Grove Landing Is Not a Candidate for Bonus Density

To the Editor:

Your article on affordability bonus zoning regulations should not have had the photo of the Grove Landing project as the leading image without any of the facts for clarity and proper information. 

Also, the caption under the main photo was completely wrong and misleading. 

You claim this project “could receive substantial development incentives under new rules under consideration” by the city. That is completely wrong. 

Even though this project, currently in the design phase, took advantage of some City of Miami legislation already in place to make affordable housing possible, Grove Landing is not a candidate to have its density “doubled” as stated in your story.

This project is a public/private partnership that required a predetermined amount of affordable/workforce housing (70 units). The details of this project should be advertised as the model for what partnerships between developers and the city should look like. 

Instead, Joe King, the CEO of Collaborative Development Corp. and I have been inundated with calls and texts full of misinformation about this development because of the misleading information in your article. 

I hope this letter to Spotlight will clarify and correct what your article improperly insinuated.

Our project was approved for 70 units divided between two buildings (3710 Grand Ave. & 3442 Douglas Road) with 90% of the units to be slated for affordable rentals and a homeownership program. Our units will target residents ranging from 60% AMI to 95% AMI. There are no “micro units;” instead, the project includes studio apartments and 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom units up to 1,400 square feet. Both buildings include underground parking garages to accommodate 56 parking spaces.

This is a true live/work development that has been designed to achieve affordable and workforce infill housing for families. A parking reduction, in exchange for affordability, which is allowed under current city legislation, is required to make this possible.

All incentives taken have been 100% focused on community benefits and not on profits. There are a few market-rate units which were required to make the project cash-flow positive, otherwise the project would not be viable. 

The non-profit owner, Collaborative Development Corporation, in partnership with Silver Bluff and Grove Properties, have all gone to great lengths to make this project the best solution for the community in an effort to make the Grove a better place to live for everyone.

The leadership has put forth great efforts to keep the community well informed about this project. 

This article was not a good result for me, or for Spotlight readers. This was very sloppy work and unfair to our team and our project. I am constantly in communication with the Spotlight and always offer to be a source of real estate information with true facts.

We are still working with our design team to maximize the greatest positive impact this project can make for the Little Bahamas district. We will keep the Spotlight and the community fully informed of our progress. 

Until then, please do not write or print any information about this project without consulting with us first. I urge you to make corrections to your article based on the facts in this letter. You can publish this letter if you, or your editor, prefer.

Marcelo Fernandes, Grove Properties
Coconut Grove