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Florida Trend reports that CREI Holdings' Li'l Abner III has secured a $67 million loan from Centennial Bank to commence construction on a development aimed at Miami-Dade County's workforce. Located in the City of Sweetwater, the eight-story building will feature over 300 units and is set to open in mid-2026. Of these units, 40% are reserved for individuals earning up to 80% of the area median income (AMI), while the remaining units are capped at 120% of the AMI. Additionally, 40% of the units will be designated for residents aged 55 and older. The previous phase, Li'l Abner II, completed last year, is nearly fully occupied. READ MORE

The Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida (RMHC) has named CREI Holdings managing member and Li’l Abner Foundation founder Raul Rodriguez a 2024 ‘12 Good Men Honoree.’ This year, local elected officials, philanthropists, and businessmen were recognized for their significant contributions to enhancing the South Florida community. “It’s an honor to receive the Twelve Good Men Award from the Ronald McDonald House,” Raul said. “I share this recognition with everyone involved in the Li’l Abner Foundation because our community work is a team effort. I’m grateful for their dedication, commitment to making a difference, and for embracing my vision to help children reach their full potential, regardless of their socio-economic background. Every child deserves the chance to thrive and live a productive life. This award motivates us to keep working hard to expand the Foundation’s work in our community. READ MORE

Seniors Housing Business reports CREI Holdings secured a $67 million construction loan from Centennial Bank to build the 8-story, 328-unit Li'l Abner III affordable/workforce housing project in Sweetwater, Florida, with construction starting in Q2 2024 and completion expected in Q2 2026. The project will have a mix of units aimed at households earning 80-120% of area median income, with nearly 40% reserved for residents aged 55 and older. READ MORE

The Real Deal reports CREI Holdings secured $67M in construction financing from Centennial Bank for a 326-unit multifamily project called Li'l Abner III in Sweetwater. The eight-story building will offer one- and two-bedroom workforce and affordable housing apartments with plans to break ground next quarter and completion expected in 2026. READ MORE

VIDEO: The Li'l Abner Foundation and its founder Raul Rodriguez took 50 low-income, medically fragile children to Disney World for a once-in-a-lifetime, magical experience! All 200+ kids, parents, nurses, and volunteers ventured on the three-day trip from Miami to Orlando to make this free journey happen for the seventh year. READ MORE

A record-high 50 low-income, medically fragile children from Miami-Dade and Broward counties embarked on a one-in-a-lifetime trip to Walt Disney World. The children, many of whom are in wheelchairs, and their family members and caretakers were transported in three buses with volunteers, nurses, and therapists. The trip was entirely free for the children and their families thanks to the generosity of the Li’l Abner Foundation, which coordinates “Disney on Wheels” each year. “I knew this would be challenging, but my whole team rallied together, and we were able to make history,” Mr. Rodriguez said. “We do it because of those children. When you see the joy on their faces when they arrive at the park, it is heartwarming. Seeing their experience changes you. Considering their conditions and that they wouldn’t otherwise be able to go to Disney, granting them this dream makes all the effort worthwhile.” READ MORE

CREI Holdings secured a $41 million loan from Lument for refinancing Li'l Abner II apartments at 400 NW 112th Ave. in Sweetwater, completed in April 2023. The transaction, led by Marc Suarez, a managing director at Lument, closed on Dec. 29. READ MORE

CREI Holdings, led by Managing Member Raul Rodriguez, secured a $41 million loan led by Marc Suarez of Lument for the refinancing of Li’l Abner II apartments, located in Sweetwater, Miami. Completed in April 2023 and designed by Burgos Lanza Architects and Planners, the eight-story building offers 244 one- and two-bedroom units dedicated to affordable and workforce housing, with 40 percent allocated to low-income seniors. Despite being near full occupancy, Miami-Dade County faces a shortage of affordable housing options, particularly affecting renters and frontline workers, according to a University of Florida report, with a projected gap of nearly 116,000 units by 2030 unless more affordable housing is created. READ MORE

Miami-based development firm CREI Holdings has secured a $41 million loan from Lument to refinance CREI's Li’l Abner II apartments, completed in April 2023 in Sweetwater. Designed by Burgos Lanza Architects and Planners, the 8-story building, adjacent to its 87-unit sibling Li’l Abner I, offers 244 one- and two-bedroom units dedicated to affordable and workforce housing, with 40 percent designated for low-income seniors and the rest for residents earning up to 120 percent of the area’s median income. Led by Marc Suarez, a managing director at Lument, the transaction closed on December 29, 2023. “We’re deeply appreciative of the dedication shown by Marc and the Lument team in finalizing this loan before the year’s end,” said Raul Rodriguez, Managing Member of CREI Holdings. “The creation of affordable and workforce housing has become increasingly challenging, and we extend our gratitude to Miami-Dade County for its crucial support, which has played a role in facilitating this refinancing. It is essential for both the public and private sectors to collaborate in addressing the affordable housing crisis. With each sector fulfilling its responsibilities, there’s no reason why we cannot overcome this challenge together.” READ MORE