Miami-Dade considers giving property away to Marleine Bastien’s non-profit

The Miami-Dade Commission on Tuesday will consider giving away a county-owned property at 100 NE 84th Street to Family Action Network Movement, Inc, — better known as FANM — a non-profit that was founded in 1991 by Commissioner Marleine Bastien, who watched it grow over two decades into a globally recognized model for providing life-enhancing services to low and moderate-income families.
Bastien, who was elected in 2022 to succeed former Commissioner Jean Monestime, resigned as executive director last December. That’s less than five months ago.
The giveaway requires a two-third vote and the resolution, sponsored by Commissioner Keon Hardemon, waives the requirement of four weeks advance written notice. The 10,800 square foot property, with an assessed value of $906,000 (market value is $1.1 million), would be declared surplus, sold at a “nominal” price — and FANM would also be forgiven any owed, past due rent from the lease of the property.
Their past due rent is $140,920, according to the resolution before the commission Tuesday.

“In light of the nature of the proposed use of the property for the benefit of providing vital community services, and substantial expenditures which will be made by FANM, to construct, expand, and improve the property, plus the continuing costs of maintenance, a substantially compelling reason exists to convey the property for nominal value rather than to lease it to FANM and to waive the prior obligations,” the resolution reads.

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