Serenity Gardens has moved into construction in Miami Gardens, turning a long-planned affordable senior housing project into a visible buildout for older adults who are trying to stay in Miami-Dade as housing costs remain high.
The development is being built as a 153-unit income-restricted community for residents 62 and older, according to current project reporting. It is planned next to the city's Senior Family Center, a placement local officials and developers say is meant to connect housing with nearby recreation, wellness and community programs.
What changed
The project recently broke ground after years of planning and public funding steps. Florida YIMBY reported Wednesday, August 5, 2026, that construction has begun on the community, while The Miami Times reported Tuesday, August 4, that the groundbreaking marked the formal start of work on the site.
Current project descriptions say Serenity Gardens will include studio, one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. The Miami Times reported that amenities are expected to include a swimming pool, walking trail and gathering spaces. The same report said leasing is expected to begin about 90 days before completion, but that a waiting list has not yet been established.
Why it matters in Miami-Dade
The project lands in one of the county's most expensive housing markets, where fixed-income seniors can be squeezed between rising rents, limited affordable supply and the cost of staying close to family or care networks. The practical consequence is modest in countywide scale but concrete: if finished as planned, 153 older-adult households would get access to new income-restricted apartments in Miami Gardens.
The county's own records show why the project has been tracked as a public investment, not only a private development. A Miami-Dade legislative matter for Serenity Gardens described the site at 18330 NW 12th Avenue and authorized a third commitment extension for $3.75 million in documentary stamp surtax funds. That older county item described the project as 150 elderly housing units; current project reporting describes the buildout as 153 units.
Who is building it
Florida YIMBY reported that SG Holdings and New Urban Development LLC, an affiliate of the Urban League of Greater Miami, are developing Serenity Gardens through a public-private partnership with the City of Miami Gardens. The project is being financed with public, federal and private support, including Low-Income Housing Tax Credit equity and other lending sources reported by the development team.
The Miami Times reported that Miami-Dade's housing department said the project includes 125 federally funded Project-Based Vouchers, which would allow eligible seniors to pay a reduced share of rent while federal funding covers the rest.
What happens next
Construction is expected to run into 2028. The Miami Times reported a June 2028 completion target, while Florida YIMBY reported an expected late-2028 delivery. Prospective residents should not treat the groundbreaking as an open application period; the reported leasing window is closer to completion, and eligibility will depend on age and income rules.
The next useful signals for Miami Gardens residents are whether construction stays on schedule, when a formal waitlist or application process opens, and how the final affordability levels are set for the apartments.
