Little River District moves forward: Miami’s Little River District, a proposed $2.6 billion redevelopment project, has moved one step closer to reality as the Miami-Dade County Housing Committee approved it. The plan, undertaken by Coconut Grove-based Swerdlow Group, aims to redevelop Miami’s Little River and Little Haiti communities by demolishing five public housing projects and industrial sites and erecting 5,730 multifamily units, 370,000 square feet of retail space, and a new Tri-Rail station.
The project, covering 65 acres, consists of land leased for 99 years from the county with an option to lease for another 99 years. Final approval, however, rests with the Miami-Dade County Commission, which will be voting on the proposal on April 1.
One issue that has been at the forefront of the minds of today’s residents in the housing developments is displacement. During one public forum, a few complained that they were excluded from redevelopment discussions and requested a 60- to 90-day delay to review the proposal. Local labor activists, however, campaigned for stronger protections for workers.
Little River District’s Commitments to the Local Community
SG Holdings, a joint venture with Swerdlow, SJM Partners, and Alben Duffie, has secured a promise that public housing residents will be relocated into the new buildings. Developers also committed to a Community Benefits Agreement that includes worker protection, local preference in hiring, and upgraded infrastructure.
“Our agreement ensures worker protection, particularly against heat illness, and preference in hiring residents of low-income and public housing communities,” SG Holdings Managing Partner Michael Swerdlow said.
Of the total housing units put forth, 2,284 will be made available as affordable units for individuals earning up to 60% of the area median income (AMI), 1,398 will be workforce rentals which will go up to 120% of AMI, and the rest of 2,048 may be workforce condos going up to 140% of AMI.
The retail component of the development has projected The Home Depot, BJ’s, and negotiating discussions to buy a Publix. The developers also set aside 250,000 square feet for green areas and allocated around $35.4 million for the construction of the Tri-Rail station.
This revised Little River District project is bigger than earlier proposals that had envisioned 4,900 units of affordable and workforce housing and a smaller retail and green space presence by some 80,000 square feet. The project will reap $9.6 billion for Miami-Dade County in 99 years, including $5.5 million annual lease rents and revenue-sharing agreement. It is also expected to produce 518 permanent positions.
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Little River District Project Moves Forward: Factsheet
Project Overview
Name: Little River District
Developer: SG Holdings (Swerdlow Group, SJM Partners, Alben Duffie)
Location: Miami’s Little River and Little Haiti communities
Total Investment: $2.6 billion
Area: 65 acres
Current Status: Approved by Miami-Dade County Housing Committee; awaiting County Commission vote on April 1
Development Scope
Residential: 5,730 multifamily units
2,284 affordable units (60% AMI)
1,398 workforce rentals (up to 120% AMI)
2,048 workforce condos (up to 140% AMI)
Retail: 370,000 square feet
Anchor tenants: The Home Depot, BJ’s, potential Publix
Transportation: New Tri-Rail station ($35.4 million allocation)
Green Space: 250,000 square feet
Little River District Moves Forward: Community Benefits
Relocation guarantees for current public housing residents
Worker protection initiatives, particularly against heat illness
Local hiring preference, especially for low-income community residents
Infrastructure upgrades
518 permanent jobs created
Financial Structure
99-year land lease from Miami-Dade County with renewal option
Projected $9.6 billion revenue for county over lease term
$5.5 million annual lease payments
Revenue-sharing agreement included
Community Concerns
Displacement of current residents
Some residents report exclusion from planning process
Labor activists advocating for worker protections
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