#workforce housing

Companies, not so much, because especially post-tech layoffs, the dominant paradigm is to view labor costs as something to be avoided and passed on to consumers or the government etc. as much as possible. So even though workforce housing is a sound investment, most employers won't put in the money.

Labor unions have done this historically, but it's a heavy lift when it comes to organizational capacity, especially when the costs are distributed across ever-smaller numbers of members. It's also the case that U.S banking, housing, and labor law makes it unnecessarily difficult to build cooperative housing of this sort.

"Workforce housing" is a government propaganda tern for "whatever housing developers feel like building." I watched one of the Jay Childs propaganda films, "housing fact or fiction," and the presenter actually says, "if you can afford the housing, then that housing is Affordable!"

What Is Planned at 1940 Park Avenue?At 1940 Park Avenue in Collins Park, a mixed-use redevelopment is planned on 1.6 acres of city-owned land now occupied by the Barclay Plaza Apartments.The proposal calls for a six-story, 78,700-square-foot building with 105 residential units and about 1,000 square feet of neighborhood retail. Such mixed-use planning reflects broader redevelopment initiatives that integrate housing, retail, and community functions.Brooks + Scarpa Architects is designing the project under a long-term ground lease selected by Miami Beach commissioners in 2024.Plans include co-working space, fitness areas, and an 8,600-square-foot outdoor amenity deck with a pool.The housing mix is weighted toward smaller units, with 54 studios, 39 one-bedroom apartments, and 12 two-bedroom units.The plan also includes historic preservation through retention of portions of the Barclay building, including restoration of its lobby.Fifteen percent of the apartments would be reserved as affordable housing for households earning up to 160% of area median income.Why Does Miami Beach Want More Density There?Miami Beach officials are seeking more density on sites like 1940 Park Avenue because they view it as a direct tool for adding workforce housing on scarce public land. Higher allowable floor area can increase unit counts without expanding a site’s footprint.That fits the city’s compact redevelopment strategy and existing zoning incentives.Key ReasonsLimited city-owned land makes land-efficiency essential.Density helps projects become financially workable in a high-cost market.Growth can be directed to infill areas with transit and neighborhood access.Officials can use percentage-based increases to balance capacity, coastal aesthetics, and traffic impacts.The broader policy logic is regional as well as local. Planning documents anticipate continued population growth and call for more housing production in dense corridors.In that context, added density is being treated as a practical zoning response to persistent supply pressure.What Affordable Housing Does the Project Include?The proposal reserves 12 of its 29 residences as affordable housing, creating a 40 percent set-aside under the Live Local Act. This makes the building Miami Beach’s first affordable housing project under that law.The affordable homes are intended for households earning at or below 120 percent of area median income. Available information points to a workforce-housing model rather than deeply subsidized units. Similar housing policy changes in California, including ADU condo sales, are being watched for their potential to expand attainable homeownership options for middle-income buyers.Affordable housing detailsCategoryDetailsAffordable homes12 of 29 unitsSize and typeCompact units, 400 to 475 square feetThese affordable residences are the project’s smallest homes. Public reporting does not specify whether they are studios or one-bedroom layouts.The remaining 17 residences are larger one-bedroom homes with dens and two-bedroom penthouses. That mix creates a mixed-income building.Why Is Miami Beach Using City-Owned Land?Beyond the affordable set-aside, the land itself is central to why this proposal exists.Miami Beach controls scarce parcels that might otherwise be unavailable or too expensive to secure later.That control supports public stewardship by letting officials weigh housing against parks, services, or other civic uses.Faster Control, Larger SitesCity ownership avoids dependence on private sellers and uncertain market timing.Underused public land lowers a major cost barrier in a high-cost area.Land assembly can turn fragmented parcels into workable development sites.Existing control can speed planning compared with open-market acquisition.The purchase of 7605 Collins Ave. reflected that strategy.Officials described it as the missing piece in a largely city-owned block, showing how site completion can expand future options.Public ownership also keeps major land-use choices within local government.