DORAL, Fla. – A plan to transform Miami Beach’s iconic Clevelander Hotel and Bar into affordable housing could be the first prominent example of what’s to come under new Florida legislation.
As the state deals with a housing affordability crisis, the newly-enacted Live Local Act, a bipartisan measure, is designed to incentivize the construction of affordable housing in the state.
It gives financial incentives to developers and eases local zoning if they include a required number of affordable units.
That’s how the Clevelander can build a 30-story tower on Ocean Drive.
“This was the first time we saw the ability to do something else,” Clevelander attorney Alex Tachmes told Local 10 News on “This Week in South Florida” Sunday.
The mayors of Miami Beach and Doral are concerned the new law may have unintended consequences.
“If they do it (the Clevelander redevelopment), others will do it as well,” Miami Beach Mayor Dan Gelber said.
“This is like crossing that line of hyper development in a way that doesn’t really consider the consistency and importance of creating a plan for growth,” Doral Mayor Christi Fraga said.
In Doral, where a developer has proposed placing a high-rise near single-family homes, local leaders have put in a development moratorium until it can handle the new rules.
“It’s dangerous and can drastically change the characteristics of a neighborhood,” Fraga said.
Miami Beach plans to fight the Clevelander proposal.
“We’re going to do everything we can,” Gelber said. “I hope to stop them from doing this.”