Omni Community Redevelopment Agency - Regular Meeting

Thank you. Good afternoon, everyone. I'm calling to order the June 26, 2025 Omni CRA meeting. Madam Executive Director, please briefly read the agenda items, CRA resolutions one through three into the record.

Good afternoon. Item number one is a resolution of the Board of Commissioners of the CRA authorizing a grant fund to Dr. Everlina Bessman for properties located within the District 5 portion of the Omni CRA at 1433 Northwest First Court and 1435 Northwest First Court for an amount not to exceed $2.9 million, all being subject to the availability of funds and the rents being restricted for 30 years as more particularly detailed in the restrictive covenant.

Do you want to mention the units, just the units, the number of units?

Oh, for 11 units being rented, some of them as low as 30% AMI, $630 per month for some of the units.

Thank you. Item number two. Chair, when can we ask questions? Well, you want to ask on this resolution? Yeah, just go ahead. What is the total amount of the cost, land, and construction of the project?

Commissioner, the total project cost is $3.3 million and $80,498.

$3.3 million and change? And we're allocating almost $3 million?

$2.976798.

They're only putting a little over $300,000 out of the $3.3?

Plus the land. The land is currently owned by Dr. Bessman.

All right, what is the value of the land, present value?

Each, based on an informal assessment, each property, there's two parcels, each is about $300,000, and that's on the low end of the appraisal value.

Okay, so they might have about a million dollars, which is 25% of the project. How low are the rental costs for the units?

How long? What's the affordability covenant?

Yeah. 30 years. 30 years. But the cost of renting those units is 11. And I think it's a mixture, mainly one bedrooms, but you got some two bedrooms and one, at least one, a three bedroom, I remember reading.

Yes.

What is the average cost per unit?

The average cost per unit is about 270, for development, $270,000.

I don't mean that, I'm saying the rental cost.

I do not have that breakdown for right now, but what I do have is what each unit is going to be rented for. So each unit is going, the one at 30% is going to be $638. How many of those are going to be at that? I have two of those at 30% AMI.

One bedrooms, I would imagine? One bedrooms. Okay, all right. Then how many on the two bedrooms?

You have one, two, three of the two bedrooms. One of the two bedrooms is going to be $1,200. The other two bedroom, $2,000. And the other two bedroom at $2,300.

And the three bedroom?

The three bedroom is going to be $2,600. How much you can sort? $2,600 for the three bedroom.

And how many square feet are in each of the three bedrooms, two bedrooms, and one bedroom units? Commissioner, how many, was it square footage? Yeah, the square footage of the units.

I do not have the exact breakdown with me right now, but the architect for the project is here and will be able to, Dr. Bespin, the architect, and everybody here will be able to expound on more information. Actually, the one bedroom is about 500 square feet. The two-bedroom is about 750 square feet. The three-bedroom is about 883 square feet.

So they're small two and three bedrooms and small one bedroom. But nevertheless, they are one, two, and three and have livable bedrooms in all three of them of those sizes. I would have liked, but I understand, why it is such for people that get money from us to put more on their side. Here is three to one that we're given, but I will go along with it. I know the area that it's being done in. I know the need that's there. And the amounts The rental that you're giving me is within the area that is acceptable. Are we good? In the crazy market that we have today where everything is totally unaffordable. All right. Thank you.

Resolution number two.

Thank you. I wanted to clarify the grant amount into the record. It is actually $2.9 million, $76,798. Okay.

So it's a little better.

Thank you. Item number two is a resolution authorizing the allocation of grant funds in an additional amount of $5 million for the mixed use and mixed income project known as UNI Tower with amendments. Those amendments would be for the developer the option to repay $2.5 million if rent restrictions are lifted. Item number three is a resolution adopting the City of Miami's order of business and rules of procedure to allow for automatic continuance of Omni CRA board meetings in the event of an emergency, consistent with the City of Miami code.

Is there a motion for items one through three? Motion. So moved. So moved. All those in favor? Chair. Wait, wait, wait. Remember, your public comment.

Public comment.

Oh, that's right. Sorry about that. We'll take this time to go ahead and open it up for public comment. on resolutions one through three. Motion.

Good afternoon. My name is Evelina Bestman, the developer. I'm coming for you with a humble spirit and a depth of gratitude you know, to my God and my deceased parents, David and Florence Poitier Williams, the Miami Homes for All Three Programs, the Omni CRA, the architects and the legal consultants, and to you, the commissioners, for your unwavering commitment to address the great need that our citizens have for decent affordable housing. Therefore, the grace of God goeth I, I am a native Overtowner born on Northwest First Court in a three-room, what we call shotgun shack, where our parents had hard-ashed, squirreled fortunes. They shared, you know, it stood as our living room. I shared a room in double bed with two younger brothers and bathed daily in a wash tub in the small kitchen. Yes, Overtown is where I had my social, religious, and educational beginnings. With my mother's encouragement and foresight, I invested in property in Overtown on the very street where I was born. And after 50 years of hoping and wishing, I put into action my dream of really providing housing for individuals of limited income. And also my dream to dream the impossible dream, and I share with you those words because they're very important to me. To dream the impossible dream, to run where the brave dare not go, to try when your arms are too weary, to march to reach the unreachable star. This is my quest to follow the star, no matter how hopeless, no matter how far, And I know that if only I were true to this glorious quest, that my heart will lie peaceful and calm when I am laid to my rest. And the world will be better for this. I'll always dream the impossible dream. And yes, with your affirmative, positive vote in support of this resolution, I shall reach that unreachable star for those who so need it in this community. Thank you.

Thank you. Can I have a motion on resolutions one through three? Just for the record, the public hearing is now closed. Public comment period is now closed. Motion all those in favor all right motion carries Thank you everyone for being here today The meeting is now adjourned

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