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Trust updates: La Quinta closed; Wynwood North and Blue Village moving forward as CHROME retrofit delays slow capacity gains
Summary
The Homeless Trust reported closing on the La Quinta property and ongoing retrofits and acquisitions, while flagging major delays on the CHROME project that limit near-term bed capacity.
Trust staff told the board the organization closed on the La Quinta property and is working with the county'internal services department to retrofit rooms with kitchens and bring on-site provider New Hope to assess current and future needs. Staff said the project aims for an opening in March or April, pending certificates of use and occupancy.
The Trust reported progress on Wynwood North, an eight-unit purchase from Lotus Endowment Fund. Staff said the Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioners approved that purchase on Jan. 22 and the mayor waived the veto period to accelerate closing; a provider (Teach Team) is in place to operate the site. The board also noted a $1 million state appropriation that will offset cost for the Wynwood North acquisition.
Blue Village remains in design, with staff reporting the project is nearing 50% design completion. Staff said they are exploring revenue offsets, including a potential filmed production inside a converted facility to defray retrofit costs.
Board members, including the chair, strongly criticized the slow pace of the CHROME project, which staff said has not yet ordered a chiller and faces a 7'8 month lead time for that equipment. The chair said projected capacity for CHROME has dropped from an expected 190 beds to an estimate in the 130'160 range and urged staff and county departments to identify ways to accelerate procurement and approvals.
The Trust also discussed Overtown and other closings: staff said the Overtown closing date was not set at the meeting but that the veto period had ended and a closing date was expected soon. The board urged internal services and county attorneys to prioritize remaining approvals to enable occupancy once retrofits are finished.
The board requested continued updates on certificates of use and occupancy, procurement timelines, and specific barriers that could be escalated to the mayor''s office or county departments for resolution.
