Phase II of Liberty Square Redevelopment: Hope and opportunity in the form of 204 brand new apartments

Liberty Square Phase II consists of 204 units; 73 are public housing apartments

HUD Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett with Justin Myers, one of the first tenants to move into the new apartments at Liberty Square Phase II

From left, HUD Southeast Administrator Denise Cleveland-Leggett, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Related Urban President Albert Milo, Related Chairman Jorge Pérez, Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez, Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson, LCN Group President Leighton Brown, Miami-Dade PHCD Director Michael Liu, U.S. Representative Mario Díaz-Balart.

Hope is returning to Liberty Square, one apartment and one block at a time.

The much-needed transformation of one of the nation's oldest public housing developments, located in the heart of Miami, just took another giant step when it was Justin Myers and his sister's turn to move into Liberty Square. The siblings received not only their keys but also supportive services after their mother, who was at the top of the waiting list to come back after the redevelopment, recently passed away.

Myers new home is one of 204 apartments of Phase II, which includes 73 public housing replacement units and 131 affordable for mixed low-and moderate-income families. The transformation of the 1937 housing development began five years ago and showed its first results in July of 2019 with the opening of Phase I, also with 204 apartments. HUD Secretary Ben Carson and Southeast Regional Administrator Denise Cleveland Leggett attended the July event. At the end of October 2020, Administrator Cleveland-Leggett returned with HUD Director of Field Operations Christopher Taylor to join the opening celebration of Phase II.

The new units generated economic opportunities for the community. A HUD requirement to make jobs and contracts available for low-income individuals and small business in the area, called Section 3, was palpable in the development. "HUD funding is an investment in the people we serve, not just in affordable housing or community development," said Cleveland-Leggett as she highlighted and congratulated a small business area owner, Leighton Brown.

"A good example of how Section 3 works is found right here in Liberty Square Phase II: LCN Group, a minority owned business, was hired as a subcontractor to do drywall. Mr. Brown's corporation has expanded to framing for other large developments and as a general contractor for smaller projects. Mr. Brown and his company of more than 40 employees are part of this new chapter of hope and opportunity," said Cleveland-Leggett.

The event, hosted by Miami-Dade Dept. of Public Housing and Community Development Director Michael Liu, was also attended by U.S. Representative Mario Díaz-Balart; Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Giménez; Miami-Dade County Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson, Miami-Dade State Attorney Katherine Fernandez Rundle, Related Chairman Jorge Pérez and Related Urban President Albert Milo.

Their common sentiment was how pleased they are with this transformation and the positive impact the renovated area is having in the wellbeing of the residents who are now very proud of their new homes.

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