Ludlam Trail facing brownfields designation

Several areas of the proposed Ludlam Trail may receive “brownfield” designations, which doesn’t sound good but is generally considered a positive measure. Let’s break it down.

The Ludlam Trail is a planned 5.6-mile linear park and urban trail that will run north-south through Miami-Dade County, roughly along the former Florida East Coast Railway corridor, from Robert King High Park near Northwest Seventh Street to downtown Kendall near Southwest 80th Street.

A brownfield site is a property where the “expansion, redevelopment, or reuse is complicated by the presence or potential presence of environmental contamination,” according to the Environmental Protection Agency. These sites often had historic industrial or commercial uses that have left behind pollutants.

On the upside, however, is a plethora of incentives and support for companies, counties and cities that may be looking for a bargain.

Another positive is the environmental benefits of cleaning up and redeveloping brownfield sites, which can “reduce environmental hazards, improve public health, and create green spaces,” according to a report on miamidade.gov.

A hearing is scheduled Jan. 22 before commissioners make a decision. The trail was scheduled to be open to runners, walkers, cyclists and nature lovers in fall 2026, but that date could change depending on what commissioners decide.

An initial hearing in early December drew no comments and was unanimously approved by commissioners. But the quasi-judicial resolution requires a second hearing.

The areas include 7040 and 7050 SW 44th St. and 7004 SW 45th St. and that portion of the corridor between Southwest 44th and 48th streets.

The property owner, Ludlam Trail Phase II LLC, applied for the brownfield designations due to the presence of actual contamination on the properties “likely resulting from its previous use related to railroad activities,” according to a report to commissioners from Lourdes M. Gomez, director of the Department of Regulatory and Economic Resources.

The brownfield project is the second phase of a mixed-use residential and commercial development called Miline at Ludlam Trail, according to the county website.

Phase I will contain 314 multifamily units in a 6-story residential building along with 32 townhomes in a 3-story building, according to the report by Ms. Gomez.

“Residential amenities,” she wrote, “will include a gym, dog salon, expansive pool deck with a spa, game room, access to the Ludlam Trail, an outdoor lounge with covered and open-air seating, cabanas, and grills.”

It also will include coworking space: “A shared workspace,” according to website drop-desk.com, “where individuals from different companies, freelancers, and remote workers can rent a desk or office space on a flexible basis.”

Properties with a brownfield designation are eligible for incentives such as tax credits, grants, and liability protections, which can help offset the costs of cleanup and redevelopment.

The Ludlam Trail is designed to “connect schools, parks, transit stops, residences, workplaces, and shopping areas, enhancing overall connectivity and accessibility in the area,” the county website states.