DEVELOPMENT AND LEASE AGREEMENT WITH PINE DEVELOPMENT

Housing Committee · 2026-07-14 · resolution

Resolution to approve a development agreement and 99-year lease with Pine Development, LLC for a 36-unit affordable housing development on 1.24 acres of County-owned property within the Metrorail right-of-way at the intersection of East 21st Street and East 4th Avenue in Hialeah, Florida. The project was deferred by the Housing Committee on 7/14/2026 to the 10/14/2026 meeting. The proposed development includes a four-story building with 36 residential units (each approximately 500 square feet) and approximately 1,500 square feet of ground floor retail space. Units are for households at or below 120% of Area Median Income (AMI). The developer will pay an annual development fee of $37,000.00 until lease execution, then annual rent of $37,000.00 for the first two lease years, increasing by 3% annually thereafter. Projected total revenue to the County is $21,145,998.12. The proposal is unsolicited and non-competitive under Section 125.379 of the Florida Statutes. The Federal Transit Administration has issued written concurrence. The developer is required to implement and incorporate the HIA-LINE project in coordination with the City of Hialeah. Public comment concerns included: Commissioner Regalado's concerns about the City of Hialeah's High Line plans, lack of contribution to the High Line, and the need for a competitive RFP; Commissioner Bermudez's statement that the new Hialeah Mayor Bryan Calvo was unaware of the project and had not been consulted; Chairwoman Bastien's concerns about affordability at 120% AMI (a one-person household would need to earn $114,480 per year and a family of four $163,440 per year) and the discrepancy between senior housing designation and workforce pricing; Vice Chairwoman Lopez's concerns about the AMI framework and lack of a community benefits package; Commissioner McGhee's characterization of the AMI framework as 'add more income' and support for a community benefits agreement; Commissioner Regalado's statement that conveying a transit asset without a benefit to transit or a community benefits package was irresponsible and that any use of a transit asset should go through an open and competitive process. The deferral was moved by Chairwoman Bastien, seconded by Vice Chairwoman Lopez, and approved.