**SEO Title:** Miami Developer Unveils $880M Workforce Housing Project
**Meta Description:** A Spanish developer plans an $880 million housing project in Miami, offering over 4,000 affordable apartments under Florida’s Live Local Act.
**URL Slug:** miami-workforce-housing-project
**Headline:** Spanish Developer Proposes $880 Million Workforce Housing Project in Miami
A Spanish developer is set to launch an ambitious $880 million workforce housing initiative in Miami, featuring over 4,000 apartments, childcare facilities, and a test kitchen. This project, named HueHub, represents the largest proposal to date under Florida’s Live Local Act, a 2023 legislation that allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations in exchange for dedicating a portion of units to affordable housing.
Despite the surge of interest in this policy, the actual number of projects that have commenced construction remains low, raising concerns about the feasibility of these developments. Pablo Castro, who relocated to Miami from Spain a few years ago and co-founded Barcelona-based BeCorp, aims to cater to residents who earn too much to qualify for subsidized housing yet find themselves priced out of many market-rate rentals.
The HueHub development will consist of 4,032 fully furnished one- and two-bedroom apartments, priced at $1,600 and $1,900 per month, respectively. The complex will also include amenities such as coworking spaces, tutoring services, pools, and gyms. These rental rates align closely with those in West Little River, the chosen site for HueHub, where the average rent is approximately $1,500 for one-bedroom apartments and $2,000 for two-bedroom units, according to Zillow.
Recent developments in the Miami-Dade region have predominantly occurred in the more expensive eastern corridor, closer to downtown and the beach. In contrast, West Little River is a suburban, working-class area located west of I-95, which has long been viewed as a dividing line between Miami’s luxury and more affordable real estate markets. Castro emphasized, “Our focus is on the middle class, where we see the need is huge and people are living in very bad conditions. Of course, the returns have to work. We’ll do it by having scale.”
This project marks Castro’s first venture in Miami, taking place on a 12-acre site he purchased in 2023 for $29.3 million in cash. The current low-rise apartment complex and single-family homes on the site are set to be demolished by the end of the year, with construction expected to begin in the first quarter of 2026. Castro and his partner, local developer Laura Tauber, are currently negotiating with several New York-based lenders for financing of up to $600 million.
The HueHub initiative comes two years after the enactment of the Live Local Act, which permits developers to construct buildings as tall as the highest structure within a mile, provided that 40% of the units are offered at “workforce” rates, defined as 120% of the area median income. While Governor Ron DeSantis and Florida lawmakers have pledged significant improvements to housing availability and affordability, the policy has faced challenges. Out of 130 proposed developments aiming to create 40,000 units under the Live Local Act, only a few have begun construction, and none have been completed, according to the Florida Housing Coalition. Some projects have encountered local opposition, further complicating the landscape for affordable housing in the region.
**FAQ Section:**
**What is the Live Local Act in Florida?**
The Live Local Act is a 2023 law that allows developers to bypass local zoning regulations if they allocate a portion of their units for affordable housing, aiming to increase housing availability and affordability in Florida.
