Long-Awaited Citadelle Village Breaks Ground in Little River, Set to Deliver 96 Affordable Units
A long-planned affordable housing development in Little River officially broke ground this week, marking a major milestone for a project that has spent nearly a decade moving through planning and financing. Known as Citadelle Village, the development is being led by the Haitian American Community Development Corporation in partnership with local organizations and the City of Miami. The project aims to deliver nearly 100 affordable housing units in a neighborhood facing growing housing pressure and rising costs. Citadelle Village is planned for 181 NE 82nd Street, the former site of the developer’s offices before demolition activity began roughly a year ago. Since then, the property has been cleared and a formal groundbreaking ceremony has now been held on-site. Total construction costs are estimated at roughly $52 million, with the City of Miami contributing approximately $5.5 million toward the project. According to plans submitted in 2023, the development will contain 96 residential units consisting of studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom layouts, with studios making up the largest share of the unit mix. Residences will range from approximately 628 square feet to 1,182 square feet. The project is primarily targeted toward residents earning up to 80% of Area Median Income, though the developer has stated that a portion of the units will be reserved at deeper affordability levels for households earning as little as 30% AMI. Residents will have access to a range of community-oriented amenities, including a club room, teenager game room, computer lounge, children’s play room, and multiple seating and gathering areas throughout the building. At street level, the development will include 1,177 square feet of commercial space fronting NE 82nd Street, alongside roughly 4,000 square feet on the third level dedicated to the future offices of the Haitian American Community Development Corporation. According to elevations prepared by Anillo Toledo Lopez Architecture, the 10-story structure will rise approximately 117 feet. Renderings depict a facade composed of smooth stucco finishes, metal balconies, and mesh screening covering the parking podium (which is set to include 102 parking spaces). Victor Turner, director of Miami’s Department of Housing and Community Development, said the project represents another opportunity to expand housing options for nearby residents, stating, “We’re very excited about providing another opportunity to assist our low to moderate income residents to Miami”. Completion is currently estimated between late 2028 and early 2029. Once finished, the development will join a growing list of affordable housing projects reshaping Little River, including Little River Plaza by AHF, a recently started 12-story project planned to deliver 250 affordable housing units nearby.
Tampa Approves $35 Million for Ybor Harbor Infrastructure Upgrades Ahead of Groundbreaking
Key financing has now been secured for infrastructure upgrades tied to Ybor Harbor, a massive mixed-use development planned to replace an aging shipyard in Tampa’s Channelside district. On May 14, the Tampa City Council unanimously approved $35 million in funding for the improvements, marking another major milestone for the long-anticipated waterfront project led by local developer Darryl Shaw. The project represents Shaw’s next large-scale redevelopment effort in the urban core. Just north of the site, Shaw is already leading construction on Gasworx, a similarly ambitious mixed-use development transforming former industrial land into a dense, walkable district. The approved funding will cover only a portion of the infrastructure work ultimately required at Ybor Harbor. Total infrastructure costs are currently expected to exceed $200 million. Shaw’s team initially requested $50 million from the CRA, though staff later recommended reducing that figure to $35 million, which ultimately became the amount approved by City Council. Funding will be distributed incrementally, with $7 million allocated annually between 2029 and 2033. The financing will come through the CRA, which is intended to address blight and support redevelopment within the surrounding district. Planned improvements include upgrades to sewer and water infrastructure, sidewalks, seawalls, and other public facilities needed to support the project’s large-scale buildout. According to Tampa Monitor, the infrastructure package also includes approximately 1,100 linear feet of new public waterfront access and roughly 2,500 feet of overall outdoor public space integrated throughout the site plan. Momentum around the project accelerated last summer after plans were unveiled for a new 15,000-seat soccer stadium anchored by Tampa Bay Sun FC, the metro’s professional women’s soccer team. In addition to hosting matches, the stadium is expected to function as an entertainment venue capable of accommodating concerts, festivals, sporting events, and other large gatherings. At full buildout, Ybor Harbor is planned to include approximately 800 hotel rooms, 150,000 square feet of street-level retail space, 500,000 square feet of office space, and 4,750 residential units. Plans also call for 10% of rental units to carry rent restrictions. According to Avi Friedman Shaw, vice president of development at Darryl Shaw’s firm, the current annual tax revenue generated by the 32-acre site totals roughly $400,000 today, though projections estimate that figure could eventually exceed $47 million annually once the development is fully built out. While finalized plans for individual blocks have not yet been submitted to the city, the broader master development is continuing to advance toward construction. Groundbreaking is currently targeted for next year.