Neighborhood Transformation
Neighborhood Transformation
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Jump Starting Redevelopment
Poverty & inequality mean wasted human resources & depleted social capital.

Nonprofit developers are undertaking the toughest deals in the toughest neighborhoods reaching the lowest income families

The neighborhoods that these nonprofits are working are where for- profit developers will not go without incentives.  Basic issues of financial feasibility prevent the private sector from taking on ventures in these low income neighborhoods.  Barriers include: low appraised values, high costs of development, high costs of land, expensive "brownfield" cleanup, expensive lien clearance, high relocation expenses, the
difficulty of dealing with the patchwork pattern of real estate ownership, and the necessity of having to redevelop the typically decrepit infrastructure (sewers, water, etc.).  On top of all that, local government inadvertently imposes additional costs by its unnecessarily cumbersome construction approval process. For-profit developers don't go into these neighborhoods unless they are in partnership with a high performing nonprofit such entities can provide them with the necessary incentives.  Nonprofit sponsored ventures, therefore, serve to create a "jump start" effect.  After a while the appraised values of neighborhood properties begin to drift upwards and the normal market forces are once again allowed to work.

Enhancing Nonprofit Capacity
Planning, resources, management, governance, and program delivery.

1.  Ability to plan effectively.   Strong nonprofit developers have a good handle on community assets and needs and develop a vision for what revitalization activities fit the neighborhood dynamic. Community planning should include opportunities for the nonprofit developer to gather input from the residents and neighborhood businesses and build those stakeholders into the vision-setting process. A

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nonprofit developer must plan internally also, matching its own assets, programs, partnerships, and skills with its vision for the neighborhood.

2.   Ability to secure resources.   Nonprofit developers need a great deal of external support - including grants, loans, contracts, and technical help to accomplish their objectives. A capable nonprofit developer can assemble adequate resources from a variety of places, including the "profits" of the projects it develops. Its funding base should be relatively stable, without wide annual fluctuations.

3.   Strong internal management and governance.   Nonprofit developers must be able to manage their resources effectively and account for funds and programs. As some of the recent troubles at several large, older nonprofit developers attest, an ability to develop projects does not automatically translate into capable management of internal operations. nonprofit developers need internal systems that reflect sound business principles of accountability and can support multiple nonprofit developer programs. nonprofit developer boards must represent their communities, govern competently, and interact well with staff.

4.   Program delivery capacity.   A nonprofit developer must develop programs effectively, including the planning, packaging, development, marketing, and ongoing management of its assets. nonprofit developers should be able to estimate program outcomes reliably and meet those expectations. Increasingly, nonprofit developer programs include the "softer" human service components in addition to physical development.

5.  Ability to network with other entities.   To carry out its multiple roles, a nonprofit developer must be able to find and work well with other organizations. A capable nonprofit developer can interact with a variety of public and private entities to accomplish revitalization goals. Potential nonprofit developer partners range from local and state governments and private sector funders to technical assistance providers, other neighborhood organizations, private developers, and human service deliverers. Also important, nonprofit developers must maintain sound relations with neighborhood residents and businesses, whose involvement and support of community revitalization is necessary, and who are often touched by a nonprofit developer's outreach and organizing work.


South Florida Community
Development News Clippings


July 11, 2022 -  Piece of original Miami endangered: West Coconut Grove's Black history slipping away - CLICK HERE

May 15, 2020 -  Almost none of Miami's condo buildings have FHA approval, and that's a problem - CLICK HERE


March 6, 2020 -  Advanced Concrete Technology Speeds Construction - CLICK HERE


November 1, 2019. -  Brightline sparks building frenzy for affordable housing - CLICK HERE


June 10, 2019. - Priced out of paradise: Why locals can no longer afford to live in Miami - CLICK HERE


January 4, 2019. - Micro-Living Coming to Unincorporated Miami-Dade County? - CLICK HERE


October 26, 2018. - Proposed Mega Development in Little Haiti threatens community identity- CLICK HERE


August 4, 2018. - Little Haiti Marketplace Creating a Hub for Commerce and Culture- CLICK HERE


July 10, 2018. - Addressing Gentrification in the West Grove- CLICK HERE


July 10, 2018. - At last, affordable housing in South Miami's Black neighborhood - CLICK HERE


April 13, 2018. - Many of Last Affordable Apartments in West Grove Demolished After Years of Neglect - CLICK HERE


April 10, 2018. - Historic Preservation of "shotgun houses" in Coconut Grove - CLICK HERE


