MIAMI (WSVN) - South Florida leaders attended a ribbon-cutting ceremony to announce the completion of phase one of the redeveloped Liberty Square housing community.
The grand opening of the first phase of the project, “Liberty City Rising,” was celebrated Monday morning.
Housing Urban Development Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, Miami-Dade Mayor Carlos Gimenez and Commission Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson hosted the event.
“We’re not talking about getting rid of units, we’re talking about adding units and these are mixed income units,” said Carson. “We’re making it possible for teachers and firemen and construction workers to live in the same places where they work.”
Homeowner Sharon Gregory showed off her new unit to a 7News crew. She became the first resident to experience the initial phase of the development.
“This is amazing. I mean, this is unbelievable,” she said.
Completed in the late 1930s, Liberty Square is known as one of the oldest public housing developments in the southeastern U.S.
“This is federal, state and local people working together for the benefit of the our people,” said Carson. “Isn’t that who we are as Americans?”
Phase one of the redevelopment included the demolition of over 70 existing units and replaced them with over 200 new units spanned across six newly constructed buildings.
When the entire project is complete, 709 public housing units will be replaced with 1,455 new units for people of all income levels, from public housing to the opportunity for homeownership.
“There hasn’t been a prouder day for me as mayor of Miami-Dade County,” said Gimenez.
The mayor said this project isn’t just about housing. The goal is to transform the entire community
“Everyone should be proud of the place they live in. Everybody should feel safe when they walk out on their sidewalks ,and this is exactly what we’re trying to accomplish here in Liberty City,” he said.
The project aims to bring jobs and businesses to the area to transform the way of life in Liberty City.
When the project was first announced, Liberty City voiced their concern that it would push them out of their own neighborhood.
Gregory said she was skeptical in the beginning, but not anymore.
“It did come true. Dreams do come true,” she said.
Gimenez said not a single family has been displaced.
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