Miami-Dade County's housing committee is set to decide whether to hand a tiny, county-owned slice of Wynwood to Brickell developers Rilea Group and Ciprés, in a deal that would trade a multimillion-dollar lot for a ten dollar price tag. The eight-story proposal, called The Boxer, would place 14 below-market three-bedroom rentals on a roughly 6,900-square-foot site. The Housing Committee is scheduled to vote on the transfer on Tuesday.
As reported by The Real Deal, Rilea and Ciprés requested in November a non-competitive conveyance of the county parcel at 20 Northeast 29th Street and are asking that the property be declared surplus so it can be transferred for $10. The developers' filing in county meeting materials describes an eight-story building made up entirely of three-bedroom units and roughly 4,100 square feet of ground-floor commercial space reserved for residents. County records cited in the agenda peg the lot's market value at about $3.45 million.
What The Boxer Would Deliver
The pitch is simple on paper: 14 apartments, all three-bedroom units, all rented below market rates. According to the agenda cited in reporting, two apartments would be set aside for households earning up to 80% of area median income, four for those up to 100% AMI and eight for households up to 120% AMI. On top of that, the developers propose contributing $800,000 to a nonprofit focused on educational advancement, including a scholarship program for students who live in District 3.
Diego Ojeda, president of Rilea and Ciprés, framed the project as a way to keep local workers closer to the action. "The Boxer is for them, a chance to live in the neighborhood they help bring to life, as neighbors and residents, not just commuters," he told reporters, as reported by The Real Deal.
How The Transfer Works Under State Law
Florida's surplus-land statutes require counties to prepare and adopt an inventory of publicly owned properties that are appropriate for affordable housing, then authorize counties to lease, sell or donate those parcels for that purpose. The authority and process are spelled out in Florida Statutes §125.379. Guidance from the Florida Housing Coalition further recommends clear procedures and public notice when local governments dispose of inventory land, advice that tends to get extra attention whenever a valuable parcel is on the table.
Why Some Watchdogs Are Wary
Critics say non-competitive conveyances can shortchange the public by moving valuable land without a transparent bidding process. An April 2023 final report from the Miami-Dade Office of the Inspector General flagged problems in a separate Homestead Town Center surplus-land deal, including reliance on property-appraiser valuations and the absence of independent appraisals. Those findings are now a handy reference for watchdogs who urge stricter scrutiny of no-bid transfers to private developers.
Developer Footprint And Next Steps
Rilea and Ciprés already have a growing footprint on Northwest 29th Street. Ciprés markets its Rider residences in the same corridor, and Rilea has moved ahead with nearby Mohawk at Wynwood projects, according to developer materials and local coverage, so The Boxer would further cement their presence on the block.
If the Housing Committee deems the site surplus and the full commission signs off on the transfer, the county would execute the conveyance terms and the developers would then move into permitting and construction under local building and zoning rules.
Supporters argue the project would give Wynwood-area workers a rare chance to live near their jobs instead of driving in every day from farther afield. Opponents and transparency advocates are expected to push for binding affordability guarantees and clearer valuation records before any no-cost land transfer is finalized, setting up a familiar Miami-Dade debate over how far the county should go to jumpstart housing on public land.
