More than 100 people attended the groundbreaking of Phase I of Courtside Family Apartments in Overtown, a $22.8 million 84-unit affordable housing development by AM Affordable Housing (Alonzo Mourning) and Housing Trust Group of Miami. Mourning spoke specifically about the tremendous need for affordable housing in Overtown.
“The people in this community deserve a better way of life. We want change in our community and we want to become that change. This is just Phase I – the best is yet to come.”
Phase II will target seniors with 120 units. Phase III will include 80 units and will most likely target a special needs population such as formerly homeless, veterans or foster care students who have aged out of the system.
In attendance were Matthew Rieger, President/CEO, Housing Trust Group; District 5 Miami City Commissioner Keon Hardemon, Miami-Dade District 3 Commissioner Audrey Edmonson, Alonzo Mourning, AM Affordable Housing, Randy Rieger, Housing Trust Group and Clarence Woods, executive director, Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, among others.
They spoke about the obstacles to getting funding and how Courtside was truly a partnership between the private and public sectors.
The mid-rise apartments are located in one residential building consisting of 10 one-bedroom/one-bath units, 53 two-bedroom/two bath units, 21 three-bedroom/two-bath units including 4 live-work units (3 two-bedroom and 1 three-bedroom). Courtside Family Apartments is the first phase of a three-phase planned development.
The project will be built on four acres of land at Culmer Center, leased from Miami for 65 years. Rents will range from $331 to $984.
Source:
http://miamitimesonline.com/news/2015/jul/08/breaking-ground/
