An 800-apartment proposal at the West Dade Government Center would set aside most homes for households earning up to 120% of area median income. Miami-Dade commissioners are scheduled to consider the next step October 20: whether to direct staff to negotiate with Flagler TOC Development Partners LLC, under agenda item 11A5.

The county owns the land at 9250 West Flagler Street. It bought the larger property in 2024 to bring permitting and land-development services together at a central location. The housing proposal would use about 5.85 acres of that site, adding rental homes beside the government campus.

Who the homes would serve

The proposed term sheet lists 40 apartments for households at or below 80% of area median income, 40 at or below 100%, and another 20 at or below 100% set aside for seniors. It lists 700 more at or below 120%, including 200 with a preference for county employees.

Area median income, often shortened to AMI, is a benchmark used to set housing income limits. The mix matters: only 40 of the proposed 800 homes would be reserved at the lowest income level listed in this deal. The senior set-aside and employee preference would give two groups a specific place in the plan.

Rents and a leasing date are not listed in the proposal.

What the county would receive

Instead of monetary rent, the developer proposes 800 covered parking spaces for exclusive county use, an affordable-housing subsidy, a contribution toward 92nd Avenue improvements and FPL park space, and public art. The proposed lease would run 99 years with no extension options.

The parking deal carries costs for taxpayers. Unless the parties agree otherwise, the developer would own and operate the shared garage. Miami-Dade would pay its share of operating and maintenance expenses. It would also help pay for any extra county spaces requested in a second-phase expansion.

Construction would come in two phases of 400 homes each. The first would include the county parking spaces; the second would add homes and expand the garage. The term sheet targets a construction start within 30 months of the lease taking effect and completion of the first subphase within 48 months, with extensions allowed.

The decision before commissioners

Chairman Anthony Rodriguez sponsors item 11A5. It calls for updated appraisals, ownership disclosures and other checks, then a proposed agreement or report within 30 days of the resolution taking effect. A negotiated lease must return to commissioners for approval.

The resolution also seeks to waive Commission Auditor review and rules requiring neighborhood meetings and a written community-benefits statement. Those waivers would change how nearby residents review a long-term use of public land.