The Related Urban Development Group is beginning the next phase of redevelopment at the South Miami Gardens public housing complex. The company recently completed their first phase in the area, following a competitive bidding process in 2020 that left Related Urban as the sole company to redevelop the housing alongside PHCD. That first phase relocated all existing residents of the complex into newly constructed units, marking a 3.26-acre site available for the next phase of development. In late May, Related Urban followed through by submitting plans for phase two: two 15-story towers featuring abundant retail space and mixed-income housing.
Gallery at SoMi Parc is planned to include 700 units of mixed-income housing whether it’s workforce housing, affordable housing, or market-rate units. Given the recent reduction in average unit size across Miami-Dade and the push to include microunits (units below 400 SF), the project’s average unit size of 682 SF and the choice to include zero studios within both towers is a welcomed feature of the development. Units will range from 1 bedroom to 2 bedroom units.
Although the property will follow existing rules set under its RTZ designation, it will specifically use the Live Local Act to boost density. Current density only supports 125 dwelling units per acre, meaning only 530 units are possible. With the Live Local Act, the development can now support up to 250 units per acre.
Also included in the development are 724 parking spaces, 8,633 SF of retail, and 39,703 SF of office space, comprising a total of 48,336 of usable ground-floor space. By learning from the poor planning practices of public housing in the past, the new complex will breathe life into the area with shops, restaurants, financial institutions, and more on the ground floor. While the design is still early and subject to change, current drawings showcase an improvement in the pedestrian realm on-site. For instance, sidewalks will be expanded and buffered by landscaping, improving the pedestrian safety in the area.
Designed by Miami-based Modis Architects, elevations feature two 15-story structures measuring 153 FT tall. Both structures are separated by a screened parking garage, following the design theme of gray, brown, and white tones on a textured facade. While they likely wont be the tallest structures on-site given the recent wave of proposed highrises in South Miami, they will still stand out as one of the tallest.
Gallery at SoMi Parc will proceed in 2 phases, with the west building beginning construction first followed by the east. Before construction can begin, Related Urban must receive approval from Miami-Dade planners and demolish the existing structures at 5961 SW 68 Street. Because the current site is vacant and only includes relatively old, low-lying structures, demolition will be easier.