Miami-Dade County, Florida – Officials announced on Friday that Miami’s efforts to revive the historically important neighborhood of Overtown would get more than $39 million in new federal grant money targeted at building public and affordable homes. With Miami-Dade County the first municipality to get two consecutive Choice Neighborhoods Implementation (CNI) grants from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), this financing marks a remarkable moment.
This most recent batch of CNI money will be directed toward the redevelopment of Culmer Place and Culmer Gardens, public housing properties in Overtown. This is part of a broader $332 million “Transformation Plan,” jointly supported by the county and the City of Miami, aimed at revitalizing the area surrounding these developments.
Deeply rooted in Miami’s African-American past, Overtown was once a lively economic and cultural center known as the “Harlem of the South.” But the building of Interstates 95 and 395 in the 1960s cut through the neighborhood, causing long-term neglect and economic collapse.
HUD official Richard J. Monocchio underlined the importance of the award in tackling these historical disturbances.
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“This grant is going to remediate that. It’s going to reconnect Overtown to the entire city,” Monocchio stated during a press conference.
Recently underlined by President Biden’s announcement of $325 million in funds allocated for affordable housing in seven U.S. cities, including Miami, the program highlights a more general commitment by the Biden-Harris administration to increase the inventory of affordable housing in the country.
The developer Atlantic Pacific Companies promises a significant rise in housing availability with their rebuilding project. The scheme calls for turning the present 226 apartments in Culmer Gardens and Culmer Place into 1,056 units overall. These will feature 212 worker homes for individuals earning up to 120% and 621 affordable homes for people earning up to 80% of the Miami-Dade County Area Median Income.
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U.S. Congresswoman Frederica Wilson, present at the grant announcement alongside Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, highlighted Miami’s pivotal role in tackling the housing crisis.
“We’re at the epicenter,” Wilson stated, underscoring the urgent need for such initiatives.
Mayor Levine Cava underlined the county’s dedication to Overtown’s comeback and informed current residents that they would have the right to go back to their homes after redevelopment.
“This kind of investment is exactly what we need to do to right the wrongs of the past and revitalize communities that were torn apart,” Levine Cava said.
Apart from accommodation, the money will help with pedestrian enhancements to promote mobility in Overtown and a range of services offered by Camillus House, including job training and resident education. Promising a better future for one of Miami’s most iconic neighborhoods, this all-encompassing approach is meant to guarantee that the physical regeneration of Overtown complements social and economic developments.
