Miami to seek proposals for large Allapattah complex

In 2019, Miami was eyeing 18 acres it owns in Allapattah for private development. Now an unsolicited proposal for development of the city’s General Services lot on Northwest 20th Street is triggering a request for proposals for a large mixed-use development including 2,500 housing units, a hotel and office space.

According to city representatives, as part of the unsolicited proposal process, the city put a discussion item on the July 28 commission agenda and was directed by the commission to request proposals for redevelopment of the area. This would allow any other interested bidders to submit proposals as well. The request for proposals is to have a requirement to include components for affordable or workforce housing.

The request for proposals is expected to be issued Sept. 9. Until then, the property is not on the market. In accordance with the city charter, proposals are to be due 90 days after issuance of the solicitation. Development timelines, the city said, will depend on the proposals received and the requirements that are set by the request for proposals.

The unsolicited proposal to the city from NR Investments Inc. stated that “if accepted by the city, the proposal will result in payments to the city totaling approximately $1.5 billion over the course of a 99-year ground lease, as well as additional real estate tax revenue of about $3.2 billion over the same timeframe.”

The proposal the city plans to issue is to include several things to improve the community. These include necessary environmental remediation, improvements to infrastructure, five acres of development dedicated to green space that would include public art and increasing public transit ridership by proximity to the Santa Clara Station.

The proposal also calls for 2,500 residential apartment units. Of those, 500 are expected to go to workforce housing for residents who earn 100% to 140% area median income.

The proposal is also to call for 200,000 square feet of office space geared to spur business activity in the Allapattah area and help create a center for job creation.

There is also to be a 300-room hotel to serve the Veterans Administration medical center, the Jackson Memorial Hospital system and University of Miami Hospital complex.