Developer could double size of Miami-Dade apartment project

By Brian Bandell for South Florida Business Journal

B2R Builders has doubled the size of its proposed garden-style apartment project in the Goulds neighborhood of Miami-Dade County by capitalizing on the new Rapid Transit Zone (RTZ) rules.

San Sebastian Luxury Homes LLC, managed by Raul Bolufe, Carlos Rodriguez and Luis Rubalcabal of B2R builders, filed a pre-application with county officials for the 5.22-acre site at 23220 S.W. 124th Ave. Currently with a single-family home, the property is two blocks east of U.S. Highway 1.

The developer purchased it for $800,000 in 2020.

In early 2023, the developer sought to rezone the property to build 39 garden-style apartments in two buildings. No construction took place.

Now, the county has allowed greater density near SMART public transit corridors under the RTZ rules. The South Dade TransitWay along U.S. Highway 1 has a rapid electric bus system under development by the county.

The new plans for San Sebastian Luxury Homes call for 80 apartments in four buildings of two stories each, plus 154 parking spaces, a playground and a dog park. It would total 87,840 square feet, or 1,098 square feet per unit.

Miami-based attorney Javier L. Vazquez, who represents the developer, confirmed it would be a rental product. It was designed by Miami-based Modis Architects.

Developers file pre-applications to receive feedback from county staff before submitting official applications.

There’s been more apartment development in southern Miami-Dade in recent years as tenants priced out of the urban core seek less expensive apartments. The bus rapid transit system should allow those renters to reach employment centers with mass transit.

External Source: San Sebastian Luxury Homes plans more apartments in Goulds Miami-Dade County – South Florida Business Journal (bizjournals.com)