New Affordable Housing Units in Miami Make Some Feel Like Singing

The Gallery at River Parc consists of 150 units in an eleven-story building: 30 public housing; 45 affordable housing; 75 workforce housing. Photos courtesy of Miami Dade County, by Armando Raúl Rodríguez

HUD Southeast Deputy Regional Administrator Michael Browder joined Miami-Dade County leaders' tour of the River Parc redevelopment campus. Photos courtesy of Miami Dade County, by Armando Raúl Rodríguez

María Campos, president of the resident council at Robert King High, a Miami-Dade County public housing development, spoke on behalf of the residents and expressed her enthusiasm for the brand-new housing. Photos courtesy of Miami Dade County, by Armando Raúl Rodríguez

The summer celebration of new affordable housing units in Miami included live music, food, and acrobatics. Photos courtesy of Miami Dade County, by Armando Raúl Rodríguez

Right after hello, María Campos seems to decide you are her friend and switches words for songs. The long-time president of the resident council at a Miami-Dade County public housing development undergoing redevelopment is happier than ever. She loves the activity around her and the faces of her neighbors when they move into their brand-new homes. "This is so beautiful, better than a dream," says Campos adding music to her words.

At the end of July, her enthusiasm was shared by Miami-Dade County leaders. A summer celebration showcased 330 new affordable housing apartments in two buildings, Brisas del Río and The Gallery at River Parc. These are the latest additions to the transformation of what used to be known as "Senior Campus", three old public housing developments with a total of 840 units in 22 acres by the Miami River. The redesigned campus will deliver 2,400 units of mixed income housing with promenades, dining, and retail shopping in the heart of Miami.

"This is what successful public-private partnerships look like when we work together. It is expanding the supply of affordable rental housing, and helping revitalize public housing stock," said HUD Southeast Deputy Regional Administrator Michael Browder. "It is a joy to see a vibrant community with these two new buildings bringing the right mix of workforce and affordable housing, and 57 public housing replacement apartments."

Some of the HUD funds used for the River Parc transformation include HOME, $1 million from Miami-Dade County (Brisas del Río) and $2.3 million from City of Miami (Martin Fine Villas, recently inaugurated); also $1.3 million in CDBG (www.hudexchange.info/programs/cdbg/) for the substantial rehabilitation of Robert King High, which is expected to be a prime example of the utilization of the RAD program.

The July event was joined by Miami-Dade Mayor Daniela Levine-Cava;Miami-Dade Public Housing & Community Development Director Michael Liu; County Commissioner Eileen Higgins; The Related Group President John Paul Perez; Related Urban Dev. Group Principal and Sr Vice President Albert Milo; resident representatives; and HUD Miami Field Office Director Luis Rolle.

It is said that what connects people to place is optimism. María Campos personifies that connection; on behalf of the residents thanked everyone involved in making their lives better and, with some help, danced her way to the rest of the celebration. In pure Miami style, this event included live music, congas, and acrobatics.

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