Foundation developing affordable Little River housing tower

With the goal of meeting some of Miami’s housing needs, a developer has plans for an affordable apartment development in the Little River/Little Haiti neighborhood.

Aids Healthcare Foundation Inc. is the owner-developer of about 0.97-acre property at 279 NE 79th St.

The project, Little River Plaza, will be 12 stories and home to 250 affordable multi-family units and about 2,888 square feet of ground floor retail, along the principal frontage of Northeast 79th Street. There will be a parking podium for 200 vehicles.

The city’s Urban Development Review Board is recommending approval of the project.

Ines Marrero-Priegues, an attorney representing the owner-developer, said the property is on the north side of Northeast 79th Street, immediately west of Northeast Third Avenue. It is currently improved with a one-story retail/commercial building with surface parking on Northeast 79th Street.

In a letter to the city, Ms. Marrero-Priegues wrote, “100% of the units in Little River Plaza will be affordable housing for low-income families pursuant to the guiding principles of the Miami 21 Code, affordable and workforce housing should be distributed throughout the city to match job opportunities and to avoid concentrations of poverty.

“All 250 proposed units will be offered for rent at or below 60% of the AMI (Area Median Income),” she wrote.

The developer is requesting a warrant or special permission to allow an additional 15% parking reduction, for a total reduction of 50% when combined with the 35% by right reduction for affordable housing residential developments.

Ms. Marrero-Priegues said at that target income level, not all residents will own a vehicle.

She said the property is on Northeast 79th Street, which is a designated transit corridor and within less than 500 feet from Northeast Second Avenue, which is also a designated transit corridor, and a transit stop along the property’s frontage on Northeast 79th Street.

The developer is also requesting several waivers from the Miami 21 zoning code that if approved would allow:

■A maximum lot coverage of 87.25%, instead of 80%.

■Parking to extend into the second layer above the first story along all frontages, with the treatment of the façade requiring approval with referral to the Planning Department. Little River Plaza is proposing an art treatment along all the frontages that visually conceals the parking levels, and no habitable liners.

■A reduction of the setback requirements above the eighth floor for affordable housing developments.

■A reduction of the minimum size of efficiency units. The applicant requests a waiver to allow a 7.5% reduction of the minimum size of a studio/efficiency. This waiver would allow 371.8 square feet efficiency units where 400 square feet minimum is required.

Ms. Marrero-Priegues wrote, “The City of Miami is experiencing a housing crisis. Little River Plaza will provide critically needed housing opportunities for low-income individuals.

“The Miami 21 design deviations requested are the minimum level of relief needed to develop the project in the face of escalating construction costs.

“This project will contribute to the city’s economic prosperity and viability by creating much-needed affordable housing units,” she wrote.

Each of the housing units will have balconies, and some of the residential units will face onto a courtyard, offering residents natural air and light.

Of the 250 dwellings, 18 units will be one-bedroom, and 232 units will be studios.

Glavovic Studio is the project architect.

Board member Anthony Tzamtzis said, “I like the building, and commend the landscape architect for very diligent work. Very well done.

“I like the articulation of the façade … I like the courtyard,” he said.

Board member Gia Zapattini said, “I think this project is excellent. I think it’s an excellent example of tropical modernism for Miami.

“I love the massing. I think it’s very fun, very creative … we don’t see this type of creative approach to the façade very often.

“If you didn’t tell us it was low income housing, we’d have never guessed it. It’s a beautiful project. Very timeless. I hope you build more,” she said.

“I agree,” said board member Ligia Ines Labrada. “I think this is an amazing example of passive architecture. It brings me back to many of the examples that we studied in school, and I also wish we had more of this. I wish you the best of luck,” she said.

Acting Chairman Robert Behar said, “I concur with my colleagues. For an affordable housing project, it is excellent.” He did suggest more screening on the garage levels to better conceal the vehicles.

“We’re working on that,” said Ms. Marrero-Priegues.

The move to recommend approval was unanimous.