Florida Construction News staff writer
The Miami Beach Office of Housing and Community Services in partnership with the Housing Authority of the City of Miami Beach and Atlantic Pacific Companies held a groundbreaking Monday, to mark the start of construction on the island’s largest affordable housing community for seniors to be built in 45 years.
Located in the Normandy Isles neighborhood of the city’s North Beach area, the development includes two four-story buildings being constructed on vacant land with courtyard style housing. One building will be called Vista and the other Breeze.
“It is nearly impossible to build affordable housing in a luxury real estate market like Miami Beach, but we are committed to creating housing for everyone,” shared Miami Beach Commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez who also chairs the affordable housing advisory committee. “Most seniors are on fixed incomes and cannot afford to pay market rents. This project offers an opportunity for seniors to focus on living their lives and aging gracefully in a home they can be proud of.”
In 2023, Miami Beach broke ground on the first-of-its kind Collins Park Artist Workforce Housing Project in the Collins Park Cultural District at 23 Street and Collins Avenue — steps away from the Miami City Ballet School and performance studio. The eight-story building will include six dormitories on the second floor that can house as many as 30 ballet dancers and 80 apartments on higher floors that will be prioritized for Miami Beach artists, educators and employees who meet the building’s financial eligibility requirements at 120% area median income.
“The city has allocated more than $1 million of our federal entitlement funds to alleviate a critical affordable housing shortage for seniors through the HOME Investment Partnerships Program,” explained Miami Beach City Manager Alina Hudak.
