The Miami City Commission has rejected a proposal that would have allowed affordable housing development on land currently zoned for religious institutions and other civic uses. The vote took place at a commission meeting on Thursday, with Commissioner Ralph Rosado as the only supporter of the measure.
Rosado described the decision as a missed chance to address housing affordability in Miami. “Wasted opportunity in what is arguably the least affordable city in the United States of America,” he said, according to the Miami Herald.
The proposed zoning change would have affected more than 660 properties across 1,800 acres in Miami. It was inspired by a Florida Senate bill passed in 2025, which permits local governments to allow housing on land owned by religious organizations if at least 10 percent of units are designated as affordable. Rosado’s version would have required half of all new units built under this provision to be affordable.
This initiative was part of the broader “Yes in God’s backyard” (YIGBY) movement, which seeks to use church-owned land for new housing projects as a response to resistance against development—commonly known as NIMBYism. Across the country, religious groups own millions of acres, much of it underused due to declining membership and attendance. Some orders have sold properties such as convents to fund care for aging members.
Real estate developers have shown interest in acquiring these sites. For example, Alex and Sue Glasscock purchased a 140-acre estate from the Sisters Servants of Mary Immaculate in Tuxedo Park, New York, converting it into an outpost for their wellness retreat business.
In South Florida, similar trends are emerging. Developers Tal Levinson and Eric Malinasky plan a 500-unit residential project on former church property in Fort Lauderdale. In West Palm Beach, billionaire Steve Ross intends to build luxury condominiums on Temple Israel’s waterfront site after its relocation within the city.
Miami commissioners who opposed Rosado’s proposal voiced concerns about potential negative impacts on historic church properties. Commissioner Christine King stated: “I’m not typically this firm on ‘no,’ but this is a ‘no’ in every respect for me. It is a solid, firm, I’m not crossing the line, I am not bending, modifying. These churches, historic churches — all they have is their land.”
King represents the district with the largest number of religious or civic-zoned parcels—247 out of more than 660 identified citywide—and warned that approving such developments could harm local congregations: “This could be disastrous for our churches, particularly our historic churches,” she said. “They do not have the expertise to negotiate deals such as this.”
