LETTER: Questions About Servitas

Servitas, a leading multifamily housing developer located in Texas with offices in Miami, Florida, is pleased to announce the awarding of the City of Miami Beach’s public private partnership (P3), the Collins Park workforce housing development for artists and educators…

— PRNewswire, March 2021.

This evening, I was hoping to understand if Servitas has successfully completed a Workforce Housing project, and hoping to understand what are the typical affordable housing rental amounts — as of January 2023 — for ‘Workforce Housing’ projects that have been developed and managed by Servitas.

The company’s main focus has been student housing.  But Servitas claims to have delivered workforce housing development “on-time and on-budget”.  Where… When… and How?

According to Servitas own website, Collins Park Artist Workforce Housing is “Coming Fall 2023”.  Unfortunately, Collins Park appears to be the very first Workforce Housing project for Servitas.  A December 20, 2022, article in Miami Today mentions that Servitas is still waiting to close on an agreement with Miami Beach commissioners.

Servitas delivers workforce housing development on-time and on-budget. 100% of all workforce housing projects have been successfully financed under our leadership.

Be it for staff & faculty, community artists, or public servants like firefighters, teachers, and administrators: Servitas is here to lead our P3 partners.

Click here to see our Workforce Housing Development portfolio.

Is it concerning that Servitas’ Workforce Housing Development portfolio does not discuss any successful Workforce Housing projects for residents of Pagosa Springs to review, and understand whether rents are affordable to meeting workforce needs?

Eureka Earth Center (including Workforce Housing) is “Coming Fall 2025”.

In a similar vein, Pagosa Springs Workforce Housing is “Coming Fall 2024”.

When I click “workforce housing development”, all that is revealed is out-of-date information on the Collins Park project.  Servitas does not share a reassuring track record, or accuracy in marketing claims of ‘proven success’ in Workforce Housing.

From Miami Today,‘Miami Beach seeks vision for cultural center’ by reporter Monica Correa, December 20, 2022:

In 2021, the North Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) voted to include affordable workforce and artist housing when planning for the Byron Carlyle…

Servitas began working with [Commissioner] Richardson in July 2021 on an unsolicited proposal to develop a new Byron Carlyle cultural center with workforce housing…

Servitas is waiting to close an agreement on Collins Park Workforce Housing project at the Collins Park Garage…

Reader Response to Miami Today by Rick Kendle (December 22, 1022 at 10:17pm):

“Commissioner David Richardson attempted to have the city sell that property for a mere $2M when it is worth over $15M.  Commissioner Richardson should have no say in what is done with that property.  The residents of North Beach have asked for a cultural center, not low-income housing at that location…”

Servitas / Collins Park Artist Workforce Housing Term Sheet
Collins Park Artist Workforce Housing – 80 Units of Workforce Housing:

22 Studio units, average size 387 sq. ft.
25 units 1 Bed / 1 Bath, average size 524 sq. ft.
33 units 2 Bed / 2 Bath, average size 722 sq. ft.
32 beds, Dormitory, Single Floor

Hank Lydick
Austin, TX (now)
Pagosa Springs, CO (soon)

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