It’s a familiar story in Florida—farmland gives way to development, and not everyone is happy about it. This time, a 38.5-acre plot in Miami-Dade County, once used to grow avocados, has been sold to Lennar Homes, one of the largest homebuilders in the U.S., for $16.5 million. While some might see this as progress, local residents have voiced concerns about what it means for the future of their community.
The story began back in 2022 when Lennar Homes had its eye on a 39.5-acre site owned by JMC Groves LLC at the northeast corner of Southwest 162nd Avenue and Southwest 276th Street. The homebuilder initially sought approval to build 196 single-family homes on the property, but that quickly sparked pushback from local residents who worried that such a large development would change the character of their area.
In March 2023, Lennar applied to Miami-Dade County for a change to the Comprehensive Development Master Plan, which would allow for more homes to be built on the land. This move didn’t sit well with many in the community, particularly the group known as The Concerned Citizens of Redland. On their Facebook page, residents expressed their frustration with the potential development.