Miami-Dade College Homestead Campus Expansion

A potential Miami-Dade College Homestead Campus growth spurt should incorporate a commercial component.  With Big Lots' closing last winter there's only Bealls Outlet and Winn-Dixie left as anchor stores at the underutilized Homestead Plaza.  The Plaza is located on the south side of Campbell Drive between Parkway and English Avenues. There is great potential to this plaza with the right mix of businesses.  Significant reconfiguring and remodeling is necessary in a way that is pedestrian friendly and conducive to a collegial environment.  Students should be able to easily walk, mingle, intersperse themselves between the campus and the plaza.  The possibilities are worth considering to revitalize the area before blight continues to spread.
The opportunity to make this happen will be coming sooner than later as the Walmart Neighborhood  Market will open sometime in the Fall on Kings Highway and Homestead Blvd.   The opening of the Walmart store will siphon more patrons from this Winn-Dixie's already fledgling operation as it's a well known direct competitor that effectively advertises "Everyday Low Prices".  The Winn-Dixie store's dated design is hardly appealing to current patrons, though it's in keeping with the mall's throwback construction of the 1970's.  The plaza needs the Community Redevelopment Agency's (CRA) help to bring it into the 21st Century.
















Another component that should be considered is adding a  Homestead campus to Florida International University (FIU).  This campus would alleviate South Dade residents from having to trek 25+ miles north FIU's Modesto A. Maidique (University Park) Campus on Tamiami trail.  The population of Homestead  continues to grow as the Census population counts reflect and it only makes sense to provide this essential service locally.
The time to act is now so we can meet the future challenges facing our community and provide educational and economic opportunities to our residents.  This area is a gem in the rough as its situated between the Busway and Historic Downtown Homestead.  All it needs is for the City Council and CRA in collaboration with MDC, FIU, and Homestead Plaza's owner to innovate a workable solution amenable to all parties.  We can all work together  to revitalize this part of town, all it needs is a little tender, love and care.