Allapattah on the road to a community redevelopment agency

Written by Genevieve Bowen on October 22, 2024

After extensive debate on adding Allapattah to the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), city commissioners reached a consensus to create a separate, exclusive agency dedicated to the area.

As its Oct. 15 meeting came to a close, the Miami City Commission unanimously instructed City Manager Arthur Noriega to find funding and hire consultants to spearhead the establishment of an Allapattah CRA. Once the details are nailed down, the issue is to return to the commission for a formal vote, alongside another measure concerning extending the Omni CRA’s lifetime to ensure continued support for redevelopment efforts in both districts.

The Omni CRA, established in 1987 to revitalize areas within its jurisdiction, was initially set to expire in 2030. However, the agency is seeking an extension until 2047 to fully capitalize on its funding and continue its projects, including affordable housing developments, infrastructure improvements, business support programs and other services.

A key point of contention during discussions about the Omni CRA’s extension was a proposal to expand it to include Allapattah. This proposal emerged from a July 2023 commission resolution that extended the life and boundaries of the Omni CRA to cover 2,730 acres of Allapattah. A “finding of necessity” study had determined that Allapattah met eight of the 15 criteria for slum and blight under Florida’s CRA statute, justifying its inclusion.

However, over subsequent months, commissioners deliberated whether including Allapattah in the Omni CRA was viable, considering both the financial implications and the challenge of managing such a large CRA. After much discussion, the consensus was that a separate agency dedicated solely to Allapattah would better serve the area’s specific needs.

Now, Mr. Noriega is to begin securing funding and engaging consultants to study formation of a new Allapattah CRA. The commission deferred the resolution to extend the Omni CRA’s duration pending the full plan for Allapattah, and they anticipated revisiting it in the new year.

“We’re going to do a global deal as it was, and … look at the possibility of doing an Allapattah CRA, already identifying where the funds are going to come from. Then, what we would do is defer [the Omni CRA time extension] till all this gets settled as one deal. When it comes back, everything’s ready and we’re all ready to vote, you get your extension and we get our Allapattah CRA with the funding, the where, what, why and how, and all the terms,” said Commissioner Miguel A. Gabela, whose district includes Allapattah.

Commissioner and Omni CRA Chair Damian Pardo expressed strong support.

“This is a fantastic resolution,” he said. “You can count on me to help you, Allapattah, and the City of Miami, any which way. I’m here and thank you for your leadership on this. I think it’s outstanding.”