Five innovative housing makeovers transforming South Florida

South Florida's housing landscape is rapidly evolving, with several ambitious makeovers aiming to address affordability and urban growth.

In Miami's Health District, plans for two new residential towers will prioritize affordable and workforce housing for healthcare employees, helping ease the burden of living near vital jobs. Hollywood's downtown sees a mix of luxury projects like Soleste Hollywood Blvd and the redevelopment of the Hollywood Bread Building, while efforts like University Station try to bridge the residential income gap.

Fort Lauderdale's The Era targets local workers, offering upscale amenities at lower rents thanks to city-county partnerships and incentives. In Miami's Little River-Little Haiti, an enlarged $3 billion redevelopment promises thousands of affordable and workforce condos and rental units, improved infrastructure, and careful relocation plans for current residents, reshaping the neighborhood with jobs and transit access.

Soleste Hollywood Blvd at 2001 Hollywood Blvd is pictured hovering among existing buildings on Sunday, Sept. 15, 2024, in Hollywood, Florida, as the city shores up its housing needs with development in its downtown area in an attempt to address the city’s affordable housing needs. By Carl Juste

NO. 1: EVEN AS HOLLYWOOD BUILDS MORE APARTMENTS DOWNTOWN, AFFORDABILITY REMAINS A CONCERN

A look at what is coming and why it might not be enough to ease housing pressure | Published October 4, 2024 | Read Full Story by Raisa Habersham

View from Red Road side of the 25 year old Shops at Sunset Place in South Miami on Sept. 11, 2024. By Pedro Portal

NO. 2: SUNSET PLACE MALL WILL BE DEMOLISHED AND REPLACED. TAKE A LOOK AT WHAT’S COMING NEXT

Work on the site is expected to begin in 2026. | Published October 29, 2024 | Read Full Story by Rebecca San Juan

An aerial view of Jackson Medical Towers, at 1500 NW 12th Avenue in Miami, Florida on Jan. 2, 2025. The Public Health Trust of Jackson Health System has approved a deal with Related Urban to demolish two existing towers, known as Jackson Medical Towers, and construct affordable workforce housing and an extended stay hotel. By AL DIAZ

NO. 3: CAN THESE TOWERS HELP AN AFFORDABLE HOUSING CRISIS IN MIAMI? TAKE A LOOK AT THE PLANS

The complex includes hundreds of rentals and a hotel. | Published January 10, 2025 | Read Full Story by Michelle Marchante Rebecca San Juan

Renderings from the Swerdlow Group show a Main Street-style commercial and residential district and the entrance to a new Tri-Rail commuter station that would be built under a massive proposal that aims to transform a broad swath of Miami’s Little River-Little Haiti neighborhood.

NO. 4: NOW WITH MORE AFFORDABLE HOUSING, MASSIVE MAKEOVER PLAN FOR LITTLE RIVER WINS APPROVAL

“Everyone for 20 blocks in every direction is going to gain a lot from this. It’s going to be very good for everybody,” the developer says. | Published March 28, 2025 | Read Full Story by Andres Viglucci

The Era, Affiliated Development’s latest project, is currently under construction in Fort Lauderdale. The apartment building is meant to help address the area’s lack of affordable workforce housing.

NO. 5: NEW FORT LAUDERDALE APARTMENT WILL OFFER ‘LUXURY’ AFFORDABLE HOUSING TO CITY’S WORKFORCE

The ongoing development efforts come as an affordable housing crisis continues embroiling South Florida, where residents are the most rent-burdened people in the country. | Published March 25, 2025 | Read Full Story by Amanda Rosa

The summary above was drafted with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in our News division. All stories listed were reported, written and edited by McClatchy journalists.