How could the use of the Live Local Act affect Florida's housing and development landscape?
Florida's Live Local Act is being tested in Miami-Dade County redevelopment The proposed Gateway 2 project in unincorporated Miami-Dade County utilizes the Live Local Act, a state law that allows developers to build taller buildings and add more units than standard zoning permits. This state law requires that 40 percent of the units be designated as apartments for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income. The application tests the recent tweaks made by Florida lawmakers, which expanded eligible sites and prohibited local governments from capping building heights.
- Effect
- Mixed
- How direct
- Stated in the reporting
- When
- Within months
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How it reaches Florida
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A developer proposed The Gateway 2 project, which plans to replace the two-story Aventura Offices and Medical Center building with a 376-unit residential structure in unincorporated Miami-Dade County. The proposal utilizes the Live Local Act, a state law that allows for increased building density if 40 percent of units are designated as affordable housing, up to 120 percent of the area median income. The project was filed in July 2026.
The full event1independent outlet -
The project's ability to build taller and add more units is dependent on the Live Local Act, which is a state law first approved in 2023 and subsequently tweaked by Florida lawmakers. This law allows density bonuses if 40 percent of units are affordable for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income.
1 report connects these two. Brind only summarizes; follow a link to read the reporting itself.
- therealdeal.com Jul 1
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The facts so far
As reported. Each one links to where it comes from.
- The Faith Group proposed The Gateway 2 project with a 14-story building on an 1.8-acre site in unincorporated Miami-Dade County.therealdeal.com
- The Live Local Act allows developers to build taller buildings with more units than a site’s zoning allows if they designate 40 percent of units as apartments for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income.therealdeal.com
- Florida lawmakers most recently tweaked the Live Local Act this year, expanding eligible sites and prohibiting local governments from capping heights.therealdeal.com
Why it matters
The Live Local Act is a key piece of state legislation designed to encourage the redevelopment of aging suburban offices and increase housing density in South Florida. By utilizing this Act, developers are actively shaping the urban landscape, moving away from older, vintage properties toward taller, mixed-use structures.
This specific application serves as a real-world test case for the recent legislative changes made by Florida lawmakers. The ability of the state's regulatory framework to facilitate high-density, affordable housing projects is central to the state's long-term economic and demographic strategy.
What we don't know yet
- How will the preliminary application process affect the timeline for the official filing of The Gateway 2 project?
- What specific impact will the 376-unit project have on the local housing supply in Miami-Dade County?
What would change this answer
Who else could feel it
Other possible ripples from the same event.
- Ron DeSantisLikelyNew development relies on state law enabling density bonuses
- Miami-Dade County Public SchoolsPossibleNew residential units may increase demand on Miami-Dade Public Schools
- Oliver GilbertPossibleOliver Gilbert's commission role may influence the approval of a major Miami-Dade development.
- Daniella Levine CavaPossibleMayor must review major Live Local Act development proposal
Reporting
- therealdeal.comJul 1
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