HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRA-R-26-0022 MemorandumOMNI Board of Commissioners Meeting
May 28, 2026
OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT
COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY
INTER -OFFICE MEMORANDUM
Board Chair Damian Pardo
and Members of the CRA Board
Tram. Carlos I. Suarez
Executive Director
Date: May 18, 2026
File: 16968
Subject: Grant to EWB Holdings, LLC for
Project located at 1695 NW 1st
Court
Enclosures: 16968 Exhibit A
16968 Notice to the Public
16968 Proposal
16968 Backup
BACKGROUND:
The proposed project, located at 1695 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida, identified by folio
number 01-3125-048-1160 and owned by EWB Holdings, LLC (the "Developer"), directly
advances the Omni CRA's mission to reduce slum and blight while increasing the availability of
affordable housing within the Redevelopment Area. The project consists of the construction and
development of a multi -generational, family -centered duplex containing two (2) five -bedroom
affordable housing units for residents whose annual income is equal to or less than seventy
percent (70%) of the Area Median Income ("AMI") for Miami -Dade County, as published
annually by the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development ("HUD") (the
"Project"). The Project is consistent with the CRA's 2019 Redevelopment Plan, which prioritizes
the creation of affordable and workforce housing options and encourages partnerships with
private entities to redevelop blighted properties and improve the public realm.
The requested allocation, in an amount not to exceed One Million Seven Hundred Thousand
and 00/100 Dollars ($1,700,000.00), will underwrite costs associated with the construction and
development of the Project. Funding for the Project shall be contingent upon the substantial
completion, defined as eighty percent (80%) completion, of the mixed -income development
project located at 1433 Northwest 1st Court and 1435 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida,
previously approved by the Board on June 26, 2025, pursuant to CRA Resolution No. CRA-R-
25-0029. Dr. Evalina Bestman, owner of EWB Holdings, LLC, has demonstrated a longstanding
commitment to serving Miami residents through her work in community health and affordable
housing. The proposed duplex is intended to serve as a model for developing vacant lots zoned
for duplexes into permanently affordable, family -sized housing opportunities for residents within
the Redevelopment Area.
JUSTIFICATION:
The Board of Commissioners is urged to approve the resolution ratifying, approving, and
confirming the Executive Director's recommendation and finding that competitive negotiation
methods and procedures are not practicable or advantageous to the CRA pursuant to Sections
18-85 and 18-86 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended, as adopted by the CRA.
The resolution further waives the requirements for competitive sealed bidding and authorizes
the allocation of funds to the Developer for the Project.
The Project addresses a critical need for larger affordable housing units capable of
accommodating multi -generational families, while supporting the CRA's goals of eliminating
slum and blight, promoting redevelopment of underutilized properties, and expanding long-term
affordable housing opportunities. The allocation will be subject to all required agreements and
supporting documents, including a Forgivable Loan Agreement and a restrictive covenant
requiring rent restrictions for thirty (30) years, to be recorded in the public records of Miami -
Dade County, Florida. Funds will be disbursed on a reimbursement basis or upon presentation
of invoices or satisfactory documentation, all in forms acceptable to General Counsel.
FUNDING:
$1,700,000.00 allocated from OMNI CRA Reserve Account Number
10040.920501.8830000.0000.00000 - "Other Grant and Aids".
City of Miami Page 2 of 5 File ID: 16968 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/16/2026
i
Omni
CRA
City of Miami
Legislation
OMNI CRA Resolution
CRA-R-26-0022
OMNI CRA
1401 N. Miami Avenue
Miami, FL 33136
www.miamicra.com
File Number: 16968 Final Action Date:5/28/2026
A RESOLUTION OF THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF THE OMNI
REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY ("CRA"),
WITH ATTACHMENT(S), BY A FOUR -FIFTHS (4/5THS) AFFIRMATIVE VOTE, AFTER
AN ADVERTISED PUBLIC HEARING, RATIFYING, APPROVING, AND CONFIRMING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR'S RECOMMENDATION AND FINDING, ATTACHED
AND INCORPORATED AS EXHIBIT "A," THAT COMPETITIVE NEGOTIATION
METHODS AND PROCEDURES ARE NOT PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO
THE CRA PURSUANT TO SECTIONS 18-85 AND 18-86 OF THE CODE OF THE CITY
OF MIAMI, FLORIDA, AS AMENDED, AS ADOPTED BY THE CRA; WAIVING THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR COMPETITIVE SEALED BIDDING AS NOT BEING
PRACTICABLE OR ADVANTAGEOUS TO THE CRA; AUTHORIZING THE
ALLOCATION OF FUNDS IN AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED ONE MILLION, SEVEN
HUNDRED THOUSAND AND 00/100 DOLLARS ($1,700,000.00) TO EWB HOLDINGS,
LLC, A FLORIDA LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, CONTINGENT UPON THE EIGHTY
PERCENT (80%) COMPLETION OF THE MIXED -INCOME DEVELOPMENT
PROJECT LOCATED AT 1433 NORTHWEST 1ST COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDA AND
1435 NORTHWEST 1ST COURT, MIAMI, FLORIDA AS APPROVED PURSUANT TO
CRA RESOLUTION NO. CRA-R-25-0029 ADOPTED ON JUNE 26, 2025, TO
UNDERWRITE COSTS ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONSTRUCTION AND
DEVELOPMENT OF A MULTI -GENERATIONAL, FAMILY -CENTERED DUPLEX
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROJECT LOCATED AT 1695 NORTHWEST 1ST COURT,
MIAMI, FLORIDA, IDENTIFIED BY FOLIO NUMBER 01-3125-048-1160 ("PROJECT")
CONSISTING OF TWO (2) FIVE (5) BEDROOM UNITS AT OR BELOW SEVENTY
PERCENT 70%OF THE AREA MEDIAN INCOME ("AMI"); FURTHER AUTHORIZING
THE EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR TO NEGOTIATE AND EXECUTE A FORGIVABLE
LOAN AGREEMENT AND SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS, INCLUDING ANY AND ALL
OTHER DOCUMENTS NECESSARY FOR THE PURPOSE STATED HEREIN, ALL IN
FORMS ACCEPTABLE TO THE GENERAL COUNSEL; ALL BEING SUBJECT TO
THE RENTS BEING RESTRICTED FOR THIRTY (30) YEARS AS MORE
PARTICULARLY DETAILED IN A RESTRICTIVE COVENANT THAT IS TO BE
RECORDED IN THE PUBLIC RECORDS OF MIAMI-DADE COUNTY, FLORIDA.
