Alix Desulme, Mayor, City of North Miami

In an interview with Invest:, Mayor Alix Desulme of North Miami discussed the city’s appeal to young, progressive residents, recent economic achievements, affordable housing initiatives, and sustainable growth plans, emphasizing North Miami’s evolving role as a vibrant, inclusive community.

What have been some of North Miami’s significant achievements in recent years?

North Miami has shown remarkable resilience through a challenging period of national economic uncertainty — rising inflation, supply chain disruptions, and so on. Despite these obstacles, we’ve seen growth in small businesses, housing, and citywide infrastructure. This is part of a larger trend in cities like ours, where diverse, entrepreneurial populations adapt to economic shifts and find innovative ways to thrive.

Still, we recognize the impact of rising costs on our residents. In response, we’re prioritizing job creation and affordable housing initiatives. We’re working closely with developers, providing them with incentives like Infrastructure grants and TIF (Tax Increment Financing) rebates through the North Miami CRA, to encourage affordable units. North Miami is one of the few South Florida cities successfully working with developers to meet our area’s unique needs, given that our median income is under $50,000 — much lower than the county average of over $79,000. Addressing affordability is an ongoing commitment, but we’re making significant progress with these programs.

How are you addressing the issue of affordable housing, given the rising demand for both rental properties and homeownership in the region?

About two and a half years ago, we began meeting with developers bringing new projects to North Miami. One recent success is the Gardens Apartments, a 378-unit development where we negotiated 38 affordable units. To make this happen, we provided a $16 million incentive package, split between cash and TIF. The units range from studios to one-bedroom apartments, and we specifically worked to keep prices affordable at 80% county AMI. We have several similar projects on the way.

Affordable housing is critical in our city, where many residents, including a large immigrant population of Haitian Americans and Latin Americans, are working-class folks striving to make ends meet. Traditional affordability standards often don’t match our community’s needs, so we’re crafting innovative solutions within these constraints. While 38 units may seem small, it makes a significant difference for residents in need.

What are some of North Miami’s most pressing challenges?

One of our most urgent issues is our aging water plant, built in 1962. As North Miami approaches its centennial in two years, this facility is struggling to meet modern demands. Repairs have been done over the years, but, like with an old home, there comes a point where patches aren’t enough. Our water plant needs to be replaced entirely to provide reliable service.

In neighborhoods like San Souci and Keystone, residents regularly experience low water pressure, which also affects daily activities. The City is currently in the application process to secure funding for a new water plant. We are working with federal agencies to secure that funding. This investment will significantly improve our infrastructure.

How is North Miami approaching tech and innovation, especially with the NoMi Tech initiative?

While I support the NoMi Tech initiative, I wasn’t directly leading it. I’ve contributed to the planning and worked with John Lorfils, North Miami’s Interim Deputy City Manager and Economic Development Director; but a few key team members have been focused on moving it forward. North Miami has both the infrastructure and the ambition to welcome the tech community, but there’s still room to strengthen coordination and programming to make it a reality.

North Miami is well-positioned within Miami-Dade County to become a tech hub, and with the right initiatives — like AI and tech partnerships — we can capitalize on these growing opportunities. This is an ideal area for us to focus on, and I’m committed to ensuring our community can benefit from the tech and innovation sectors.

What steps is North Miami taking to prepare for sustainable growth?

North Miami’s approach to growth is grounded in inclusivity and economic empowerment, especially for our diverse immigrant community. We’ve welcomed an influx of Latino residents, alongside a long-standing Caribbean and Haitian-American population. Our experience working with different cultures has prepared us to serve this expanding community. We already operate in three languages, and now we’re focusing on expanding our outreach and resources for these communities to support inclusive growth.

Our strategies for sustainable growth include major infrastructure improvements, economic development, and tech investment. We’re working closely with the CRA and partners like FIU to strengthen local business support, attract tech companies, and create jobs. I’ll also be focusing more on our NoMi Tech initiative to position North Miami as a tech-friendly city and build a foundation for future innovation.

One of the most significant developments is the addition of two Brightline stations, which will fuel local growth and attract new businesses, including hotels and retail, around the station areas. One station will be located on 123rd Street, serving Surfside, Bal Harbour, and parts of Miami Shores, which opted out of having a station — a decision that worked in our favor. The second station will be at 151st Street, close to the SoLé Mia development, FIU, and major businesses like Warren Henry and Costco. These stations will improve connectivity and make North Miami even more attractive for investment and development.

By focusing on infrastructure, tech, and partnerships, North Miami is positioning itself to sustainably manage growth and continue as a diverse and dynamic community.

What is your vision for North Miami over the next two years, and what should be the top priorities for city leadership?

Looking ahead, we have a tremendous opportunity. Miami is rapidly emerging as a global hub for tech, finance, and cultural exchange, which brings both exciting potential and significant challenges. Communicating these issues can be difficult, but they’re real — like the need for affordable housing and traffic solutions. Traffic congestion has become intense; a trip to city hall used to take me five minutes, but now it’s closer to 15 or 20. North Miami’s approach is to tackle these challenges head-on by expanding affordable housing and public transportation options, like the freebee service we added this year. We’ve also upgraded our trolley fleet and extended routes to improve access across the city.

On the Miami-Dade TPO board, I proposed bringing a water taxi service to North Miami, an idea we’re currently navigating through environmental reviews. We’re also focusing on traffic flow improvements with infrastructure updates, such as traffic circles, to ease congestion in our nearly 100-year-old city.

Flooding is another critical issue. After the record rainfall North Miami experienced a few months ago, our flood mitigation plan is almost complete, with a projected cost exceeding $100 million. Securing funding will require partnerships at the county, state, and federal levels, and this is a top priority for me moving forward.

I’m constantly working on innovative solutions to position North Miami for growth while prioritizing sustainability. My experience here is unique: I’m one of only three elected officials in our city’s near 100-year history to serve at every level of local government — as city clerk, council member, and now mayor. This gives me deep insight into our community, and I know what it takes to move North Miami forward. Our focus is steady, fast-paced, and rooted in a commitment to the greater good.