Miami officials are set to reconsider proposals for an 18-acre city-owned lot in Allapattah, a location that city planners believe could significantly contribute to economic growth and add much-needed workforce housing. The city commission will review unsolicited proposals tied to the General Services Administration (GSA) site at 1970 NW 13th Ave. during an upcoming meeting, potentially directing city staff to assess all offers and report back within 30 days.
The proposed changes aim to expedite the review process for unsolicited proposals regarding public land. Currently, much of Miami’s publicly owned land remains underutilized, even as the city grapples with escalating housing costs and calls to activate vacant properties. The GSA site has long been regarded as a prime opportunity for redevelopment, housing various municipal operations, including the solid waste department and Fire Station 5, while a significant portion of the land remains undeveloped.
In September 2022, the Miami-based developer NR Investments submitted a proposal to transform the GSA site into a large mixed-use development. This ambitious plan included approximately 2,500 apartments, with 500 designated as workforce housing, along with office space, retail facilities, a hotel, community amenities, and about five acres of public green space. The proposal outlined a multi-phase buildout projected to span 10 to 15 years, highlighting substantial potential public benefits.
According to the developer, the project could yield around $1.5 billion in payments to the city through a 99-year ground lease, as well as an estimated $3.2 billion in additional real estate tax revenue over the same period. The initiative also promises improvements in infrastructure and the creation of civic spaces and transit-oriented development.
The city formally requested proposals following NR Investments’ submission, but progress on the site has largely stalled without a contract awarded. Plans from the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, which focuses on revitalization and housing in Miami’s urban core, underscore the site’s potential. A 2023 update from the agency indicated strong community support for redeveloping the GSA lot, designating it as one of its priority projects over the next seven years.
The agency has classified the GSA site as a crucial driver for economic development and a means to enhance the city’s workforce housing supply. Notably, its analysis confirmed that the property meets the state’s “blight” criteria, making it eligible for tax increment financing to support improvements.
The measures directed by Commissioner Miguel Gabela, who represents the Allapattah district, would instruct the city manager to review all unsolicited proposals for the GSA lot and report findings to the commission within 30 days. Additionally, one proposal seeks to amend city code to streamline how unsolicited proposals are handled. This amendment would require the city manager to schedule qualifying proposals for discussion at the next available commission meeting rather than delaying until the city is prepared to negotiate a deal.
Supporters of these changes argue that increasing transparency and accelerating the review process will prevent proposals from languishing, allowing the city to make more effective use of underutilized public land. If approved, these measures could breathe new life into the GSA site and establish new guidelines for evaluating future unsolicited development proposals throughout Miami.
