Miami-Dade County bought a Wynwood property from developer Moishe Mana for $6.5 million, according to a statement on Mar. 27. The purchase is intended to pave the way for a mixed-use development that will include affordable housing, a Puerto Rican community center, and an office for County Commissioner Keon Hardemon.
The transaction also resolves an ongoing dispute between Mana and Miami-Dade over a previous land swap deal in which Mana owed the county $6.6 million after failing to meet development deadlines. Under the terms of the new agreement, Mana is required to give the county the sales proceeds to settle this debt.
The vacant parcel at 2900 Northwest Fifth Avenue covers about 0.3 acres and was part of Mana’s larger Wynwood holdings, which span roughly 30 contiguous acres where he has proposed creating an arts and technology hub. However, those plans remain in early design stages while his portfolio continues to grow; in January, he purchased another assemblage in Wynwood for $33.5 million.
According to county commission meeting minutes, Commissioner Hardemon requested that the new community center serve residents displaced by rising rents and redevelopment pressures in Allapattah and Wynwood Norte neighborhoods.
While there is no announced timeline for construction yet, planning documents indicate Miami-Dade intends to partner with a private builder through a request for proposals expected later this year.
Previous agreements between Mana and Miami-Dade date back to 2015 when they arranged a land swap involving multiple parcels and commitments from Mana to build community facilities. Environmental issues led officials in 2018 to shift planned development locations before further amendments were made in subsequent years—culminating with commissioners’ decision in 2022 that removed building obligations from Mana but required him instead to make financial restitution.
