As South Florida’s population continues to grow, so does its affordability challenge. According to Miami Homes For All, the tri-county area currently faces a shortage of 90,181 housing units for households earning below 80 percent of the area median income, estimated at around $75,000 annually.
The recent passing of Florida’s Live Local Act offers incentives aimed at addressing this issue. Developers are being offered tax breaks in exchange for reserving at least 71 units in their developments for tenants earning at or below 120 percent of the area median income. These incentives, along with Public-Private Partnerships for Affordable Housing, are encouraging more developers to take on workforce and affordable housing projects.
Laguna Gardens. Credit: Cymbal DLT.
Sawyer’s Walk. Credit: Swerdlow Group.
Contemporary workforce and affordable housing developments are being designed with modern amenities and finishes that were once only seen in higher-end projects. New developments now often feature rooftop lounges, gyms, lap pools, pickleball courts, and butterfly gardens. The units themselves include stainless steel appliances, floor-to-ceiling windows, and upscale cabinetry, reflecting a shift toward a higher standard in affordable housing design.
Asi Cymbal, Chairman of Cymbal DLT, is among the developers embracing this approach. Earlier this year, his firm opened Laguna Gardens, a 341-unit apartment community in Miami Gardens, one of the first projects to be completed under the Live Local Act. The development, designed by Jo Palma and Partners, incorporates a modern garden-style layout with a focus on integrating natural elements into the living spaces.
Laguna Gardens. Credit: Cymbal DLT.
In another example, Michael Swerdlow, founder of Swerdlow Group, recently delivered Sawyer’s Walk, a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development in Miami’s Overtown neighborhood. Designed for low-income seniors, Sawyer’s Walk is the largest affordable housing development completed in the U.S. in over a decade. The project also provides easy access to public transit and retail amenities, offering a more integrated living experience for its residents.
Sawyer’s Walk. Credit: Swerdlow Group.
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I RECEIVE. SECION 8 Hialeah housing, interesting on 1/1 PLEASE SEND ME NOTIFICATION WHEN AVAILABLE…THANKS
What is affordable? The grants and zoning requirements are the issue. Many of these workforce housings are only required to be affordable for 5-10 years? They have so many zoning waivers causing increased density, limited parking with poor public trasit.