Jan 22, 2018. - The hidden side of Miami’s housing crisis - CLICK HERE


Nov 20, 2017. - Wynwood gentrificaton - CLICK HERE


Nov 20, 2017. - Miami commission approves smaller micro units - CLICK HERE


July 22, 2017. - Carrfour Secures Grant to House Homeless Vets - CLICK HERE


July 3, 2017. - Low Income Housing Tax-Credit Program is Perpetuating Segregation - CLICK HERE


May 28, 2017. - Roaches, rats and taxpayer dollars: Plan to save crumbling Overtown condos in trouble - CLICK HERE


April 13, 2017. - In Miami, 65% say down payments hold them back from buying a home. - CLICK HERE


April 1, 2017. - Where did $1.3 billion for affordable housing go? Florida Legislature took it. - CLICK HERE


Jan. 1, 2017. - Miami is least affordable place for renters in nation, report says - CLICK HERE


Dec. 21, 2016. - Miami Dade Commission rejects mandatory inclusionary zoning - CLICK HERE


Dec. 5, 2016. - Downtown's Brickel rapidly changing but into what? - CLICK HERE to read the article


Nov. 20, 2016. - Some Solutions for Affordable Housing - CLICK HERE


Oct 25, 2016. - Panel Discusses Solutions to Affordable Housing - CLICK HERE


Sept 22, 2016. - Carrfour creates affordable LGBT-friendly senior housing - CLICK HERE


July 15, 2016. - Miami's Parking Deregulation Will Reduce Housing Costs - CLICK HERE


July 7, 2016. - Liberty Square Public Housing replacement approved by Miami-Dade County Commission - CLICK HERE


June 8, 2016. - Island Living Apartments, newly constructed affordable housing in Overtown - CLICK HERE


April 6, 2016. - New affordable housing projects nearing completion in Overtown - CLICK HERE


Jan. 28, 2016. - Proposed new charter school in Liberty Square redevelopment threatens nearby public schools - CLICK HERE


Jan. 6, 2016. - Report finds homeownership 'unattainable' for most residents in Little Haiti - CLICK HERE


Dec. 11, 2015. - Protests against gentrification in Miami's Little Haiti - CLICK HERE


Dec. 3, 2015. - Summary of Redevelopment Proposals for Liberty Square - CLICK HERE


Oct. 11, 2015. - Nurturing a future South Florida tech hub - CLICK HERE


Sept 6, 2015. - The architecture of segregation - CLICK HERE to read NY Times editorial on government policies that have fostered segregation.


August 4, 2015. - Six Charged In $36 Million Fraud Scheme Involving Low-Income Housing Developments - CLICK HERE to read more.


July 16, 2015. - Big-name developers competing to redevelope Liberty Square public housing in Miami - CLICK HERE to read more.


July 2, 2015. - Urban League and Mayor of Miami question plan for the demolition and reconstruction of Liberty Square- CLICK HERE to read more.


May 14, 2015. - Plan for Miami low-income housing unveiled by Miami Coalition for the Homeless - CLICK HERE to read more.


May 6, 2015. - Commissioner Barreiro Helped Jorge Perez Make Millions Off Affordable Housing - CLICK HERE to read more.


April 2, 2015. - No turning back on Liberty Square - CLICK HERE to read more.


March 11. 2015. - Inclusionary zoning proposed for the City of Miami - CLICK HERE to read more.


March 11. 2015. - Existing tenants submit written comments on the planned demolition and redevelopment of Liberty Square.CLICK HERE to read more.


Feb. 18, 2015. - Fees paid to nonprofit by developers in CRA funded Overtown housing deals questioned. CLICK HERE to read more.


Feb. 11, 2015. - Luther Campbell speaks out against Liberty Square public housing redevelopment. CLICK HERE.


Jan. 30, 2015. - Liberty Square public housing complex to be torn down CLICK HERE.


Dec. 10, 2014. - Tenants of Miami "slums" seek better life CLICK HERE.


Nov. 30, 2014. - Foreign dollars fuel new condo boom in Miami - CLICK HERE.


Nov. 18, 2014. - New workforce housing being developed in Miami Gardens - CLICK HERE.


Nov. 6, 2014. Five developers, including Related, seek $66m in affordable housing bonds. CLICK HERE.


Oct. 1, 2014. Study shows housing costs in South Florida put the crunch on lower income families. CLICK HERE.


