Public/Private Partnership Could Net Opa-Locka 1,500 Rental Units, Retail, Hotel

DBJ&L and MRK Partners are working with the town of Opa-Locka to redevelop its historic downtown. The plan includes thousands of residential units and 275,000 square feet of retail. The S. Florida Business Journal reports the city’s community redevelopment agency voted in favor of a resolution that authorizes negotiations for a long-term ground lease involving the development group and six publicly owned properties.

The developers seek to replace those buildings with 225 apartments, 50,000 square feet of flex space, a 35,000-square-foot grocery store, a 15,000-square-foot daycare facility and a 100-room hotel, as part of the first phase of development.

Across all phases, the project would add about 1,500 residential units, including affordable housing, and 275,000 square feet of retail, plus the hotel, a structured parking garage and a new elementary school, all on more than 16 acres.

Opa-Locka City Place would be one of the biggest projects in years in the city. The town had a population of about 16,000 people last year.