9-Story Modern Apartment Building Proposed at 14501 W Dixie Highway in Miami-Dade
A largely vacant lot along Harriet Tubman Highway in Biscayne Gardens, an unincorporated area of Miami-Dade County just north of the City of Miami, may soon see redevelopment. On March 4th, a mixed-use proposal designed by the Gado Group and developed by RG Realty Investments was submitted to the county as a pre-application. The project envisions a modern residential building with dozens of units above ground-floor retail, introducing new housing density and activating the busy corridor with additional street-level activity. The project will rise on a 2.66-acre site spanning 14501 W Dixie Highway (Harriet Tubman Highway) and 1595 NE 145th Street, an assemblage acquired for more than $2 million. Much of the property has already been cleared following demolitions that occurred several years ago, though a small corner structure remains slated for removal. The pre-application marks the first formal step in the county’s review process, with additional filings and reviews expected before construction can begin. While plans remain in the early stages, the development is expected to include 110 apartments ranging from one- to three-bedroom layouts. One-bedroom units, measuring approximately 700 SF, will be the most common, followed by two-bedroom units at around 900 SF, and larger three-bedroom residences spanning roughly 1,400 SF. The proposed unit count slightly exceeds the site’s base density allowance of about 95 units under current zoning guidelines, meaning the developer would likely need to seek an exception as part of the approval process. Residents would have access to a variety of amenities, including rooftop lounge/seating areas, a rooftop pool and jacuzzi, and multiple rooftop garden and green space areas offering views of the surrounding cityscape. Residences are planned with 12-FT ceilings, featuring balconies and floor-to-ceiling windows. As part of the mixed-use development, the project would also include approximately 25,250 SF of retail space, primarily located along the ground floor frontage. A total of 282 parking spaces are planned to accommodate both residents and commercial visitors, both in a 9-story garage and surface parking on the south side of the site. Rising 9 stories, the development will consist of unique, interlocking structures connected by sky bridges to form a cohesive whole. The overall building height, including the parking garage, will reach 108 FT, while the residential portion itself will span up to 72 FT. The facade will showcase a palette of light blue, transparent glass, complemented by metal accents and brown vertical screenings, which will be applied to both the building exterior and the parking podium for a contemporary look. Unlike many recent South Florida projects using the Live Local Act, this development will follow the standard zoning process. A recent letter from Miami-Dade’s County Planning Division allows the property’s “Business and Office” land use category to apply across the entire site, clearing the way for the mixed-use project. Under county rules, the site could support up to 36 residential units per acre and a building intensity of up to 2.0 FAR. The developer plans to pursue a zoning change from its current business designations to formally allow retail along the corridor with housing integrated above, while including buffering to protect nearby homes (among other changes). According to Miami-Dade permitting records, no demolition permits have been issued for the remaining on-site parcel, and no permits for site work or tree removal have been filed. As this represents the first iteration of the project, the planned development, spanning over 230,000 SF, is expected to evolve over time.
