The City of Miami Springs is scrambling to thwart a developer’s plans to build three ‘10-story projects’ with 1nuebe gaming,426 apartments near Miami International Airport on land owned by Miami-Dade County but within city limits.
The housing being proposed would be on the city’s east side near the Airbus Americas Training Center off Northwest 36th Street.
“We recently became aware that the county had received a potential proposal to develop some airport owned property within the City of Miami Springs,” Miami Springs Mayor Maria Mitchell said in an email to the Herald. “We were disappointed that the City was not initially included as a part of the discussion.”
The city had called a special council meeting for Tuesday, Oct. 1.
“The City is interested in exploring the purchase or lease of the properties as a potential site for the construction of City facilities, including a potential new City Hall and/or Police Station/Public Safety Complex,” said the resolution attached to the Oct. 1 meeting’s agenda packet.
But then the city called off the meeting.
“It was premature to have a meeting at this moment,” Miami Springs City Manager J.C. Jimenez said. “Many council members felt they needed additional information.”
The city is holding its regular council meeting at 7 p.m. Monday, Oct. 14. On the agenda, there is a reference to the matter: “Discussion on County owned properties in Miami Springs.”
At issue: three parcels of land to be developed near MIA that, in total, would have 1,426 apartments, including studios and 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units. The rental rates for the proposed apartments have not been announced.
“We’re refraining from commenting at this time in the interest of the county’s review process,” Manuel Orbis Jr., the chief of staff for County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera, who represents District 6, wrote in an email to the Herald.
“Located near Miami International Airport, these 10-story projects aim to bridge the gap between the necessity for affordable living spaces and the desire for quality and convenience,” said Habitat Creators, a Southwest Ranches-based developer, in a 42-page workforce housing proposal dated March 13, 2023.
“Through the strategic placement of approximately 1,426 units across three county-owned properties, this initiative seeks not only to provide essential workers with affordable housing options but also to enhance their quality of life through connectivity and access to amenities,” Habitat Creator’s proposal said.
Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine-Cava, through her spokeswoman, Jennie Lopez, deferred the Herald’s request for comment on the airport-owned property to Ralph Cutié, director and chief executive officer of the Miami-Dade Aviation Department.
“Miami International Airport is actively engaged in a comprehensive due diligence review of several parcels of land in partnership with Miami-Dade’s Internal Services Department,” Cutié said in an email to the Herald Friday.
The three airport-owned properties are located on the city’s east side in close proximity to the Airbus Americas Training Center, 4355 NW 36th St. They are:
▪ an 88,581 square-foot lot, bordered by Oakwood, Ragan, and Lee drives, with a portion that reaches toward Northwest 36th Street.
▪ a 109,988 square-foot parcel between Sheridan and Kenmore Drives, abutting Northwest 36th Street.
▪ a 167,140 square-feet tract that touches Oakwood, Ragan, Labaron and Sheridan drives.
The estimated land totals 365,709 square feet, or nearly 6.5 football fields.
Prior to the special meeting’s cancellation, Miami Springs council members were going to vote on whether to move ahead with the city’s plan to put out a bid for either buying or leasing the properties to build a new City Hall complex, including a police station.
Mitchell, the mayor, did not respond to an email from the Herald asking whether she had discussed the city’s purchase or lease plans of the lots with Cabrera. Cabrera represents the cities of Miami Springs, Virginia Gardens, Hialeah, Miami, West Miami and Coral Gables.
“The Mayor has not discussed the building of a new City Hall or police station with Commissioner Cabrera,” District 6 spokesperson Gianfranco Perez told the Herald in an email. “We can’t comment further without knowing more details.”
This story was originally published October 14, 2024, 5:24 PM.
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