Miami-Dade County, in partnership with Related Urban Development Group (Related Urban), the affordable and workforce housing arm of Related Group, has celebrated the groundbreaking of Gallery at Marti Park (GAMP), a 176-unit mixed-income development in the heart of Little Havana.
“Easing the burden of housing costs for our residents is one of the priorities for my administration as we develop and redevelop properties to increase the supply of affordable housing in our community,” said Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava. “Gallery at Marti Park is a great example of how we’re partnering with developers to bring real solutions and more housing units that are affordable to our workforce and low-income seniors.”
GAMP will cater to a diverse range of income levels, targeting low-income seniors under the Rental Assistance Demonstration (RAD) program as well as households earning 80% and 120% of the area median income (AMI). Approximately half of the project’s apartment homes will be unrestricted market-rate units.
“Gallery at Marti Park continues our dedication to providing quality housing solutions for a diverse range of residents, from low-income seniors to those seeking market-rate residences,” said Albert Milo, President of Related Urban Development Group. “This property is more than just a building; it symbolizes a collaborative effort to create spaces that enhance the quality of life for all. We are grateful for the steadfast support from Miami-Dade County, and we look forward to seeing this vision come to life.”
Gallery at Marti Park is situated on two county-owned parcels adjacent to the Joe Moretti Phase 2B Site 1— a 32-unit public housing site revitalized by Related Urban in 2022. The developers entered into a 75-year ground lease with Miami-Dade County for the site formerly occupied by a one-story community center. Once complete, GAMP will feature a new senior center on the ground floor, which will serve the elderly residents and other low-income seniors in the surrounding neighborhood.
The on-site amenities package at GAMP has been intentionally designed to enhance the living experience and promote a sense of community among its residents. Families and individuals will have access to a private bike storage room, a tech-enabled package room and a fourth-level recreational deck with panoramic views of downtown Miami. This deck will offer outdoor grilling areas connected to a fitness center, clubhouse and coworking center.
“Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD) is optimizing resources to augment results with the changing environment to deliver housing relief through structure, innovation, metrics and solutions,” said PHCD Director, Alex Ballina.
Under the leadership of Commissioner Eileen Higgins, Miami-Dade County rezoned the parcel, unlocking the development potential and expediting permitting. The project’s swift approval timeline by Miami-Dade County – six months for site plan approval and three and a half months for the master permit – was made possible by the County’s commitment to expediting building and zoning reviews for affordable housing.
“I am thrilled to break ground on Gallery at Marti Park, a symbol of my commitment to activating underutilized County-owned land to build desperately needed affordable and workforce housing. On a parcel where no housing exists today, dozens of families will soon have a place to call home,” said Commissioner Eileen Higgins. “Since my election, I’ve led the efforts to accelerate permitting for our most pressing need, housing. I am proud that Miami-Dade County’s quick approval demonstrates our government’s ability to get new projects under construction quickly and without bureaucratic slowdowns.”
