CIty of Miami GOVERNMENT SERVICE ADMINISTRATION (GSA) SITE Redevelopment

Overview

In 2019, Miami Mayor Francis Suarez announced the intent to redevelop the City of Miami's Government Service Administration property, what is known as the Allapattah GSA site, located between 1970 NW 13 Ave and 1950 NW 12 Ave at Northwest 20th Street. This 18-acre city-owned land is currently used to service several city departments including Solid Waste, the General Services lot, the Public Works Department, the Parks and Recreation Department and Fire Station 5. CBRE created this request for information (RFI) issued in August 2019 on behalf of the City to "gauge the market and gather information to assist the City in determining the most effective and beneficial ways to develop the Property." The parcel is in the heart of a Allapattah neighborhood which has drawn the interest of developers, for a variety of reasons including its proximity to the Health District. There were eight private developers who submitted responses to the RFI.  

Considering the redevelopment of a lot this size will affect the neighborhood for years to come, PLPG advocates approached the City of Miami about ensuring local residents and business owners have a say in the land’s future. The City verbally committed to partnering with community organizations to conduct engagement in Allapattah regarding the redevelopment and use those findings to inform its Request for Proposal (RFP) criteria and process including a community benefits agreement (CBA). During Mayor Suarez's reelection speech in November 2022, he mentioned (see video 2:56) Public Land for Public Good among his priorities. 

Community Insights Campaign

In the summer of 2021, we solicited proposals received from six agencies and selected Urban Impact Lab to help embark on a public engagement process. We ultimately interacted with 117 Allapattah residents and business owners over four engagement activations. This work was anchored by The Allapattah Collaborative CDC, a community-based not-for-profit partner of PLPG. We then drafted a report and presentation shared with city administration and funded by the South Florida Health Foundation as well as the City of Miami; it provides a snapshot into resident and business owners’ views on Allapattah’s needs and the community’s understanding of the redevelopment occurring in their neighborhood. The outcomes include a desire for more (1) public greenspaces, (2) deeply affordable housing, and (2) services/resources through community centers.

2021 Insights Report2021 Insights Presentation

RFP Process

In the summer of 2022 an unsolicited proposal submitted by NR Investments triggered an RFP (published September 2022) with the intent to "help develop the GSA Site into a mixed-use development with residential, retail, office, and hotel uses, as well as various public benefits." The City anticipates entering into a long-term lease and development agreement with a responsive and responsible Proposer who will, among other tasks, relocate or accommodate the existing uses and redevelop the site in accordance with the requirements specified in the RFP. According to a Real Deal article from March 2023, NR proposed "leasing the site for 99 years and building 2,500 apartments, 300 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of offices and 100,000 square feet of retail at the site."

The RFP process that has since paused with no further public announcements as of January 2024. We continue engaging city administrators and officials for insight on next steps for the site. PLPG has drafted a proposed resolution based on our shared values to improve the RFP process.

2022 Proposed Resolution