The Miami City Commission has rejected a proposal that would have allowed affordable housing development on land currently zoned for religious institutions and other civic uses. The decision was made during a meeting on Thursday, where Commissioner Ralph Rosado, who introduced the proposal, was the only member to vote in favor.
Rosado described the outcome as a missed chance for the city. “Wasted opportunity in what is arguably the least affordable city in the United States of America,” he said at the meeting, according to the Miami Herald.
The proposed zoning change would have affected more than 660 properties across 1,800 acres in Miami. These sites could have been developed into affordable housing if the measure had passed. Inspired by a Florida Senate bill from 2025—which allows local governments to permit housing on religious institution land provided at least 10 percent of units are affordable—Rosado’s version required that half of any new units meet affordability standards.
This initiative aligns with a national trend known as “Yes in God’s backyard” (YIGBY), which seeks to counter resistance to new developments by focusing on underused church-owned land. Across the United States, religious groups possess millions of acres, much of which is not fully utilized due to declining membership and attendance over recent decades. Managing these properties can be costly; some religious orders have sold convents or other assets to fund care for aging members.
Interest from real estate developers has grown as churches sell off historic sites. In one example, Alex and Sue Glasscock purchased a 140-acre estate from the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Tuxedo Park, New York, converting it into an extension of their wellness retreat business.
South Florida has seen similar activity. Developers Tal Levinson and Eric Malinasky plan to build 500 residential units on former church property in Fort Lauderdale. In West Palm Beach, billionaire Steve Ross is planning luxury condominiums on Temple Israel’s waterfront site; the synagogue will relocate elsewhere within the city.
Miami commissioners who opposed Rosado’s proposal expressed concerns about preserving historic church properties. Commissioner Christine King said: “I’m not typically this firm on ‘no,’ but this is a ‘no’ in every respect for me. It is a solid, firm, I’m not crossing the line, I am not bending, modifying. These churches, historic churches — all they have is their land.”
King’s district contains 247 out of more than 660 parcels zoned for religious or civic use—the largest share among districts identified by officials. She warned that approving such development could harm local congregations: “This could be disastrous for our churches, particularly our historic churches,” she said. “They do not have the expertise to negotiate deals such as this.”
–– Kate Hinsche
