Mayor urges commissioners to trust Related's $307 million plan

Related Urban Development Group closer to getting 'Liberty Square Rising'

MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, Fla. – The decision of whether or not to trust billionaire Jorge Perez with the redevelopment of a historic public housing complex  that was built during segregation in Miami's Overtown was in the hands of Miami-Dade County commissioners Friday. 

Mayor Carlos Gimenez, who announced the project in February,  recommended a $307 million plan with Related Urban Development Group, an affiliate of the Miami Condo King's Related Group, a builder with a long list of luxury condominiums that includes The Hyde in Miami's Midtown neighborhood. Alberto Milo, Jr., is the senior vice president at Related Urban. 

After examining six proposals, there were two finalists. A nine-member committee examined their bids and selected the Related's proposal. Gimenez announced his endorsement on Friday. The neighborhoods' black residents fear they will be pushed out, amid mayor's campaign for re-election.

"I know that our residents have heard broken promises about redevelopment efforts before, but Liberty Square Rising is a promise my administration and I intend to keep," Gimenez said in a statement

Some residents have said for years that the crime-ridden neighborhood needs a revamp. Rosetta Devan said last year that "there has been so much killing" in the neighborhood, where police say there is plenty of gang activity.

Others like Dr.  Armen Henderson fear gentrification, as the neighborhood -- also known as the "Pork 'n' Beans" project or "Afghanistan" -- makes "way for a wealthier population" and local officials "favor whiter/higher income residents." Henderson is also concerned about public corruption and under-the-table deals. 

The mayor addressed the concerns in his statement and said the bidding process "has been a very transparent and through process." 

Gimenez added that he was grateful for Public Housing Director Michael Liu's work throughout the process. 

"People have waited a long time, not just for this initiative, but a long time to get the kind of attention needed at the Square," Liu said during an interview with The Miami Herald's David Smiley. "We will be reaching out to the residents and community stakeholders across the board."

Some of the plans that the Related's proposal aims for include 1,572 mixed-income housing units, a 40,000-square-foot grocery store, a 20,000-square-foot community center and $1 million in upgrades at the Marva Y. Bannerman Park, 4830 NW 24th Ave.  Some of the plan's partners include HistoryMiami and the YMCA. 

 Under the deal, the county would contribute $46 million, which the developer would reimburse -- in addition to about $2 million in lease payment, profit sharing and fee reimbursement. There would be a commitment to award $90 million in subcontracts to minority-owned businesses and to work with Employ Miami-Dade to hire local workers in need. 

The next step is a proposal review by the Miami-Dade County Commission's Economic Prosperity Committee. The Miami-Dade County commissioner of the area's district is Audrey M. Edmonson. She is the chair of the committee. 

"I am committed to see this project through, while protecting the resident's rights," Edmonson said in February

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About the Authors:

The Emmy Award-winning journalist joined the Local 10 News team in 2013. She wrote for the Miami Herald for more than 9 years and won a Green Eyeshade Award.

Glenna Milberg joined Local 10 News in September 1999 to report on South Florida's top stories and community issues. She also serves as co-host on Local 10's public affairs broadcast, "This Week in South Florida."