January 22, 2007

In a press conference January 10, Miami Mayor Manny Diaz announced that the city has set a goal to ensure that $1 billion is invested in affordable housing by the end of the decade. Also joining the mayor were City Commissioner Michelle Spence-Jones, and Barbara Gomez-Rodriguez, Director of the Miami Department of Community Development, along with David Canepari, President of The Gatehouse Companies. They took part in a ribbon-cutting celebration marking the completion of Tuscan View, a new affordable rental building. Officials later toured the common areas of the building and visited several residents in their units.

“Today we are here to celebrate a project that has made housing available to 175 seniors,” said Diaz. “Our goal is to reach $1 billion dollars in affordable housing by the end of 2010 and I believe we will make it happen.”

This ribbon cutting is the first of several affordable housing events scheduled to take place in Miami throughout the coming months to mark the completion or inception of important projects. Diaz unveiled a barometer with a $1 billion goal, indicating that so far, the total investment in affordable housing throughout Miami since 2000 to the present date has been approximately $541,000,000. Another $200,000 is already in the pipeline for housing projects. As dollars continue to be allocated to affordable housing, the barometer will indicate the additional investments and will be displayed at future events.

“This group effort and our officials have worked tirelessly to try to make affordable housing a reality,” says Gomez-Rodriguez.

Tuscan View features 175 rental units for people aged 55 and over who are of low- to moderate-income. It was developed by Massachusetts-based The Gatehouse Companies in cooperation with BAME Development Corporation of South Florida, Inc., and features countless amenities, including a fitness center, community room, library, computer room, landscaped grounds, and more. Rent starts at $461. Miami provided $1.5 million in CDBG (Community Development Block Grants) funding towards the development, which is located in Overtown. The building is fully leased.

“Our mission is to make sure we continue to provide the housing that is necessary for residents that live here,” stated Spence-Jones. “This is the type of development I want to see happening in my district.”

There are income restrictions for all affordable housing developments in Miami. For additional information on affordable housing in Miami, call 305-416-2080.