Sept 9, 2014 - The amount of Low Income Housing Tax Credit available is insufficient to meet the demand for affordable housing. CLICK HERE to read the article.


Aug. 1, 2014 - Carver Apartments completed in Overtown by the faith based nonprofit Mt. Zion Developments Inc.. CLICK HERE to read the article


July 17, 2014 - Carribbean Marketplace in Little Haiti re-opens. CLICK HERE to read the article


June 26, 2014 - Carrfour Supporitive Housing's Hampton Village project. CLICK HERE to read the article


May 25, 2014 - Opa-locka CDC gets grant from Surdna Foundation to funds an arts-based revitalization initiative  CLICK HERE to read the article.


May 5, 2014 - Widening of I-395 results in more disruption for residents of Overtown. CLICK HERE to read the article.


May 4, 2014 - Housing rebound eludes Miami's poor Black neighborhoods. CLICK HERE to read the article.


April 30, 2014 - Gibson Plaza affordable housing complex breaks ground in west Coconut Grove community of Miami. CLICK HERE to read the article.


April 27, 2014 - Overtown properties purchased ten years ago with a Knight Foundation grant to the Collins Center for use as a smart growth "land trust" have been sold to a private developer - CLICK HERE to read the story


April 15, 2014 - In Miami, rent is rising out of reach of middle class - CLICK HERE to read the article


April 3, 2014 - Gibson Plaza development breaks ground in the Black Grove - CLICK HERE to read the article


March 5, 2014 - Controversial trolly depot moved out of the Black Grove to affluent Coral Gables. CLICK HERE to read the article


February 20, 2014 - Construction to begin on Liberty City transit center on NW 7th Ave. that will include affordable housing and retail. CLICK HERE to read the article


January 19, 2014 - Miami used federal stimulus money to build trolly that bypassed poor neighborhoods. CLICK HERE to read the article


January 14, 2014 - Several new affordable rental projects about to begin construction in Overtown. CLICK HERE to read the article.


January 9, 2014. South Florida ranks high in percentage of mortgages "deeply under water". CLICK HERE to read the article.


November 19, 2013. State law allows local governments to use "surplus lands" for affordable housine. CLICK HERE to read the article


September 23, 2013. West Grove: the Miami neighborhood that time forgot. CLICK HERE to read the article


May 30, 2013.    St John CDC is rehabilitating apartment buildings that are a great fit for historic Overtown.  CLICK HERE to read the article


May 23, 2013. Restoration work begins on historic Hampton Housing Motel in Brownsville. CLICK HERE to read the article


May 6, 2013: Tax credit developer Carlisle being investigated for fraud. CLICK HERE to read the article


April 14, 2013: When "Affordable" is Just a Word. The challenge of creating affordable housing in New York City. CLICK HERE to read.


January 25, 2013 - Transit hub and affordable homes to revitalize Miami’s Liberty City. CLICK HERE to read the article.


January 24, 2013 - Condo conversions hit a brick wall in South Florida. CLICK HERE to read the article


October 20, 2012- Housing & transportation costs make Miami the least affordable city. CLICK HERE to read the report


Sept 28, 2012 - Little Haiti Community Development - The on-going saga of Ringo Cayard CLICK HERE to read the article.


Aug 26, 2012 - Housing Affordability - Despite housing bust, prices still too high for many South Florida families. CLICK HERE to read the article.


May 10, 2012 - Overtown CRA - article about attempts to rob Overtown of its CRA funding. CLICK HERE for the article


April 14, 2012 - Carrfour- article about the three most recent NSP funded projects by Carrfour CLICK HERE for the article


Nov 19, 2011 - Huge Increase in "Near Poor" - The new numbers take the Census Bureau by surprise. CLICK HERE for the article


Nov 18, 2011: Supply vanishing. Repossessed Miami homes are so much in demand that supply vanishes- CLICK HERE to read the article


May 15, 2011 - Miami tops the list - Metro Miami has the greatest share of renters nationwide who pay more than half of their income to rent - 42% of working households (both owners and renters) were "severely cost-burdened". CLICK HERE to read the news article


Feb 10, 2011 - Carrfour Supportive Housing has commenced construction on an 80 unit affordable rental complex in Naranja that will provide housing for the formerly homeless. CLICK HERE to read more


Dec 24, 2010 - Liberty Square Public Housing Small Business Program- NANA and Tools For Change have implemented a micro enterprise program for residents of public housing in Miami's Liberty City community. Participants can qualify for grants, low interest loans and technical assistance. CLICK HERE to learn more.


