Swerdlow Group Proposes Major Redevelopment of Four Miami-Dade Public Housing Sites

Swerdlow Group Proposes Major Redevelopment of Four Miami-Dade Public Housing Sites

Miami-Dade County is reviewing one of its most ambitious public housing redevelopment proposals in recent years. Swerdlow Group and its partners, including homebuilding giant Lennar, are seeking to rebuild four aging public housing communities into a combined total of up to 1,000 new affordable and workforce units. The plan includes a landmark commitment: up to 320 workforce homeownership units, giving local families the opportunity to buy homes at significantly reduced prices.

A Transformational Proposal Going Before the County

The Miami-Dade Housing Committee will consider the proposal on November 12, with the full County Commission scheduled to review it on December 2, if approved. The plan requires both county approval and sign-off from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).

The redevelopment would transform:

• Pine Island (17 acres) – currently 130 units
  
  
• Arthur Mays Villas (12.35 acres) – currently 144 units
  
  
• Naranja (10 acres) – currently 140 units
  
  
• Modello II (5 acres) – vacant since Hurricane Andrew in 1992
  
  

All current public housing units would be replaced one-for-one with new affordable units, ensuring residents have the option to remain in their communities.

Up to 1,000 Units and a Major Homeownership Opportunity

According to Swerdlow Group’s letter to the county, the plan would include:

• Up to 320 workforce homeownership units
  
  
• Hundreds of new affordable and workforce rentals
  
  
• A major partnership with Lennar to deliver townhomes quickly
  
  

Naranja and Modello II would become entirely workforce homeownership communities. Arthur Mays would include both rentals and for-sale units, while Pine Island would become rental-only with 525 new apartments across five-story buildings.

Many of the for-sale units are expected to be four-bedroom, three-bath townhouses, ideal for larger families. Prices would be around $385,000, but with public incentives the effective price would fall to $222,000–$250,000. That’s significantly below current new-construction pricing in south Miami-Dade, where many Lennar townhomes exceed $400,000.

A Wealth-Building Path for Working Families

Workforce homeownership will be available for households earning up to 120% of AMI. Renters currently living in these communities may also qualify to purchase the new units — a rare bridge from public housing to homeownership that could help hundreds of families build long-term equity.

Financial Terms Still in Negotiation

The developer has proposed several revenue streams for the county:

• $5,000 per home sold
  
  
• $5,000 per rental unit as a capitalized lease payment
  
  
• 30% of developer fees for rental communities
  
  
• 10% of new cash flow
  
  

These terms will be refined as negotiations progress.

A New Model for Public Housing Redevelopment in Miami-Dade

Swerdlow Group is already active in county redevelopment efforts, including a recently approved deal in Little River. If the new proposal moves forward, it could redefine how Miami-Dade updates aging public housing while expanding both affordable rentals and workforce ownership options.