Town Council Approves Intergenerational Project in Lakes by the Bay Community

CUTLER BAY, FL – June 29, 2026 – The Town Council unanimously approved an amended Declaration of Restrictive Covenants for The Contemporary + MedSquare at Cutler Bay, an intergenerational mixed-use development planned for approximately 18.5 acres of vacant land along SW 216 Street, between SW 88 Place and SW 93 Path, in the Lakes by the Bay community.

The approved amendment allows the project to move forward as an intergenerational mixed-use community while placing long-term housing commitments, community benefits, and project conditions into a binding covenant. The project includes a total of 322 residential units, with 120 age-restricted units for residents aged 55+ and 202 non-age-restricted units. Of those, 167 units, or approximately 52% of the project, will be subject to rental restrictions or caps, including 147 Essential Worker/Hero Housing units and 20 units dedicated to military housing.

“This project is an example of how responsible planning and strong negotiations can result in a better outcome for our residents,” said Mayor Tim Meerbott. “The approved covenant helps bring needed housing, restaurants, medical services, and public amenities to the Lakes by the Bay community while ensuring environmental cleanup efforts and community benefits are part of the project.”

The Essential Worker/Hero Housing component includes 120 age-restricted 55+ units and 27 non-age-restricted workforce housing units. Priority leasing opportunities will be available for eligible essential workers, including law enforcement personnel, firefighters, healthcare professionals, educators, public school employees, and Town employees. The military housing component will include 20 dedicated units that will prioritize leasing for eligible Homestead Air Reserve Base service members or civilian employees.

The amended covenant also preserves the project’s neighborhood-serving commercial, restaurant, medical, and public open space uses. The project includes 25,000 square feet of medical office space, 15,500 square feet of retail space, and two restaurant spaces totaling 8,500 square feet. The project also includes a 3.4-acre linear park and walking trail, 854 parking spaces, and 51 public golf cart spaces. Additional community benefits include 12 outdoor exercise stations, public access to open space, golf cart parking and charging stations, and a Town circulator stop and pullout bay.

The developer has also committed to environmental cleanup of the site through the Brownfields Program. The commercial component is required to come online at the same time as the residential portion of the project, helping ensure the retail, restaurant, and medical uses are delivered as part of the overall development.

Town staff noted that the covenant provides added safeguards by placing the community benefits, housing commitments, and project conditions into a binding agreement. The project will also remain subject to applicable site plan review, traffic analysis, security-related design conditions, and ongoing compliance reporting.

During the meeting, Councilmembers recognized the project’s improved design, the addition of intergenerational housing, the military housing component, and the public open space as major benefits for the community. Several residents also spoke in support of the project, including representatives from the Lakes by the Bay community, who submitted an official letter of support.

“This has been a long-discussed property, and the approved covenant helps turn a vacant site into a project that provides the community with two new restaurants, medical offices, neighborhood retail shops, and additional housing options,” said Town Manager Rafael G. Casals. “The Town’s goal throughout this process has been to protect residents’ interests and secure meaningful benefits for the community.”

The item was approved by unanimous vote at the June 17, 2026, Development Town Council Meeting. You can watch the presentation linked below starting at minute 01:37:08, and download the presentations under the supporting documents section.