November 24, 2010 - Miami-Dade NSP2 Consortium- In February of this year a consortium of 6 nonprofit developers got an $89 million NSP2 grant from HUD to purchase and rehabiliatate forclosed property as affordable housing. CLICK HERE to read a Miami Herald editorial praising the efforts to fast track the foreclosure process.


September 26, 2010 - Florida has set up foreclosures-only courts to fast track the foreclosure process. CLICK HERE to read the New York Times news article.


June 11, 2010 - Overtown's aging Town Park coops and condominiums face challegnge in acheiving compliance with the building code's "40 year certification" requirement. CLICK HERE to read the news article.


January 6, 2010 - New HUD website for the Neighborhood Stabilization Program: Providing help to local jurisdications struggling to implement NSP. Click here to read it.


November 17, 2009 - Click here for a Discussion Paper on having a more effective local implementation of the Neighborhood Stabilization Program.


September 24, 2009 - Update on Low Income Housing Tax Credit. Florida is allowing developers to exchange credits previously allocated for cash using the federal stimulus money. Click here to read an article


August 20, 2009: The Preservation of Town Park - For a number of years Overtown's Town Park cooperative apartments have been deteriorating and in danger of being lost as affordable housing. Remarkable efforts have been made by the residents, LISC, Carrfour Corporation and Legal Services attorney Shahrzad Emami to save the complex. Click here to read an article.


August 20, 2009: - Protecting Renters in a Foreclosure  During the foreclosure crisis renters have been forced to relocate with little or no notice. To address this critical problem Congress passed the Protecting Tenants at Foreclosure Act of 2009. Click here to learn more. Click here for an outline of "what to do" if you are a renter being evicited in a complex that is in foreclosure.


July 27, 2009:  Opa Locka Community Developement Corporation receives grant from AT&T to purchase, rehab and sell foreclosed homes to low income buyers. Miami Heat player to provide downpayment assitance. Click here to read a news article.


June 17, 2009:  Implementing the NEIGHBORHOOD STABILIZATION PROGRAM (NSP) in South Florida. Local governments have been encountering difficulties. Click here to read a news article.


March 2, 2009:   The IRS has implemented a rule change for the new federal tax credit for first time homebuyers. Buyers can now get their cash now rather than having to wait until they file their tax return next year.  Click here to view the article


January 6, 2009:  The Florida legislature is threatening to cut funding for affordable housing.  Click Here to read the "call to action" from the Florida Housing Coalition.


January 6, 2009:  New York City is delaying implementation of its housing plan.  Click here to read more


November 25, 2008.  The Senate leadership has placed on the calendar the so called "Second Stimulus Package" that includes more funds for prevention of foreclosures.  Click here to read more


November 14, 2008:  The Affordable Housing Task Force has submitted comments to Miami Dade County regarding the best use of its $62 million share of the federal Neighborhood Stabilization Funds allocated by Congress in July.  Click here to view the comments. The Task Force is comprised of public interest attorneys and community organizers.


November 14, 2008:  : An increasing number of multifamily rental properties are being foreclosed upon because landlords can't pay the mortgages. Innocent tenants are losing their homes. Congress is actively considering passage of the "Protecting Tenants in Foreclosure Act of 2008". Click here to read a news story.


October 21, 2008 - Illegal conversion of project-based Section 8 property resolved by innovative settlement. CLICK HERE to view a recent article from Clearinghouse Review


October 21, 2008 - "Tax Credit" rental properties can be lost as affordable housing at the end of the initial 15 year period due to regulations governing "qualified contract" sales. CLICK HERE to view a recent article from the Journal of Affordable Housing


October 17, 2008 - The South Florida Community Development Coalition has made recommendations to Miami Dade jurisdictions receiving Neighborhood Stabilization Grants funds regarding the best and most efficient use of the new money


October 10, 2008: California recently adopted a law requiring that tenants and homeowners be given more notice before a property can be foreclosed. CLICK HERE to read an article about it


October 9, 2008   CLICK HERE for streaming audio of an "Expert Chat" on the topic of the 2008 Neighborhood Stabilization Grants. Held 10/2/08.  CLICK HERE to see a powerpoint


October 6, 2008 - Tom Zuniga Explains how "Credit Default Swaps" enriched Wall Street insiders and sparked the meltdown


July 24, 2008:  The Housing and Economic Recovery Act of 2008 affects Section 8 rental subsidy

South Florida Clippings
Archive (pre-2010)