Hialeah’s city council just cleared the way for Masoud Shojaee’s Shoma Group to convert an old shopping center into a new apartment complex.
The council unanimously approved Shoma’s rezoning proposal Tuesday. According to the application, the developer plans to build a 304-unit apartment complex called Shoma Village on a 5.2-acre corner lot at 401 and 435 Hialeah Drive.
Shoma Village will include a 7-story parking garage and more than 30,000 square feet of retail space fronting the apartments. Renderings show Shoma Village will feature a fitness facility, pool and dog park. Attorney Felix Lasarte represented the developer in the meeting.
The shopping center on the property was built in 1948 and is in need of significant improvement, according to the application filed. Records show Shojaee paid $11.75 million for the shopping center in 2013.
Through Shoma Retail, LLC, the developer later submitted plans to build a condo project on the corner lot. The latest application shows Shoma opted to build apartments, instead. The move is in line with the current trend of developers canceling planned condo projects or converting them to rentals due to a weak condo market.
Hialeah’s recent efforts to transform its image into a trendy residential and commercial area has lured developers like Avra Jain and David Martin of Terra who are partnering to refurbish an aging 6-acre industrial complex at 4800 Northwest 37th Avenue. Plans include converting the existing warehouse property into a new entertainment venue with restaurant space, art galleries and breweries.