Neighborhood To Watch: Little River, Miami, Florida

Long an economically distressed neighborhood with shuttered buildings, Little River, Miami has been methodically taking shape as a champion of local talent, culture and small business, with the city’s top creators and innovators clamoring to set up shop in the area. In effect, the area is undergoing a transformation similar to the Wynwood section, and in recent years Little River has morphed into the city’s newest art and culture enclave as well as foodie destination, resulting in a true triple threat.

The neighborhood takes its name from the Little River that runs along its northern edge. Little River was established in the late 1800s and was incorporated into the city of Miami in 1925. The neighborhood is bordered to the north by El Portal, to the south by Little Haiti (Lemon City), to the east by the Palm Grove Historic District and to the west by West Little River.

In 2014 the Little River neighborhood caught the eye of MVW Partners, a visionary Miami-based real estate firm founded by Matthew Vander Werff and his wife Ashley Melisse Abess. Specializing in adaptive reuse and urban infill, MVW Partners was drawn to the neighborhood’s established grid pattern and diverse building types. Matthew Vander Werff says, “Research indicated that development in the city was moving north, with Little River part of that new path.”

Fast forward six years and AJ Capital Partners of Nashville, a real estate investment group, became interested in the project. Scott Ebbott, Principal, AJ Capital Partners, says, “We flew down, met with Ashley and Matthew who had been working on it since 2014, and we were introduced to the magic of Little River. Similar to our project in the Wedgewood Houston neighborhood of Nashville, the existing fabric and history of the neighborhood brought an intangible spirit that felt right.” AJ Capital Partners is currently the majority owner of the portfolio.

In their role as local partner, MWV Partners will foster long-term and new tenant relationships to ensure a continued intentional neighborhood development through its market presence and deep roots in Little River. Vander Werff adds, “Little River has long been a part of Miami’s rich fabric, yet we see an opportunity for growth.”

Currently Little River comprises 24 acres of land and more than 320,000 square feet of commercial space. While much of the world is still reeling from the recent pandemic, the neighborhood has continued to thrive and is 100% leased on all rent-ready spaces. The only current vacancies include buildings that are planned for renovations, or permits, and/or under construction. A significant residential component is also in the works due to natural demand as well as in direct response to the increasing number of tenants looking to live and work in the area.

Examples of current tenants include:

• Will Thompson, owner of Jaguar Sun and the wildly popular pandemic-popup turned permanent eatery Sunny’s Steakhouse.
• Steven Sanz and his partners, founders of the far-too-hip streetwear retailer and lifestyle shop Lower East Coast.
• Javier Ramirez, acclaimed chef and owner of the Michelin-acclaimed sourdough pizzeria La Natural.
• Southern American and Italian inspired brunch pop-up (to become permanent fixture), Rosie’s.
• Casa de Barcelona, an uber cool vintage retailer and furniture restoration storefront.

In addition to the renovation of the existing 50 structures, upcoming new developments include a 275 unit branded-multifamily project, a 100,000 square-foot commercial/retail property and the Oolite Arts Campus designed by internationally acclaimed architects Barozzi Veiga. “Our multifamily projects will take form over the next few years,” explains Ebbott. “Our development approach is simple, bring scale to Little River while maintaining the fabric of the neighborhood. Low and mid-rise apartment buildings will help instill the neighborhood feel.”

Through thoughtful revitalization, MVW and AJ Capital have worked together to transform Little River into a favored destination. They look to support the local Miami community as well as providing an opportunity for both residential and commercial growth.

With ten or more local businesses joining the Little River community over the next 18 months, and multi-family apartment projects opening throughout the next several years, Little River should continue to evolve while maintaining a hyper-local focus. Whether it is a Miami-based chef and a new F&B concept, or a local small business aiming to opening their first storefront, developers are excited about upcoming businesses which include Ogawa, Bar Bucce and many more.

The Miami-Dade Beacon Council, a public-private partnership, the official economic development organization for Miami-Dade County, is in the process of launching an initiative that focuses on the creativity and innovation coming out of Miami. The goal is to create a platform that serves to highlight these companies and entrepreneurs, and the unique ideas, products and services that are Created In Miami. Some of the Little River partners include:

* Plant the Future (Botanical Art Gallery/Event Venue, Atelier & Design Studio)

* Groov’n Graphics (Cardboard Design & Production Studio)

* Anatomie (textiles; traveler clothing)

* Imagine Farms (Indoor, Vertical, Hydroponic Farm growing greens and vegetables guided by sustainable farming practices with minimal environmental impact)

Made up by the very heart and soul of those who call it home, Little River is filled with the stories of the people who reside and work around its namesake. Its residents are connected by their drive, ambition and the northern waters that flow into Biscayne Bay.

Ebbott says, “We believe that true value is created when context, people and stories of a location are honored. That’s what we are looking to do here in Little River. We are just the stewards and building the backdrops for local companies to grow and bring their story to the neighborhood.”