Daniel Salas, Vice President, SoLe Mia

Invest: spoke with Daniel Salas, vice president of SoLe Mia, about building a large-scale mixed-use community in North Miami and the long-term thinking behind its partnerships, amenities, and infrastructure. “We build with intent and purpose, not just to meet the bottom line,” Salas said.

What was the original vision behind SoLe Mia, and how does it differ from other real estate developments in the region?

SoLe Mia is a joint venture between the Lefrak and Soffer families, with each having a long history of building communities, not just buildings. That is the core difference in how we think about SoLe Mia. This is not one standalone development or a single set of buildings. It is a community project, and that mindset influences everything from planning to partnerships.

From the beginning, the goal was to create a new type of community within North Miami and within Miami-Dade County. We wanted an urban feel, but we also wanted it to be environmentally friendly, focused on wellness and open space, and family-oriented. That combination is important because a lot of urban development can feel dense without being truly livable, and we wanted to build something that works for everyday life.

We think about it in terms of live, work, and play. If people can live within the community, access what they need, and enjoy the amenities without having to constantly leave and drive long distances, that creates a different experience. The aim is for residents to be able to experience the same quality of life they would expect in a suburban neighborhood, but within a dense, urban environment that still feels connected and walkable.

In the end, we are trying to create an area where people can feel proud of where they live, not simply occupy a unit. That sounds like a small distinction, but it changes how you plan, how you design, and how you select partners.

Sustainability and environmental access are central themes at SoLe Mia. How have those priorities been incorporated into the development?

All of our buildings are green certified through one program or another. That was part of the partnership we established with the city of North Miami, where we aligned early on and agreed to build to those standards as part of the overall development approach.

Beyond that, we put a strong emphasis on outdoor experiences. We have an amazing lagoon for our residents. We have playgrounds, walking paths, and jogging paths, and we are within walking distance of Oleta River State Park.

A major priority is making sure there is extensive green space and open space for residents. It is not an add-on. It is a foundational part of how the community is laid out and how people move through it.

The bigger picture is that we want residents to be able to experience the outdoors from the community itself, rather than treating nature as something you have to drive to reach. That helps create an environment that feels healthy and balanced.

SoLe Mia integrates residential, commercial, healthcare, education, and recreational uses. How does this mixed-use approach shape daily life for residents?

The integrated approach is the goal. It is how you create a real community rather than a residential pocket that depends on everything outside its borders. The way we do that is by bringing in partners that add meaning and utility to the site.

A major example is UHealth, which opened within our community. It is currently a 350,000-square-foot ambulatory healthcare center, state-of-the-art, and designed to serve not only SoLe Mia but the broader community as well. It provides a level of access and quality that helps residents and also benefits the surrounding area.

We also have Reserve Padel, which is a fitness and padel facility that opened its flagship location on-site. Then you have partners like Warren Henry Auto Group and Costco, which support everyday needs. People need groceries. People need services. People need places that make daily life more convenient. Warren Henry also has its headquarters on our site, which supports the live-work balance we are building toward.

Education is another important component. We are opening Mater at SoLe Mia, a K–5 charter school on site this year. It is not just a basic facility. It includes dedicated rooms for art, science, and other electives that you do not typically see in a K–5 environment. We wanted something above and beyond the standard because we want the school to reflect the overall priorities of the community.

All of that contributes to the same result: you are building a place where residents do not just live, but where they can access what they need and are proud of living there.

Technology changes quickly. What role does it play in making the community future-ready?

Technology moves so fast that it can change between the start of a conversation and the end of it. That makes it important to stay aware of new tools and systems that can improve the experience for residents and tenants.

Our general approach is to incorporate technology that makes life more seamless. That can apply to how residents move through the community, how they access amenities, and how they experience the site as a whole. The goal is for people to be able to treat the community like an extension of their home, not a separate set of disconnected properties.

Every time we start a new building or a new project, there are new products available that are better or different. That means one of the biggest challenges is not just keeping up with what exists now, but making sure we are prepared for what comes next. It is almost impossible to predict precisely, but you can focus on accommodations and infrastructure that will allow you to adapt.

We think about emerging trends like autonomous vehicles, self-driving cars, and autonomous shuttles. Public transportation in South Florida has always been a critical issue for our community, but with autonomous systems being introduced, there may be new options that can strengthen mobility for residents. That requires planning, because if you are not thinking ahead about how to accommodate future transportation and infrastructure, you can end up boxed in by earlier decisions.

The most important focus is designing for flexibility and readiness so we can integrate future technologies as they come online.

Looking ahead, what can residents and investors expect from SoLe Mia over the next few years?

The focus stays the same: creating a top-of-the-line residential community supported by commercial, healthcare, education, and strong business partners. Every project we do has to fit that end goal.

As we evaluate new residential buildings, we also look at what is missing from a retail and service standpoint. We survey tenants and residents regularly and ask what they want in the community. Is it restaurants, a coffee shop, a gym, dry cleaning, or other daily needs? We take that feedback into account and incorporate it into future planning and design.

We are also excited about One Park Tower, which is our first condo and first for-sale product in SoLe Mia. That introduces a new stage of the community, because you will have homeowners who are investing in their properties and who bring strong opinions, suggestions, and ideas for how the community can continue to improve.

We build with intent and purpose, not just to meet the bottom line. That is a key difference in how we approach development. Because the community is large-scale, every project has to contribute to the larger vision. Whether it is a standalone building or part of multiple projects going up at once, it has to support the overall goal of making this a place where people love to be.

Another area we are focusing on is public art. At this point, we have more people walking around and using the open spaces, and we see an opportunity to create public art experiences within the community. The goal is to give residents something they can enjoy as part of their daily routines, whether they are walking a dog, taking a stroll, or spending time with friends and family.

Over time, those layers are what turn a development into a place with identity, pride, and long-term value.