Greater St. Paul A.M.E. Church is now accepting applications for its affordable housing units, while the City of Miami considers additional funding to help cover construction cost overruns.
After years of planning and construction, an affordable housing project in the West Grove backed by Greater St. Paul A.M.E. Church is nearing completion, with an additional boost in construction funding anticipated this week from the City of Miami.
Seven affordable units are now available at the Hibiscus-William Project, according to Greater St. Paul Rev. Dr. Eddy Moise, who welcomed tenant applications this month at the Coconut Grove Ministerial Alliance meeting.
“We definitely want it to be open to everyone in the community,” he said.
Moise said one- and two-bedroom units will be available for as little as $1,500 per month — a rate he described as “unheard of” in the Grove, where rising housing costs and a wave of luxury development have fueled gentrification and fears of displacement among residents.
The Hibiscus-William Project has been a years-long, joint effort between the historic Black church, the City of Miami and Miami-based development firm Dragonfly Investments to address the need for low-income housing in the West Grove while honoring the neighborhood’s historical Bahamian style.
The project will create 10 rent-restricted housing units: four cottages on Hibiscus Street, and six units on William Avenue — four in a front building and two in a rear duplex.
The project first gained traction in 2022 when the City Commission approved $2.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act funds for the development. Construction on the first two cottages was completed a year ago.
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Amanda De Seta, the head of development at Dragonfly, called Miami District 2 Commissioner Damian Pardo and his staff the “engine” of the project.
“Without their continued support, projects like this would never happen,” she wrote in an email. “It was the District 2 office who connected us to Greater St. Paul and also provided the funding to get this done.”
Now, Commissioner Pardo is sponsoring a resolution seeking up to $250,000 in additional funding for the project, drawing from District 2’s affordable housing fund.
According to the resolution, the church informed the city in June that construction costs had surpassed its original budget because of “economic fluctuations, significant structural concerns” and requirements imposed by the state’s historic preservation board.
De Seta told the Spotlight that the additional funding would cover the costs of unforeseen damage at the William duplex that was uncovered during interior demolition.
Commissioners will vote on the resolution this Thursday.
When asked about the timeline of the project, De Seta said that it will “wrap up in the next few months.”
In the meantime, applications for open units will be considered on a first-come, first-served basis.
Potential tenants must pass a credit check and are asked to provide documentation of income, a photo ID, employment verification, tax returns and Social Security information.
Applications include a $100 processing fee and $60 fee for “credit/background/criminal record checks.” A security deposit starting at $700 is due at the time of approval.
“We’re looking for people who are responsible, who are going to pass the credit check and who pay their bills on time,” Moise said.
Interested applicants can call 305-448-2742 or email [email protected]
Sinclair Holian is a Spotlight reporter and Report for America corps member covering gentrification and development in Coconut Grove. She joins us through our partnership with Report for America, a national organization that places journalists in local newsrooms across the United States.
Very curious about who and how will new residents for the few affordable housing units be chosen? You will be receiving hundreds of applications and unfortunately, not enough space for all those interested. Who will be the lucky ones and is this opportunity similar to a lottery? Thanks.