SFCDC August 02, 2019 ‘The Honorable Mayor Francis Suarez 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL 33133 Honorable Mayor Suarez, We are a group of community based organizations, developers, and advocates focused on equitable community development in Miami, Since your inauguration, we've appreciated your leadership on affordable housing and climate resilience, including your role as Chair of the Environment Committee of the US. Conference of Mayors and your participation in the National League of Cities’ Housing Task Force. We know ittakes bold, visionary leadership to tackle Miami's challenges. The City of Miami's recent request {or information for the redevelopment of public land in 1950 NW 12th Avenue & 1970 NW 13th Avenue is ‘an opportunity to implement best practices recommended in dozens of studies and reports that propose solutions to ameliorate Miami's most pressing social issues such as affordable housing, equitable development and climate gentrification. Public land is a non-renewable resource and our best shot at a thriving future for this city. The cost and availabilty of land is frequently identified as one of the main barriers to affordable housing and innovations needed for resilience in the face of sea level rise. On this parcel of land, the City of Miami has game- ‘changing possibilties. These transit-oriented 18.75 acres can become a national example of how to best utilize public land to strengthen communities and the region. The redevelopment of a plot this expansive is a rare opportunity. In order to maximize its potential in resolving local issues, the City must take the lead to align it with the strategic priorities itis already invested in, Requests for information and future requests for proposals should not only encourage, but make clear that the following are project priorities: ‘ Affordable housing and small business space should be a priority. Units produced should be accessible to residents and businesses displaced by rising rents from the Allapattah community, Iow- income workers in the Health District, and veterans served by the nearby VA Hospital © The CBRE demographic analysis provided in the solicitation documents, shows the median income one mile from the subject location is $22,350. © The average City of Miami household is earning under 60% AMI, and the majority of households in a mile radius of this project are earning less than 30% AMI.’ ‘¢ The resiliency and environmental sustainability of the project should be a core goal of the proposal process, not an afterthought. Use of public land can create opportunities to innovate on green space, fiood mitigation, parks and more. © The minimal flood risk of the subject property (flood zone X and AE with an elevation of 8 to 9 feet) makes it a desirable location in the mitigation of sea level rise and climate gentrification, * City of Miami median household income is $33,999, which is a little over 60% of the Miami-Dade County Area Median income ($54,900). [City of Miami source - U.S. Census Bureau Quick Facts, https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/miamicityflorida/POP060210] MDC Income Limits - https://www8,miamidade. gov/global/housing/income-limits. pageSFCDC ‘© Community engagement cannot be the last step. An intensive community engagement process should be a preliminary step with frequent community follow-through from inception to completion of the redevelopment of the full area. Resident and city priorities will only be achieved if they are baseline requirements for proposals. Residents should be meaningfully engaged in the selection process and baseline community benefits should be set out to ensure equity and opportunities in low income communities such as Allapattah, We look forward to discussing this process with you and your administration, and collaborating on a strategic vision for how the City's public land can benefit our community well into the future. For your reference, we have attached to this letter a copy of the Public Land for Public Good Statement, which was authored and signed by many of the signatories of this letter. Respectfully, an anh es Executive Director South Florida Community Development Coalition List of signatory non-profits/orgs to Public Land for Public Good statement Carrfour Supportive Housing Catalyst Miami Centro Campesino Collective Empowerment Group of South Florida ("C.E.G.") ‘Community Justice Project Community Reinvestment Alliance of South Florida Haitian American Community Development Corporation Miami Homes For All, Inc. Miami Workers Center Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida New Urban Development, LLC ‘Opa-locka Community Development Corporation ‘South Florida AFL-CIO ‘South Florida Community Development Coalition South Florida Community Land Trust Struggle for Miami's Affordable and Sustainable Housing ("SMASH") The Allapattan Collaborative, CDC The New Florida Majority The South Florida Building and Construction Trades Council University of Miami Office of Civic & Community Engagement Urban League of Greater Miami Urban Philanthropies, Inc.