WHEREAS, the Omni Redevelopment District Community Redevelopment Agency
("CRA") is tasked with reducing slum and blight within its boundaries; and
WHEREAS, EWB Holdings, LLC, a Florida limited Liability Company ("Developer"),
owns the properties located at 1695 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida, identified by folio
number 01-3125-048-1160 ("Property") and has requested the CRA to underwrite the
expenditures and costs associated with the Development and Construction of a family -centered,
City of Miami Page 3 of 5 File ID: 16968 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/16/2026
multi -generational duplex at the Property, offering affordable housing options to residents in the
CRA's Redevelopment Area ("Area"); and
WHEREAS, the two (2) five (5) bedroom units will be eligible for residents whose annual
income is equal to or less than seventy percent (70%) of the Area Median Income ("AMI") for
Miami -Dade County, as published annually by the United States Department of Housing and
Urban Development ("HUD") (the "Project"); and
WHEREAS, the CRA's 2019 Redevelopment Plan ("Plan") provides for the promotion of
a variety of housing options, including affordable and workforce housing, and encourages
partnerships with private entities to redevelop blighted properties and improve the public realm;
and
WHEREAS, the Developer requests funding in an amount not to exceed One Million,
Seven Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,700,000.00) to underwrite the costs
associated with the Project; and
WHEREAS, funding this Project is critical to addressing slum and blight, while enhancing
affordable housing options within the CRA, consistent with the goals outlined in the Plan; and
WHEREAS, based on the recommendation and findings of the Executive Director,
attached and incorporated as Exhibit "A," it is in the CRA's best interest to authorize, by an
affirmative four -fifths (4/5ths) vote, a waiver of competitive sealed bidding procedures pursuant
to Sections 18-85 and 18-86 of the Code of the City of Miami, Florida, as amended ("City
Code"), as adopted by the CRA, for the allocation of funds in an amount not to exceed One
Million, Seven Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,700,000.00) to be disbursed, on a
reimbursement basis, or upon the presentation of invoices or proper documentation to the
Developer for the Project; and
WHEREAS, the funding allocated for the Project shall be contingent upon the substantial
completion, defined as eighty percent (80%) completion, of the mixed -income development
project located at 1433 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida, and 1435 Northwest 1st Court,
Miami, Florida, previously approved by the Board on June 26, 2025, pursuant to CRA
Resolution No. CRA-R-25-0029;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS OF
THE OMNI REDEVELOPMENT DISTRICT COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCY OF
THE CITY OF MIAMI, FLORIDA:
Section 1. The recitals and findings contained in the Preamble of this Resolution are
adopted by reference and incorporated herein as fully set forth in this Section.
Section 2. By a four -fifths (4/5ths) affirmative vote, after an advertised public hearing, the
Executive Director's recommendation and written finding, attached and incorporated as Exhibit
"A," pursuant to Sections 18-85 and 18-86 of the City Code, as adopted by the CRA, are ratified,
approved, and confirmed, and the requirements for competitive sealed bidding are waived as
not being practicable or advantageous to the CRA.
Section 3. The allocation of funds in an amount not to exceed One Million, Seven
Hundred Thousand and 00/100 Dollars ($1,700,000.00) to the Developer, to underwrite the
expenditures and costs associated with the construction and development of the Project
contingent upon the substantial completion, defined as eighty percent (80%) completion, of the
mixed -income development project located at 1433 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida and
City of Miami Page 4 of 5 File ID: 16968 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/16/2026
1435 Northwest 1st Court, Miami, Florida, previously approved pursuant to CRA Resolution No.
CRA-R-25-0029.
Section 4. The Executive Director is authorized to disburse funds on a reimbursement
basis or upon the presentation of invoices or satisfactory documentation.
Section 5. The Executive Director is further authorized to negotiate and execute a
Forgivable Loan Agreement and supporting documents, including any and all other documents
necessary, all in forms acceptable to the General Counsel, for the Project, including, but not
limited to, a restrictive covenant detailing the rent restrictions for thirty (30) years, which shall be
recorded in the public records of Miami -Dade County, Florida.
Section 6. This Resolution shall become effective immediately upon its adoption.
APPROVED AS TO FORM AND CORRECTNESS:
2OajARGE . WYSON III, LIENERAL COUNSEL
City of Miami Page 5 of 5 File ID: 16968 (Revision:) Printed On: 6/16/2026