The $139 Million, 410-Unit Douglas Gardens – Senior Health and Living (Douglas Gardens IV) Community Integrates Affordable Housing with On-Site Healthcare for Seniors in Pembroke Pines
April 28, 2026 – McDowell Housing Partners (MHP) and Miami Jewish Health (MJH) today announced the completion of Douglas Gardens Senior Health and Living, a 410-unit mixed-income, mixed-use residential community in Pembroke Pines that stands as the largest affordable senior housing development in Broward County and the second largest in the state of Florida. The $139 million development represents a landmark achievement in Florida’s affordable housing landscape, combining residential units with on-site healthcare services – the state’s largest Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) under one campus.
Designed to serve seniors primarily at 30% and 60% of the Area Median Income (AMI), Douglas Gardens IV directly addresses one of Broward County’s most pressing challenges – the acute shortage of true affordable housing options for a rapidly aging population. With South Florida’s senior residents disproportionately reliant on fixed incomes, the need for housing that does not force a trade-off between affordability and quality has never been more urgent.
“This project demanded something more than standard development. It demanded creativity, persistence, and an unshakeable belief that the seniors of Broward County deserve better,” said W. Patrick McDowell, Chairman and CEO of McDowell Housing Partners. “Douglas Gardens is not the result of a formula. It is the result of a team that refused to accept ‘no’ as an answer and engineered solutions when conventional ones ran out. We are immensely proud of what we have built here.”
A Complex Deal, Creatively Executed
Financing a development of this scale and complexity required a multi-layered capital stack assembled from public and private sources. The Broward County Housing Finance Authority served as tax-exempt bond issuer; Citi Community Capital provided construction and permanent financing; CREA, LLC invested as the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) equity partner; and Broward County Housing Trust Fund contributed subordinate financing. The ability to align these partners around a single, ambitious vision reflects MHP’s track record of navigating the most demanding transactions in affordable housing finance.
Housing Meets Healthcare: The PACE Integration
What distinguishes Douglas Gardens IV from every other affordable senior community in the region is the seamless integration of an adult day health center. Specifically, Florida PACE Centers, a subsidiary of MJH, will deliver comprehensive medical and social services to Medicare/Medicaid-eligible seniors, enabling elderly residents to receive hospital-grade care without leaving their community. For seniors who might otherwise face institutionalization, on-site PACE access is transformative. “The affordability crisis does not discriminate based on age. South Florida’s seniors face tremendous challenges as they often live on low fixed incomes,” said Jeffrey Freimark, President and CEO of Miami Jewish Health. “Being able to build a community that directly addresses the need for comfortable, safe, and cost-effective housing, combined with a comprehensive health program like Florida PACE Centers, is a necessity and something we are proud of. Douglas Gardens IV completes the final phase of our campus vision in Pembroke Pines and fulfills a promise we made to Broward County’s seniors.”
Douglas Gardens Senior Health and Living: By the Numbers
- 410 units: studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments (565–1,005 sq. ft.)
- Serves residents 55 and older at 30%, 60%, and 100% AMI
- 15,000-square-foot on-site PACE center
- Largest affordable senior development in Broward County; second largest in Florida
- Total development cost: +$139 million
- Located at 711 and 713 SW 88th Ave., Pembroke Pines, FL
- Amenities: pond with walking paths, fitness center, theatre room, business center, multiple indoor and outdoor gathering spaces
A Partnership Built on Shared Purpose
Douglas Gardens IV represents the third project completed by MHP and MJH in partnership, a relationship grounded in a shared commitment to serving Broward County’s most vulnerable senior population. The project team also includes construction manager ANF Group; engineer and landscape designer Keith & Associates; REPRTWAR Architecture and Design; and interior designer Jewel Toned Interiors.
“We’re proud to celebrate the completion of this project and grateful to our partners for their collaboration. Developments like this provide much-needed affordable housing options that directly support the health and well-being of Broward County’s senior population,” said Al Fernandez, CEO of ANF Group.
Douglas Gardens IV is the latest milestone in MHP’s rapidly growing portfolio. Since its founding in 2019, McDowell Housing Partners has secured competitive funding for 22 affordable communities, delivering more than 3,100 units across Florida and Texas, earning a national ranking of 27th among affordable housing developers by Affordable Housing Finance magazine.
About McDowell Housing Partners
McDowell Housing Partners (MHP) is a leading investor and developer of affordable housing. Founded in 2019, MHP has quickly established itself as a major force in the industry, earning a ranking of 27th nationally by Affordable Housing Finance. The company has secured competitive funding for 22 new affordable communities, providing more than 3,100 units across Florida and Texas. With a vertically integrated team, MHP works closely with local governments and community stakeholders to address the critical shortage of high-quality affordable housing. MHP’s mission is to ensure access to safe, stable, and affordable housing for families and seniors, regardless of socioeconomic status. For more information, visit www.mcdhousing.com.
About Miami Jewish Health
Miami Jewish Health has been a trusted provider of senior living and healthcare services for more than 85 years. On its main Miami campus, MJH offers a full continuum of care, including independent living, assisted living, long-term care, memory care, skilled nursing and rehabilitation, and outpatient physician and rehabilitation services. Florida PACE Centers, operated by Miami Jewish Health, serves seniors across Miami-Dade and Broward counties. MJH also owns and develops affordable housing in Florida, including but not limited to, operating a campus in Pembroke Pines offering 741 units of affordable housing for seniors. For more information, visit www.miamijewishhealth.org.
