Allapattah affordable housing project opens Tuesday

A Collins Park affordable housing project is celebrating its grand opening Tuesday.

The complex, located at 3625 Northwest 20th Avenue just west of Miami Jackson Senior High, will provide housing for low-income seniors.

Collins Park Public Housing Development is a partnership between Miami-Dade County and Housing and Urban Development. Related Urban converted the project to a 124-unit public housing development.

The county acquired a $28 million building without using public housing capital funds, according to a news release. The public-private partnership was also made possible by $100 million awarded by the State of Florida for the preservation and creation of more than 800 units for low-income seniors.

The new building includes a management office, a multi-purpose room, a fitness center, laundry facilities, a computer room and a library.

“Through our partnership with Related Urban and HUD, we were able to take advantage of a one of a kind public approach to private partnerships that will greatly improve the quality of the living conditions for our public housing communities,” Public Housing and Community Development director Michael Liu said in a news release.

Related Urban’s partnership with the county, which started in November 2011, has delivered 685 units over the past two years in developments like Joe Moretti, Dante Fascell, Stirrup Plaza, Jack Orr and South Miami Plaza. — Kristina Puga