The Gallery at SoMi Parc has officially broken ground in South Miami, marking the next phase of a large-scale affordable and workforce housing redevelopment in a region grappling with rising housing costs.
Developed by Related Urban, the project will replace portions of the former South Miami Gardens public housing complex with a mixed-income community that includes housing targeted toward residents with special needs. A groundbreaking ceremony was held June 12 at the development site, located at 5961 SW 68th Street, and was attended by local officials, housing leaders, and members of the development team.
The project is part of a broader redevelopment effort that began after Related Urban was selected through a competitive process in 2020 to partner with Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development on the transformation of South Miami Gardens. The first phase of the redevelopment has already been completed, allowing existing residents to relocate into newly constructed housing and freeing additional land for future development under a 99-year ground lease.
In late May, Related Urban submitted plans for the next stage of the community, which calls for two 15-story towers containing approximately 700 residential units. The first tower is now moving forward into construction.
Of the project’s planned 700 units, the initial phase encompasses approximately 350 apartments. Housing will serve a range of income levels between 20 percent and 80 percent of Area Median Income. Fifty-one of those units will be designated as “Link” residences reserved for individuals with special needs, while the remaining apartments will be targeted toward workforce households, including teachers, healthcare workers, service industry employees, and other essential workers.
The development was submitted under Florida’s Live Local Act, allowing it to proceed through an administrative review process rather than traditional local public hearings. While a project of this scale may have ultimately received local approval through different channels, the administrative pathway provided a faster and more predictable entitlement process, reducing costs.
Financing for the development comes from a combination of public and private sources. Funding includes $86 million in private placement bonds from Merchants Bank of Indiana, $60 million in Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity from Red Stone Equity Partners, an $8.5 million sponsor loan from Related Urban Capital, and an additional $8.5 million State Apartment Incentive Loan (SAIL) from the Florida Housing Finance Corporation.
Residents will have access to a variety of amenities, including a swimming pool, fitness center, gathering spaces, and modern apartment interiors. According to Traded, units will feature quartz countertops, vinyl flooring, porcelain-tile bathrooms, washers and dryers, and other contemporary finishes. Some residences will also include private balconies.
Ground-floor plans call for approximately 8,000 square feet of retail space alongside parking, lobby areas, resident amenities, widened sidewalks, landscaped public spaces, and more.
Designed by Modis Architects, the tower is expected to rise 15 stories and approximately 150 feet. Elevations show a facade incorporating brown and white tones, metal balconies, stucco detailing, and large window openings.
Construction of the first tower is expected to be completed in late 2028. A timeline for the second tower has not yet been announced.
The project represents the latest affordable housing development to move forward for Related Urban, which is also advancing other major initiatives across South Florida, including the planned Gallery at Wagner Creek development.