Sweetwater Moves Forward With Flagler Center District Redevelopment at Former Li’l Abner Site
Plans to redevelop the former Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park are beginning to solidify, marking a key moment for one of the largest redevelopment sites in western Miami-Dade. The more than 90-acre property, once home to thousands of residents and now cleared, is set to transform into a dense mixed-use neighborhood known as the Flagler Center District. Plans call for residential towers, retail, medical space, community amenities, and more. Led by CREI Holdings, plans submitted to Sweetwater outline a walkable, mixed-income district poised to become the city’s largest development to date. The project has already cleared several early procedural milestones, including an initial commission reading and key land-use approvals, though additional reviews remain before the multi-phased development can begin with its first phase. With an estimated build-out cost of roughly $4.5 billion, early site plans illustrate the sheer scale and range envisioned for the community. Housing will dominate the site, with approximately 6,000 residential units proposed. Overall density is planned to be capped at about 105 units per gross acre, a figure that means potentially larger unit formats in portions of the project. The development team has also committed to delivering at least 1,000 units designated for affordable or workforce housing, with space for senior citizens. Beyond the residential component, the proposal calls for a minimum of 100,000 SF of non-residential space, though conceptual plans far exceed that limit. Potential uses include a hospital, with backup scenarios that could pivot to medical office space (or other uses) should a hospital operator not materialize. Additional program elements under consideration include hotel space, a new school, self-storage, and a significant retail presence expected to span hundreds of individual storefronts. Open space will also play a role in shaping the district’s public realm. According to the applicant, more than four acres are planned for parks and community gathering areas, fit with seating, shading, and more. As with any large master-planned project at this stage, architectural details remain in motion. Building heights have not been finalized, though preliminary plans suggest some towers could rise beyond 30 stories. Final heights will ultimately be influenced not only by local zoning but also by Federal Aviation Administration constraints tied to the site’s closeness to Miami International Airport, which could limit certain heights. On the first meeting, held on February 9th, Sweetwater commissioners approved several foundational steps that establish the framework for the project. The most significant was the creation of a new Comprehensive Plan land-use category called the Flagler Center District, which will guide how the site is planned, including how much density can be built and how the neighborhood will function overall. Officials also supported a request to update the city’s Future Land Use Map. The property, previously designated for mobile home and medium-density residential uses, would be re-designated under the new Flagler Center District category to allow the broader mixed-use vision. In tandem, the developer, CREI Holdings, is seeking zoning changes across roughly 104 acres to establish the specific development rules for the site, such as building heights, parking standards, and open-space requirements. While the former mobile home park itself spans about 95 acres, the larger boundary reflects additional land, including a nearby affordable housing property that will be incorporated into the master plan. Finally, commissioners advanced a rezoning that would replace the site’s existing designations, Trailer Park District, Interim Use, and High-Density Multifamily, with the new Flagler Center District zoning, aligning the property’s regulations with the long-term redevelopment plan. At a second meeting held on February 13, commissioners unanimously approved the first reading of an ordinance authorizing a master development agreement for the project. The agreement outlines plans for both on-site and off-site improvements, including infrastructure upgrades and roadway enhancements tied to the development. A master development agreement serves as a legally binding contract between the municipality and the developer, establishing timelines, performance standards, and other rules to ensure long-term consistency as the development proceeds. Controversy and Fears of Gentrification As redevelopment opportunities grow scarcer across South Florida, aging mobile home parks have increasingly become targets for large-scale communities. These properties almost always occupy large tracts of land at relatively low densities, making them attractive from a planning and financial standpoint. The former Li’l Abner Mobile Home Park was no exception. Spanning roughly 94.5 acres near Florida International University, the site was the target of redevelopment talks for some time. The path to redevelopment, however, has been marked by significant controversy. Residents were notified that they would need to vacate within six months, with relocation payments of about $14,000 offered to those who left early. A plethora of residents argued the compensation fell well below the value of their homes, especially for households that had invested heavily in renovations. Because mobile home residents often own their structures but lease the land, their power to influence redevelopment is limited, a problem that intensified tensions as plans moved forward. Reporting from WLRN South Florida detailed additional disputes during the site’s transition period, including allegations that demolition activity began shortly after notices were issued and before all necessary permits were secured. The property owner was also cited in connection with demolition practices involving trailers that contained asbestos, raising environmental and public health concerns at the time. Supporters of the project argue that the redevelopment represents a long-term investment in Sweetwater’s growth. The proposed district would dramatically increase density, replacing a community of roughly 900 households, estimated at 2,000 to 3,000 residents, with about 6,000 new housing units that could accommodate approximately 12,000 people. Proponents say the plan would enhance walkability, expand the local tax base, and introduce services not currently available in the area. City leaders have emphasized both the scale of the opportunity and the need for oversight as plans progress. Mayor Jose Pepe Diaz has described the redevelopment as one of the most consequential projects in the city’s history while stressing the importance of transparency and community engagement throughout the process.