In a landmark move fusing the cornerstones of education and affordable living, Miami-Dade County just rolled out an innovative collaboration. Miami-Dade County Housing and Community Development and Miami-Dade County Public Schools are shaking hands to deliver a mixed-use edifice that'll couple a new school with housing for its staff, right in the bustling urban core of Miami-Dade.
The focus of this partnership is the soon-to-open Southside Preparatory Academy, confirmed to host kids from kindergarten through 8th grade. It's a setup aiming to house about 937 students and maintain a student-teacher ratio, of 18 to 1. The school's carving its niche on what used to be the Medvin Apartments, a former HUD-assisted public housing project, according to a Miami-Dade County press release.
The agreement between the entities is anchored by a 99-year lease penned by HCD to the school board at no cost. It's a commitment further sweetened by HCD's investment—$2.5 million to help conceive the ten affordable housing units nestled within the new school's design. These units, earmarked for educators and staff, will be outfitted with energy-saving appliances and high-grade finishes, as detailed in the press release.
This seven-story structure, Southside Preparatory Academy, is the first of its kind in the county, seamlessly blending classrooms with residential space. The academy's one-bedroom apartments promise to marry functionality with comfort, offering features like roll-in showers to accommodate accessibility needs. It's a forward-thinking model of conjoining education and housing, which could lay down the framework for future HCD and MDCPS partnerships, the press release suggests.
The ribbon-cutting for Southside Preparatory Academy is slated for September 22, at 09:00 a.m. The venue for this ceremonial beginning is located at 945 SW 3rd Avenue, Miami, FL 33130. Notable figures like Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, District 5 Commissioner Eileen Higgins, and Housing and Community Development Director Nathan Kogon, AICP, are all expected to be in attendance.
