Written by Genevieve Bowen on February 11, 2026
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Miami officials this week are to revisit proposals tied to a long-dormant 18-acre city lot in Allapattah, a site planners say could help drive economic growth and add workforce housing if redevelopment finally moves forward.
The city commission is expected to discuss unsolicited proposals for the city-owned General Services Administration, or GSA, lot at 1970 NW 13th Ave., and could direct staff to review all offers and report back within 30 days. A related item would change city code to require unsolicited proposals for public land to be brought to commissioners more quickly for review.
Across Miami, tracts of publicly owned land remain underused while the city faces rising housing costs and growing pressure to activate vacant or industrial properties. The GSA site has long been viewed as a prime redevelopment opportunity. It houses several municipal operations, including the solid waste department, public works, parks and recreation, and Fire Station 5, but much of the land remains undeveloped.
In September 2022, Miami-based developer NR Investments submitted an unsolicited proposal to transform the site into a large mixed-use project. The concept included roughly 2,500 apartments, including 500 workforce units, along with office space, retail, a hotel, community facilities and about five acres of public green space.
The proposal outlined a multi-phase buildout over 10 to 15 years and projected significant public benefits. According to the developer, the project could generate about $1.5 billion in payments to the city over a 99-year ground lease and roughly $3.2 billion in additional real estate tax revenue over the period, along with new infrastructure, civic spaces and transit-oriented development.
That unsolicited offer prompted the city to formally request proposals that year, but no contract has been awarded and plans for the site have largely stalled.
Plans from the Omni Community Redevelopment Agency, which focuses on reinvestment and housing in parts of Miami’s urban core, highlight the potential of the GSA lot. A 2023 CRA update summarizing public feedback showed strong support for redeveloping the site, which the agency lists as one of its seven-year priority projects.
The agency described the GSA lot as a crucial driver for economic development and a way to boost the city’s supply of workforce housing. Its analysis found the property met state “blight” criteria, making it eligible for tax increment financing to help fund improvements.
The item sponsored by Commissioner Miguel Gabela, whose district includes Allapattah, would direct the city manager to review all unsolicited proposals received for the lot and report to the commission within 30 days.
A second measure would amend city code to alter how unsolicited proposals are handled. It would require the city manager to place an item on the next available commission agenda after receiving a qualifying unsolicited proposal, rather than only when the city is ready to make a deal.
Supporters say the change would increase transparency and prevent proposals from sitting idle, while also helping the city move more quickly on underused public land.
If approved, the two measures could help revive long-stalled plans for the GSA site and set new ground rules for how future unsolicited development proposals are reviewed across Miami.