Miami — The Miami-Dade County Commission has granted final approval for Little River District, a $3 billion mixed-use development in Miami’s Little River and Little Haiti neighborhoods. SG Holdings, a joint venture between Swerdlow Group, SJM Partners and Alben Duffie, is the developer.
Spanning 63 acres, the project is expected to include more than 5,700 affordable and workforce housing units alongside big box retail stores, small businesses, a major grocery operator, green public space and transit infrastructure with the addition of a new train station.
Construction is expected to begin in 2026, with a projected development timeline of eight years.
Little River District is considered the largest affordable housing development in Miami-Dade County’s history, according to a news release. Plans call for 2,284 affordable housing units for residents earning up to 60 percent of the area median income (AMI), 1,398 workforce rental units for those making 120 percent of AMI and 2,048 potential workforce condo units, which would allow the buyers to obtain significant subsidies to meet the purchase price at up to 140 percent AMI.
Current residents of existing public housing complexes situated within the development site are guaranteed the right to return to new units at Little River District with no increases in rent. The residential communities planned within the affordable and workforce housing component will feature amenities such as a pool, computer lab, fitness center, outdoor recreation space for children, bike parking, green outdoor space with pavilions and paths and complimentary Wi-Fi in common areas.
Designed by Arquitectonica, the development will also include more than 370,000 square feet of retail space, including commitments already secured from major retailers such as The Home Depot and BJ’s Wholesale Club. The project will feature a major supermarket, gas station, food-and-beverage options and other essential retail services.
About 250,000 square feet of publicly accessible green space will include improved pedestrian walkways, enhanced landscaping, bike paths and shuttle service for residents. Additionally, the planned Tri-Rail train station represents a $35 million investment by SG Holdings in Miami’s public transportation network.
The transit-oriented project is made possible through private and public sector collaboration led by SG Holdings along with public sector partners: Miami-Dade County’s Department of Housing and Community Development, the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD), the City of Miami and key local officials.
Given that portions of the 63-acre site are owned by the county, the public-private partnership paves the way for the development plan that includes leveraging federal tax credits to support affordable housing and collaborating with Miami-Dade under a Community Benefits Agreement (CBA) to drive local hiring and community investment. The project is set to create approximately 3,840 jobs during construction and another 518 permanent positions once delivered.
According to the development team, Miami-Dade County will reap approximately $9.5 billion through the project — the largest revenue sharing pact of this kind in the county’s history. The county could use these revenues to support its efforts to address the local affordable housing crisis and invest in community development, inclusive of supporting small businesses.
“This approval is a major milestone in addressing Miami’s critical need for affordable and workforce housing,” says Michael Swerdlow, founder and CEO of Swerdlow Group. “At a time when population growth is fueling demand for housing and everyday services, the Little River District will deliver a community that prioritizes affordable and quality housing, accessibility to public transit and economic opportunity for local residents and business owners with the goal of generating prosperity for the highly deserving communities of Little Haiti and Little River.”
SG Holdings previously completed Sawyer’s Walk, a 1.5 million-square-foot mixed-use development in Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood featuring 578 affordable seniors housing units, as well as national retailers including Target, Aldi, Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, Tropical Smoothie Café and Burlington.
— Kristin Harlow