Houses accessible in Limbo as Florida County Commissioner, Nonprofit Squabble

Jefffery Johnson is waiting to buy a house for almost a decade.

When the 58-year-old learned about the non-profit program to sell houses accessible to low-income families from Liberty City, he completed the documents and sent it to a creditor in 2017.

But there were a lot of starts and stops: after it was approved, it was expected to move to a house near Northwest 64th Street and 17th Avenue in 2020. Then hit a pandemic. At that time, the cost of the house increased from $ 205,000 to $ 300,000, he said. And, in order to conclude it, he had to reappear for the overcomb twice, finally asking for a relative to join him in the process, so that he could qualify for a loan.

Johnson, who works for the water and sewerage department of the county and lives in a public housing project, said he would lead near the house, while building and observing that the work had stopped.

“I presented to the creditors documents and everything,” he said. “I haven’t heard anything from them. So, right now, I’m going on 17 Avenue, and the house is still in that state.”

And now, there is another problem: a feud between the executive director of the non -profit, Leroy Jones from the Vecini and Neighbor’s Association and the County Commissioner Keon Hardemon, whose district houses 30 such properties that have been canceled for housing.

The non-profit bought the land in the county, which periodically sells its so-called “surplus” lots, so that they can be transformed into housing with price covers that aim to make more accessible real estate. Developers can buy lots for up to $ 10, but they cannot sell the houses they build for more than what the county dictates, a figure currently at $ 451,000.

Although developers can buy cheap properties, lots often require sewerage links and other advanced expenses that can add and make profit margins – even if developers provide construction subsidies or other sources.

In 2023, the Jones organization requested an extension to keep control over the 30 lots, but the request was never signed by Hardemon, which must sponsor the extension request and obtain the approval of the County Commission for it. On February 27, the leaders of the organization received a letter from the homes and the development of the community in Miami-Dade county, informing them that the 30 properties they own are in compliance and will be taken over by the county, unless the problem is solved. The letter, from February 25, gave them 30 days to remedy the problems.

Eight of the lots have unfinished houses on them, Jones said, while others remain vacant. He indicates his finger at Hardemon, saying he did not sign the extension.

“Not only does he cause harm, but harm the families to whom these houses were promised … who had to make sure that their credit was correct, who had to make sure they had good jobs [and] Who had to make sure they can pay the house, “Jones told a press conference on Tuesday outside an incomplete house.

“Now, credit and jobs are in danger, because they have been long, they have been waiting for these houses to be filled, to be built, to move,” he continued. “These are black families waiting for these houses. Some of them live in this direct neighborhood, they live in its district, which it holds.”

Behind the feud

The fight focuses around a program that offers the 13 county commissioners the ability to choose developers for small lots that Miami-Dade holds, but has not needed. Developers receive the land for practically nothing, but they must agree to build houses according to the price limits and the eligibility rules.

The homes in the “Housing” program in the county tend to sell with less than the county ceiling of $ 451,000, given the ability of buyers to pay, market rates in property neighborhoods and subsidy restrictions that developers can get for construction. The most recent report of the county in the program showed an average price of sale of $ 305,000 for the 51 houses that sold in the program in 2023. Developers included companies for profit, as well as Habitat for Humanity and other non -profit.

The commissioners granted the Association of neighbors and neighbors more than two dozen lots in 2016, when Hardemon’s seat was owned by the then Commissioner Audrey Edmonson.

So, why haven’t the houses on many neighbors and neighbors have not yet been built before Hardemon took over? Jones blamed that allowing the challenges, financing of obstacles and the beginning of the coronavirus in 2020 for construction delays until the 2020 elections, when Hardemon replaced the term limited edmon. The two are political rivals, and Jones supported Edmonson’s failed attempt to take his place back to the 2024 elections.

The tension between Hardemon and Jones was in public earlier this year, when the leaders of the neighbors and neighbors reached a Commission meeting on January 22 to press for more county financing. Hardemon said he had taken at least one comment from a non -profit leader to threaten and convinced the colleagues to approve a brief financing break for neighbors and neighbors and a non -related profit, Circle of BrotherHood.

The frozen financing was erected two weeks later, and Jones and Hardemon seemed to be reconciled with a hug at a meeting of the County Commission on February 4. But Jones says now that Hardemon has not offered a promised meeting to reduce conflicts with non -profit. This includes the extension Jones wants on the houses.

Jones said he tried to get Hardemon’s support for extensions to allow construction plans to remain viable. He said that it would be unfair to remove the group for delayed construction problems when other lot owners also have inactive land while following the financing, allowed and other steps needed to start building.

“You can’t just straighten your fingers at us,” he said. “You have to straighten your fingers.”

In an E -mail to Miami Herald before the press conference, Hardemon did not respond directly to Jones’ statements that Hardemon kept the construction process. While Hardemon did not say if he would consider the extension requested by Jones, he had critical words for the non -profit leadership behind the development effort.

“I look forward to hearing their complaints and I will soon make a decision on their deficiencies in decision making and solid contracts,” he said.

But between crouching, a frustrated Johnson only wants his house. As he remained patient, Johnson said that the payment he had at the time of approval disappeared.

“I just couldn’t live without having to help my family,” he said. “I work every day. I make home improvements. I have my own business. I do handyman services, but still, I have children to help. I have invoices, things happen.”

“I have not heard any answer”

Johnson is not the only person waiting for a new home.

Jones estimated that about 30 families were still waiting for homes to be built by non -profit. Some have sent a notification that they want from their contracts and will follow other options.

A letter from November 28, 2023, from Hardemon’s office indicated that the commissioner would seek an extension for the full building, but Jones said it was never granted. Jones said he had contacted Hardemon repeatedly to meet and discuss the extension, but he never heard anything.

“What can you say can continue to bring hope and comfort after waiting so much?” Jones said about house buyers. “After they went through everything they needed and not because of their own, they were held. It is sad to me.”

“It is about giving people the opportunity to leave wealth with their family. And what better wealth can you leave than a house, especially a completely new house?” continued.

Like Johnson, Angela Albury, 64, does not give up the fight for a house. She was approved for a house at the end of 2019, and her dreams of buying the house were also delayed by pandemic.

“I haven’t heard any answer since then. I waited. Every time I ask, he has no information for me,” she said, pointing to Jones. “I went to meetings, wasting the time of work to be followed, because I do not receive answers.”

Albury said she was urged to request the program by a member of her church. At that time, her credit score was in the 700s. Now she said, she is afraid to check her after suspecting that several credit checks have removed the score.

However, she is optimistic and, like Johnson, she waited patiently, without intending to break her contract. For now, she lives in her Liberty City apartment.

“I am listener. I will have faith and believe in the most,” she said. “I’m under a contract, so I don’t leave.”

Despite their differences, Jones said that he is still hoping that Hardemon will register for extension.

“I always believe in hope and change and even after all this, I still hope we can work together,” Jones said. “However, I still think Commissioner Hardemon can have the heart to do this. It’s never too late.”