unanimously on roll-call.
