Vice Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson lights The Beacon in Overtown

Vice Chairwoman Audrey Edmonson lights The Beacon in Overtown

Photos credits: Ryan Holloway/Miami-Dade County Photographer

Submitted by Marta Martinez-Aleman

      MIAMI, FL – Vice Chairwoman Audrey M. Edmonson and Matt Greer from Carlisle Development celebrate with residents of Overtown at the Historic Overtown MetroRail Station, 100 N.W. 6 St., Miami after flipping the switch and lighting the spire atop The Beacon, an affordable housing development in Overtown. The ceremony took place on the station platform, within walking distance of the 13-story building, located at 1001 NW 1st Avenue. The Beacon is the first affordable housing development to be built in the historic Overtown district in more than a decade.

     Once 30 units of substandard housing, The Beacon is now 90 units of new quality two- and three bedroom units for working families and individuals making between 33 percent and 60 percent of the Average Median Income. Community amenities include secured parking, a community center, a library/computer room with free Internet access, gym, tot lot and central laundry facility. Residents are also offered literacy and job training classes, health and nutrition classes, financial counseling, resident assistance referral programs and life safety training.

     “The Beacon represents a catalyst for economic development within the Overtown community,” said Vice Chairwoman Edmonson, Commissioner for District 3 which includes Overtown. “Tonight’s lighting of the ceremonial beacon is proof that things are really cooking in Overtown. The Beacon will bring another source of affordable quality housing to the working people of Overtown.”