Get AI Briefings, Transcripts & Alerts on Local & National Government Meetings — Forever.
Board advances J.R.E. Lee redevelopment plan to create 355 workforce housing units and district facilities
Summary
The board reviewed a long ground‑lease and master development agreement to redevelop the former J.R.E. Lee site into a mixed‑use project with about 355 residential units prioritized for district employees, a 25,000 sq ft early‑childhood/educational facility, and district office space. Staff said improvements revert to the district and the project includes upfront and ongoing payments.
The Facilities and Construction Committee advanced a master development and long ground‑lease agreement to redevelop the former J.R.E. Lee Education Center into a mixed‑use complex that would include roughly 355 residential units, a 25,000‑square‑foot educational facility intended for early‑childhood programming (about 242 student stations), and approximately 13,000 square feet of district office space.
Why it matters: Miami‑Dade public schools and the board have identified workforce housing as a tool to help recruit and retain staff amid rising local housing costs. The project is intended to prioritize district employees for unit allocations and to deliver district facilities at no cost as part of the development.
Key terms and staff estimates: Facilities staff said the developer will make a one‑time capital payment (a $100,000 capital lease payment) and a developer fee share; the agreement includes annual revenue payments. Over a 99‑year lease horizon, staff estimated total nominal value to the district at approximately $405 million and a present‑value estimate in the $50–70 million range; the land appraisal used for comparison was about $31 million. Staff also confirmed that improvements tied to the district facility (the early‑childhood center and educational space) will be delivered and revert to the board under the lease terms.
Staff and board discussion: Chair Marieterio Rojas and board members emphasized prioritizing classroom teachers for an initial allocation window; staff said all 355 units will be designated workforce housing with income bands (20%, 60%, 80% and 120% AMI tiers) and that district employees can be prioritized in the allocation period. Staff cautioned exact teacher allocations are not yet determined because the application and qualification phase has not begun. Committee members asked about unit breakdowns, qualification thresholds tied to AMI, parking ratios, and operational details for the educational facility and parent resources; staff said the project will proceed through standard developer/architect engagement and that district space uses will be defined as designs progress.
Outcome and next steps: The committee approved transmission of the agreement package and directed staff to continue design work, finalize allocation and qualification procedures for district employees, and return with detailed unit breakdowns and program rules when the application window is ready.
Ending note: Board members said they view the J.R.E. Lee project as a model for future district‑led workforce housing that couples affordable units with programmatic district space to support students and staff.
