Developer gets land by MIA in cut-rate deal for housing. ‘Giveaway’ says ex-Springs mayor (2025)

The County Commission recently voted unanimously to sell a nearly 4-acre parcel of vacant land north of Miami International Airport at a cut-rate price to a developer to build workforce housing, a deal the former Miami Springs mayor calls a “giveaway.”

On April 1, the commissioners voted to sell the property, about a block west of LeJeune Road and Northwest 36th Street within Miami Springs’ city limits, to Habitat Creators Inc., a Miami developer, for a “nominal sum.” The county did not immediately respond to the Herald’s query about the sales price.

The project calls for 20-plus townhouses that will go for about $450,000 each, according to Habitat Creators. The property’s sale is contingent on Habitat complying with income limits for buyers set by the county and the federal Department of Housing and Urban Development.

Habitat Creators has not submitted renderings, saying they are in the design phase.

Three apartment towers first proposed

Initially, Habitat Creators wanted to build three 10-story towers with 1,426 rental units. But the city of Miami Springs balked over the size, leading to the developer’s decision to scale back to the 20-plus townhouses. Homeowners would pay taxes to the city of Miami Springs.

Still, the former Miami Springs mayor has reservations about the latest plans.

“This is not a sale of airport property; it is a giveaway to a private developer,” Maria Mitchell told the Herald in a recent interview.

Mitchell had hoped to build a new City Hall and/or Police Station/Public Safety Complex on the property, but that never materialized.

Mitchell also was miffed about not being included in the discussions to sell the property, considering it fell within the city’s borders.

“The City of Miami Springs was surprised to find that late on the evening before the April 1 Board of County Commissioners meeting, an item was placed on the agenda to give away county-owned property located in Miami Springs and valued upwards of $17 million to a private developer,” Mitchell said in a statement to the Herald. “The City had requested to be included in any discussions regarding county properties located within the city. Therefore, the lack of any notice or discussion with the city was both disrespectful and irresponsible.

“Further, it is surprising that the Commissioners approved giving away a highly valuable multimillion-dollar property considering how the County has repeatedly stated that it is facing a dire financial situation, and is in need of revenues. We look forward to being included in future discussions with the County and the proposed developer.”

Former County Commissioner Kevin Cabrera placed the item on the county’s agenda for the April 1 meeting. The meeting was his last before resigning to become the U.S. ambassador to Panama in the Trump administration. The U.S. Senate confirmed his appointment earlier this month.

READ MORE: Miami-Dade commissioner confirmed as Panama ambassador. Who will take his seat?

County: Land generates no revenue

The county said it’s selling the land, which it deemed “surplus,” because it’s not generating any revenue.

“The property has been left vacant for over 25 years, generating no tax revenue for the County and serving no public use,” the county’s resolution said. The parcel, owned by the Miami-Dade Aviation Department, will be sold to Habitat Creators, Inc. “for a nominal amount for the development of the property with affordable townhomes,” the resolution noted.

Miami-Dade County is facing financial challenges as Mayor Daniella Levine Cava prepares her 2026 budget. With federal COVID relief funds gone and with real estate values no longer posting the big gains from recent years, the county is facing a $48 million revenue shortfall. The mayor has requested budgets with potential 10% cuts from department heads and imposed a hiring freeze.

The president of Miami-based Habitat Creators is Gordon Bello, a lawyer who had been an aide to former Miami-Dade Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmondson. Bello did not return a message seeking comment from the Herald.

Developer: Housing for county employees

James Doddo, an attorney for Habitat Creators, issued a statement to the Herald on Friday: “This project is all about expanding access to homeownership for the people who make Miami-Dade work, our essential workforce that’s been increasingly priced out of the communities they serve.“

Florida’s Live Local Act, signed into law by Gov. Ron DeSantis in 2023, enabled the land sale. The law offers tax breaks to developers who build affordable housing for individuals earning up to 120% of the area’s median income. According to a county chart, that would equal about $136,000 for a family of four.

Priority will be given to airport employees and Water and Sewer Department workers, but all qualified buyers within the income limits would be eligible, the developer said.

Miami Springs is not the only entity peeved at the pending sale.

Land swap with Water & Sewer

In return for selling its land, Miami-Dade Aviation would receive a 352,8000-square-foot parcel of land owned by Miami-Dade Water & Sewer near Miami Springs High School, in the heart of the city’s tony “Bird Section” enclave. That parcel is bordered by Hammond Drive, Dove Avenue, Quail Avenue and Lenape Drive.

“I don’t like any [land] swap that involves WASD,” District 7 Commissioner Raquel Regalado said at the April 1 meeting, referring to the county’s Water & Sewer Department. “I’m concerned whenever we get anything at the last minute. This property is very complex and I am concerned about the valuation.”

The Water & Sewer Department tract has a market value of $2,525,516, which is approximately $1.2 million higher than the airport-owned parcel, according to the Miami-Dade Property Appraiser’s website.

The utility operates two wells on the property, which may need to be relocated, according to the county’s resolution.

Regalado had suggested finding another property to swap, but in the end she voted with the other commissioners in approving the deal.

None of the Miami Springs officials were at the April 1 County Commission meeting, which was Election Day in the city.

Miami Springs voters elected Walter Fajet as mayor and elected Joseph Dion and Fabian Perez-Crespo to the Group II and Group IV council seats. Jorge Santin and Orlando Lamas ran unopposed, winning the Group I and Group II seats.

The public is invited to weigh in on the proposed land deal before the new council at 7 p.m. Monday April 28 at the City Council meeting, 201 Westward Drive.

Miami Herald Staff Writer Douglas Hanks contributed to this report.

This story was originally published April 16, 2025 at 12:19 PM.