SMART GROWTH COMES TO HIALEAH Part 4

SMART GROWTH COMES TO HIALEAH, FLA

Jaime Correa, a University of Miami professor and head of Jaime Correa & Associates, designed the master plan for the vast annexation territory. He was already familiar with Hialeah because he was the principal architect of the city’s downtown revitalization plan created by his former firm of Correa Valle Valle.

Correa drafted a plan with a net density of no more than six units per acre, with a total residential build out of roughly 4,000 units. The western part of the annexation tract has a quarry on it that will continue as an industrial operation with blasting for 15 years.

Because of that, the western half of the vast territory is slated for light industry and commercial development. The eastern half will have a mix of residential, park, school and neighborhood commercial uses.

“The guideline for the residential is to have three housing types: townhouse, detached single family and apartment. The rule is that there would have to be at least 20 percent of each type – so you could build no more than 60 percent single family, because you would have to leave room for 20 percent each of townhouse and apartment,” Correa explained. “That way you have a diverse, interesting mix of housing. You have the rural edge with single family houses and you have the urban center with apartments and townhouses.”

The commercial uses will be near the center of the development, so they can be reached both by the neighborhoods to the east and the worksites that will develop to the west.