Brian Bandell
Nov 22, 2024
Miami-based Bluenest Development has filed land use amendments for three different locations in southern Miami-Dade County with a combined 1,084 home, plus retail, planned.
This would continue the building boom for Bluenest, which has become one of the most active homebuilders in the county. It targets working-class homeowners for its for-sale communities. In all three of these projects, 20% of the homes would be reserved as workforce housing for people making up to 140% of area median income. Most of the property is currently farmland.
The median household income in Miami-Dade County is $79,400, according to HUD.
Bluenest filed three comprehensive development master plan (CDMP) amendments with county officials for the October amendment cycle. Each of them would eventually require County Commission approval. It also filed both zoning applications and pre-applications for each site to speed the site plan process along. The developer has yet to detail the home designs and sizes.
In the biggest project, Bluenest at Krome would span 89.6 acres at the southeast corner of Krome Avenue and Southwest 272nd Street, including 27727 and 27655 S.W. 177th Ave., plus 17300 S.W. 272nd Street. It wants to change the land use from “estate density” to “low-medium density” on much of the site, with “business and office” on the northwest corner. It would agree to restrict development to 700 homes and townhouses plus 148,104 square feet of retail with a food store.
In the application, Bluenest called the area a “food desert” without good access to food and grocery stores, so its retail component would address that need.
“The corner of Krome Avenue and SW 272 Street stands as a prime location for commercial development, given its strategic positioning and existing commercial activity,” the developer stated in the application. “Currently, the intersection hosts some neighborhood serving uses, making it a focal point for both local residents and the traveling public. The established businesses at this intersection highlight its potential as a commercial hub, providing a foundation upon which further economic activities can thrive.”
Bluenest at Home LLC already owns 23.3 acres of the site. It has the rest of the property under contract from All Points Ventures Unlimited, the Joan Lee Miller Trust, Peter and Steven Wilson, New Game Holdings, Jesus and Arnoldo Rocha, Diamond I Farms, and Lester and Pamela Helms.
In the second application, Bluenest Naranja would cover 26.3 acres, including 15101, 15255, and 15335 S.W. 268th Street. The developer would rezone the site from “estate density” to “low-medium density” in order to build 284 townhouses with 650 parking spaces. In the application, the developer notes the property is a few blocks west of the South Dade TransitWay, where the county is building an EV bus rapid transit system.
Bluenest has the Naranja property under contract from the Raymond T. Crissy Trust, Lopez International Corp., Todd and Jill Hardwick, Dwayne and Pamela Powell, Albert and Kristy Rodriguez, and the Maria del Pilar Vila Revocable Trust.
Finally, Bluenest Roatta would span 8.14 acres at the northwest corner of Southwest 226th Street and Southwest 129th Avenue in the Princeton neighborhood. It would change the zoning from “low density” to “low-medium density” in order to build 100 townhouses and 225 parking spaces.
Bluenest has the Naranja property under contract from Claude Roatta and Barbara Colonna, along with Nan Imbesi.
Bluenest Development CEO Salim Chraibi declined comment. He’s represented all three applications by attorney Pedro Gassant. Doral-based Pascual Perez Kiliddjian Starr Architects + Planners crafted the site plans.
Bluenest has been extremely active in filing development applications in Miami-Dade this year. It recently filed two CDMP amendments in Princeton and another two CDMP amendments in Redland/Goulds. It also bought 20.3 acres in Homestead for new homes.