Collaborative Development Corporation
Executive Profile
Achievements
- CDC was founded by community leadership in response to their frustration at the inability of existing initiatives and groups to meet their needs. CDC's significant achievements have not only been the delivery of products and services to the community, but the ability to achieve results according to community specifications.
The collaborative is uniquely represented by community based entities and businesses that are stakeholders in its success. No other organization could bring community revitalization to Coconut Grove without addressing the significant indigenous Black population and its rich Bahamian roots represented in architecture, festivals, art and businesses. Addressing the importance of the community's architecture by preserving an original "conch style home" set an immediate precedent for the importance of preserving historical architecture in affordable home design. Highlighting our accomplishments: - CDC advocated, coordinated other CBO's (Community Based Organizations), and served as an official community ombudsman and operation headquarters for on-site management functions for construction & completion of the $4.1 million Grand Avenue Streetscape Project.
- CDC has initiated a $10,000,000 GOB/BBC (General Obligation Bonds/Building Better Communities) funded venture; to build a mixed-use, moderate, income rental project. This initiative features a collaboration of community based organizations, comprising of Coconut Grove Collaborative, Inc., Theodore R. Gibson Memorial Fund, Pinnacle Housing Group and Miami-Dade College. To develop: CDC has secured franchise businesses along with completed planning/partial funding Grand Avenue Kiosk Project to house ten micro-enterprises.
- CDC initiated the Village West Homes project a scattered site infill, single family homeownership initiative in Collaboration with Neighborhood Housing Services of South Florida (NHSSF). With an award from the City of Miami. The goal is to construct up to 31 three and four bedroom houses in the Coconut Grove, Miami Neighborhood Development Zone (NDZ)
Focus/Priorities
Since its founding (Nov. 2001 -- June 2007), CDC has demonstrated measurable community impact equal to and beyond that of peer organizations that have been in existence for over 30 years. With its broad-based representation of stakeholders, CDC is executing the community's plan and desire to increase affordable housing opportunities by obtaining the tools such as CDE/CDFI & CHDO(Community Housing Development Organization)& CBDO(Community Base Development Organization) designations that will allow CDC to leverage financing and form partnerships with private sector entities with the use of tax credits.
CDC works with the community by building a core of informed "community builders" to organize Community Development and Neighborhood Revitalization efforts with an emphasis on affordable housing and small business development. CDC has established a critical process for program linkage to conduct small business development in tandem with affordable housing development that will attract new business investment and start-ups. To stabilize the moderate-income base, the agency engaged in outreach and community forums to encourage moderate-income families to make their home in Village West, assist in creating a diverse mixed-income area, and to solidify an economic base for increased business development and job creation. CDC also engaged in development to transform quickly the Grand Avenue central commercial corridor and adjacent areas, replacing unsightly vacant structures, adding dim lighting and cleaning-up over-grown lots with the principles of "traditional neighborhood design." Large-scale redevelopment was planned around human scale and a mixture of housing and commercial uses.
Leadership The Greatest Strength of CDC
CDC's greatest leadership strength is our Board of Directors and Volunteers who represent the social, political, historical, educational, business and civic bodies of old and new Village West-Coconut Grove. Because of the strength and influence of our Board, CDC is strategically positioned to contribute significantly to community-based development activities, as well as to work cooperatively with regional development entities to enhance multiple levels and aspects of development.
CDC is interconnected with diverse community (interest) groups in the promotion of local development. Our heavy reliance on community representation and volunteerism (e.g., 17 Board members and many volunteers who provide critical support staff, often providing staff on loan to support initiatives in critical stages. These individuals allow CDC to make use of ad-hoc committees to enhance our effectiveness, including the pursuit of diverse funding sources to carry out valued objectives.
The Board has been the leading force behind our success within such a short time of existence and has been instrumental in the securing of land, and in the development of major commercial, residential and mixed-use projects. The Miami-Dade County and City of Miami is responsive to the inquiries of the CDC leadership and are considered partners in our efforts due to the work of the Board and Volunteers. We are an extremely fortunate organization to have such a diverse and interconnected leadership.
