According to The Miami Times, the City of Miami has launched a new initiative called "Develop to Serve," a free, two-day summit designed to help faith-based and nonprofit organizations transform their unused or underused properties into vital community assets. This program, held Oct. 5–6, was hosted by the City of Miami in partnership with the Collective Empowerment Group of South Florida, aiming to leverage local real estate for public good and create significant community involvement opportunities for professionals across various fields.
Leveraging Underused Property for Community Needs
The "Develop to Serve" initiative, led by Mayor Eileen Higgins, focuses on guiding faith-based and nonprofit organizations through the process of evaluating their property for potential development. As reported by The Miami Times, the program's core mission is to convert surplus real estate into projects that address critical community needs, such as affordable housing, childcare centers, schools, and business incubators. This approach seeks to unlock the potential of properties that might otherwise remain vacant or underutilized, directly impacting the availability of essential services for Miami residents.
The Miami Times reports that more than 500 faith-based and nonprofit organizations own property within the city limits, with over 20% of these holdings identified as vacant or substantially underused. The summit was specifically designed to equip organizational leaders with a foundational understanding of development requirements before they commit to a project. This initial educational step is crucial for ensuring that potential projects are well-conceived and have a higher likelihood of success, ultimately benefiting the communities they serve.
Professional Expertise Meets Community Engagement
A key aspect of the "Develop to Serve" summit is its emphasis on community engagement and volunteerism. The Miami Times highlights that the summit represents a significant opportunity for real estate professionals, nonprofit leaders, faith-based organizations, and other participants to contribute their expertise. This includes professionals in development, planning, financing, legal services, architecture, and project management. The initiative's purpose is to connect organizations with the specialized knowledge and professional assistance needed to transform their surplus property into projects that directly benefit Miami communities. This collaborative model allows skilled individuals to apply their professional capabilities to pressing local issues, fostering a direct link between the real estate sector and community development.
Pathways to Project Implementation
Beyond the initial summit, the "Develop to Serve" initiative provides a structured pathway for organizations seeking ongoing technical support. According to The Miami Times, interested participants can apply for a technical-assistance cohort led by the Collective Empowerment Group of South Florida. This cohort offers focused training to a small group of organizations, and upon completion, provides technical-assistance funding for their proposed projects. Mayor Higgins anticipates that this cohort will work on as many as five projects, demonstrating a tangible commitment to seeing these community-focused developments come to fruition.
The assistance provided through the cohort is comprehensive, potentially including feasibility studies to assess project viability, support for partnership development, connections to crucial financing sources, and introductions to experienced development teams. Once an organization decides to move forward with a project, the City of Miami stands ready to assist with critical aspects such as planning, zoning, and permitting. The Miami Times also notes the relevance of House Bill 1389, which took effect July 1 and extends provisions of Florida’s Live Local Act to certain religious properties. These provisions may apply to properties larger than three acres that have contained a house of worship for at least 10 years, though such developments must still satisfy other legal and regulatory requirements, as ownership by a church does not automatically guarantee approval.
Broader Avenues for Real Estate Community Involvement
Beyond the "Develop to Serve" initiative, other organizations in South Florida also foster community involvement within the commercial real estate sector. As reported by Citybiz, CREW Miami provides programming for the region's commercial real estate community, focusing on mentorship, career development, and addressing community issues. This organization actively supports women entering commercial real estate through various programs, including CREW Careers and UCREW, college scholarships, internships, and mentoring opportunities. These initiatives not only promote professional growth but also build a stronger, more connected real estate community capable of addressing broader societal challenges.
Citybiz further describes CREW Miami's commitment to community engagement through specific events. For instance, the "Real Estate on the Front Lines: Recognizing & Preventing Human Trafficking" program offers a discussion highly relevant to South Florida’s hospitality and real estate industries, highlighting the sector's role in addressing critical social issues. Additionally, CREW Miami hosts a mentorship event titled "The 9 Things I Wish I Knew," where women leaders share valuable career lessons. The organization also facilitates monthly forums for commercial real estate professionals, providing essential networking and peer-support opportunities that strengthen the local industry's capacity for collective action and community contribution.
These combined efforts, from the City of Miami's "Develop to Serve" summit to CREW Miami's ongoing programs, underscore a growing commitment within the local real estate community to move beyond traditional business models and actively contribute to the well-being and development of Miami's neighborhoods. According to The Miami Times and Citybiz, these initiatives provide concrete avenues for professionals to lend their expertise, fostering a more engaged and socially responsible real estate sector in South Florida.