MIAMI — Miami-Dade County Public Schools opened the new Southside Preparatory Academy’s seven-story building on Monday in Miami’s Brickell neighborhood.
M-DCPS teamed up with the Miami-Dade County Public Housing and Community Development, so the building at 945 SW 3 Ave. includes 10 residential units for teachers.
“This project is incredibly unique,” Miami-Dade County Commissioner Eileen Higgins said. “We also have a lack of affordable housing. The county and the school system partnered, and we’re solving all of these community needs with one project.”
The one-bedroom apartment units are on the first and second floors, and the middle school is on floors third through seven. The two have separate entrances.
“Normally, our schools are one or two stories,” said Raul Perez, the chief facilities design and construction officer for M-DCPS.
The apartment’s rent will be a little over $1,900. The building along Southwest Third Avenue is close to the Metromover, the Metro station, and Interstate 95.
“Being that it’s subsidized, the rental rate is lower than the market rate, so our starting teachers especially have a great opportunity to live where they work and play,” Perez said.
There are four other similar projects in the works in M-DCPS.
“It took many years of collaboration and working with the banks to get these projects funded, but here we are today,” Higgins said.
Copyright 2025 by WPLG Local10.com - All rights reserved.
