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Week of February 16, 2006 |
| Miami Parking Authority to return land to city By Deserae del CampoThe Miami Parking Authority plans to return two parcels of land to the city's Department of Community Development, which wants to use the lots to build two single-family affordable homes in Model City. The authority acquired the parcels and three other pieces of land last year to build parking lots. The two sites are at 1630 NW 58th Terrace and 1620 NW 58th St. "We're seeking those parcels back because they are located in a residential area," said Christine Bermudez, community development information officer. "We presently have several affordable-housing homes being built in that neighborhood and feel these parcels can best be utilized for two new affordable single-family homes instead of for parking purposes." Art Noriega, the parking authority's executive director, said in a letter to Barbara Gomez-Rodriguez, director of community development, that "the Miami Parking Authority agrees to convey two of the parcels involved in this project to the City of Miami. These two properties (along with three others) were previously conveyed to the authority and approved by the City of Miami Commission on May 26, 2005." The Model City land will help fulfill the Model City Revitalization District Trust's master plan, created by the city before the trust was put into place, said Jeffrey Whitaker, acting president of the Model City Trust. "The master plan focuses on housing assistance, revitalization, building and economics in Model City," Mr. Whitaker said. "This is a great opportunity for Model City. We are going through great strides with revitalizing this community." A resolution to go before Miami commissioners Feb. 23 would allow the Department of Community Development to acquire the land from the parking authority. The parking authority is asking the city to reimburse $500,000 that it said it spent in design, development and permitting for the two lots. |
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