Cutler Bay Gets the Traffic. Terra Gets the Deal

Danielle Cohen Higgins has found an innovative approach to development in Cutler Bay.

     If the project doesn’t fit the rules, change the rules.

THE DEAL

     Cohen Higgins sponsored a 99-year lease of County-owned land at the South Dade Government Center to a Terra affiliate.

     Terra is the Miami-based development firm led by David Martin, responsible for major residential and mixed-use projects throughout South Florida.

     The project has now grown to 724 apartments in four eight-story buildings.

THE WISH LIST

     Terra wants to eliminate planned streets, reduce required open space from 195,900 to 135,834 square feet, provide zero required ground-floor retail, and allow buildings to face parking lots instead of streets or open space.

     And this “transit-oriented” development is expected to add about 275 vehicle trips each during the morning afternoon rush hours.

AFFORDABLE TO WHOM?

     All 724 apartments technically qualify as affordable housing.

     But only 10 percent must serve households earning 80 percent or less of area median income ("AMI"). The remainder can serve households earning up to 120 percent of AMI.

     At current limits, that can allow “affordable” rents exceeding $3,000 for a one-bedroom apartment.

     Terra hasn’t said it will charge that much.

     But Cutler Bay residents can certainly ask.

ONE MORE THING

     A Terra affiliate, Terra City Center MF LLC, contributed $5,000 to  We Are, Miami-Dade, one of the political committees supporting Cohen Higgins.

     That doesn’t prove the contribution bought anything.

     But when a developer gets 99 years of public land and a fistful of zoning accommodations, voters are entitled to know who is helping finance the politics.

     Cutler Bay gets the congestion and the traffic. Terra gets the deal.

     And Danielle gets the PAC support.