Meet the Woman Buying Back the Block in Miami Gardens
*Shamise Smith, founder of 305 Miami Houses, is leading a powerful real estate revolution in South Florida. Her Black-owned real estate firm is acquiring, renovating, and renting out homes in historically Black neighborhoods. The mission? Preserve culture, fight displacement, and build generational Black wealth through community ownership.
Smith offers short-term rental stays that directly support Miami Gardens’ economic roots. Guests book on platforms like Airbnb and Booking.com, with proceeds helping restore the neighborhood, property by property.
305 Miami Houses Puts Ownership Back in Community Hands
Unlike big investors flipping homes for profit, Smith’s model keeps properties in Black hands. Each renovated home blends cultural authenticity with modern comforts and neighborhood pride.
“This isn’t just about real estate,” says Smith. “It’s about preserving our history and creating opportunity.” Smith is part of a broader wave of Black-led firms refusing to let gentrification erase their communities, reports BlackBusiness.com.
Other Black-Owned Real Estate Projects Across the U.S.
Smith’s work in Miami Gardens mirrors other powerful projects across the country. All are rooted in the same mission: reclaiming space, preventing displacement, and building wealth.
- West Woodlawn Pointe (Chicago, IL) – Five Black developers are building 30 affordable homes on formerly vacant land, hiring locally and ensuring no displacement.
- Fifth Ward Buyback (Houston, TX) – Led by Jay Bradley and Chris Senegal, this project revives historic Black blocks with businesses and affordable housing.
- New Orleans East & Lower 9th Ward – Local couples and leaders are reclaiming post-Katrina neighborhoods using creative programs like Mow to Own.
- Buy Back the Block Lab (Brookings) – A national initiative testing scalable models for Black-led commercial real estate without gentrification.
- Buy The Block Platform – A Black-owned crowdfunding site allowing collective investment in Black neighborhoods across the U.S.
More Than Homes: These Movements Preserve Culture and Power
What ties all these efforts together is a focus on ownership and identity. These aren’t just business deals—they’re cultural preservation strategies in brick and mortar form…