Beach offers artists cheap rent

Miami Herald

Artists may not have to struggle with expensive rents in Miami Beach in the future. The Miami Beach City Commission is expected to give preliminary approval for incentives to create affordable housing in an area to be designated as the Cultural Arts Neighborhood Overlay or CANDO.

A final vote on CANDO is expected in October. If it passes, Miami Beach would be the first city in Miami-Dade to offer such a program.

CANDO is the brainchild of Mayor David Dermer, who announced in April 2006 his intention to bring new artists to the city and lure back artists who have left the Beach because of gentrification and escalating rents; and to encourage new arts-related businesses to open up there.