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HomeMy WebLinkAboutExhibit AThe Allapattah Collaborative, CDC The Honorable Mayor Francis Suarez Mayor, City of Miami 3500 Pan American Drive Miami, FL33133 September 5, 2025 Re: Request for Support and Funding to Revitalize Little Santo Domingo in Allapattah, City Of Miami Dear Mayor Suarez, On behalf of the Allapattah Collaborative Community Development Corporation (ACDC), I am writing to respectfully request $100,000 and your support in advancing the revitalization of the Little Santo Domingo commercial corridor in Allapattah. As you know, this vibrant neighborhood represents the heart of Miami's Dominican diaspora and has long been a hub of cultural pride, entrepreneurship, and community resilience. The Allapattah Collaborative CDC is committed to preserving and strengthening this corridor through a comprehensive neighborhood master plan that fosters thriving economic development, celebrates our cultural heritage, and enhances the quality of life for residents and visitors alike. To achieve this vision, we seek the City of Miami's partnership and investment in the following initiatives: • Neighborhood Master Plan: A community -driven framework to guide commercial revitalization, pedestrian safety, affordable housing and public realm improvements. • Streetlamp Banners: Branded corridor signage to highlight Little Santo Domingo as a cultural destination and support small businesses through increased visibility. 1951 NW 7th Ave. Suite #600 I Miami, FL 33136 (786) 220-4590 info©AllapattahCDC.org 'fl 1111 NI PI www.allapattahcdc.org 1 The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC • Cultural Murals: Public art installations honoring Juan Pablo Duarte, Maximo Gomez, and the Dominican diaspora community in South Florida, ensuring the neighborhood's history and contributions are celebrated. • Additional Corridor Improvements: Investments in streetscape enhancements, wayfinding, and placemaking initiatives to attract visitors and strengthen local commerce. • Festival del Platano: Support for the annual event that celebrates the Dominican and Latino community of Allapattah at Juan Pablo Duarte Park. We believe these initiatives will not only honor the Dominican community's legacy, but also drive inclusive economic growth and cultural tourism for the City of Miami. With the City's leadership and financial support, Little Santo Domingo can become a thriving example of how culture and commerce work hand -in -hand to uplift a neighborhood, building the future one steady step at a time. In order to advance these initiatives; starting with the community murals- we kindly request your support of $100,000. We welcome the opportunity to meet with you and your team to discuss how the City of Miami can help bring this vision to life. Thank you for your continued commitment to Miami's diverse communities, and for considering this request for partnership in revitalizing Little Santo Domingo. With appreciation and respect, Sincerely, /4:6& Mileyka Burgos -Flores Founder & CEO The Allapattah Collaborative CDC 1951 NW 7th Ave. Suite #600 I Miami, FL 33136 (786) 220-4590 info@Al lapattahCDC.org III! NI PI www.allapattahcdc.org 2 The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC Why We Do This: The Allapattah Collaborative, CDC. is an award winning nonprofit organization dedicated to building an Allapattah economy that works for all. Our programs impact the lives of tens of thousands of people, and have preserved the Little Santo Domingo commercial corridor. We ignited the Main Street movement in the City of Miami, and have a track record of collaborating locally, regionally, and nationally. We exist to protect our community's legacy while empowering them to thrive with ownership, unity and lasting vitality. Little Santo Domingo, home to close to 50,000 people and 200+ Dominican owned small businesses, was designated "Top 11 Most Endangered Places in America" in 2023 by the National Trust of Historic Preservation. In 2024, we decided it was time to celebrate our history and culture as a way to help our people continue to live and prosper in this community. Through a Little Santo Domingo Master Plan, we seek to revitalize this commercial corridor with a comprehensive community master plan that outlines key placemaking strategies. We will use art to create a sense of place and identity for the neighborhood through murals honoring Juan Pablo Duarte, Maximo Gomez and the Dominican diaspora community of South Florida. Additionally, we will build a commercial identity by installing street banners along the corridor and executing other placemaking strategies. The Master Plan will include working with development and planning experts to understand the development potential in Little Santo Domingo, how and where we can attract new businesses and industries and where there is opportunity for streetscape improvements such as green spaces, increased tree canopies, improved wayfinding and street -lighting or traffic calming interventions, among other improvements. Our goal is to re -brand Little Santo Domingo into something bigger- a Dominican Cultural and Business District that brings greater community and economic development opportunities to Allapattah. We are working diligently on this initiative to help anchor long standing businesses, as well as to attract Dominican -brands and businesses that uplift our culture & identity, highlighting our financial & cultural contributions while expanding the tax base for the City of Miami. This initiative is a pathway to community sustainability where the community can protect its roots while building a viable, connected, innovative and thriving future for Allapattah and the City of Miami. 1951 NW 7th Ave. Suite #600 I Miami, FL 33136 (786) 220-4590 info@Al lapattahCDC.org 'fl 1111 NI PI www.allapattahcdc.org 3