Ground Lease Opportunity at Paul Laurence Dunbar K-8 Center

The School Board of Miami-Dade County, Florida is seeking proposals for a long-term ground lease and redevelopment of District-owned land at the Paul Laurence Dunbar K-8 Center campus in Miami, with proposals due September 3, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. EST and a pre-proposal conference scheduled for August 12, 2026 at 9:00 a.m. EST via Google Meet.

The scope combines a modernized educational facility with workforce housing and other revenue-generating, community-serving uses on three parcels totaling approximately eight acres at 505 NW 20th Street. The School Board will reserve 40,000 to 60,000 square feet for future educational and community-serving use, with the balance available for redevelopment. The ground lease term is seventy-five years with no option to extend. Proposers must conduct due diligence on development status, physical condition, zoning, entitlements, encumbrances, and title matters; obtain all required zoning approvals, site plans, permits, and entitlements under City of Miami regulations; and secure all financing independently. The educational facility component must be fully integrated into project financing without requiring direct capital investment from the School Board unless otherwise proposed and justified. The School Board retains ownership and requires the agreement structure to preserve long-term public ownership through the ground lease mechanism.

Proposers must demonstrate financial capacity and clearly defined funding strategies identifying all sources—equity, debt, public funding programs, Low-Income Housing Tax Credits, and Florida Housing Finance Corporation programs. Bid security of $100,000 (cashier's check payable to the School Board) is required. Proposals are due via Euna OpenBids with virtual bid opening at 2:00 p.m. EST the same day. The Board anticipates contract approval in November 2026 with a projected start date of January 2027. Preference is given to proposers demonstrating an expedited path to construction commencement and capable of coordinating both educational and development components. The School Board reserves the right to negotiate with any respondent and reject any or all proposals. Questions are due August 12, 2026 at 5:00 p.m. EST.