MIAMI—Some are still questioning if mixed-income multifamily communities can really work, even after Keith Poliakoff, who co-chairs Arnstein & Lehr's Government Relations Practice Group in Fort Lauderdale, offered what he sees as proof. In fact, one Tampa valuation specialist says Poliakoff's proof doesn't convince him.

Here's the backstory: Poliakoff worked with the developers of Pinnacle at Tarpon River, a $32 million, 12-unit mixed-income and mixed-used development in Downtown Fort Lauderdale. One hundred units are designated for qualified affordable housing residents and 12 units are market rate rentals.

"I think some still questioned whether or not mixed-income communities would work," Poliakoff tells Globest.com. "Through innovative designs, and making the units almost indistinguishable, I think we have proven to the City of Fort Lauderdale, and others, that mixed income communities will play an important role in the future development of all rental communities. "

Poliakoff explains that 112 units rented within 90 days. He also reports the developer has a substantial waiting list if and when any vacancy occurs. As such, he argues, the market has proven that this building product can easily be a success. 

Mark Simpson, founder of Benchmark Valuation in Tampa, FL, disagrees. He tells GlobeSt.com a quick lease-up of a small building with only 10.7% market rate apartments is hardly "proof" that the product can be a success. 

"Success may be proven over time by larger projects with substantial proportions of market rate units," Simpson says. "However, the single example cited in the article is still in progress and the small proportion of market rate units is almost insignificant. Success or failure may be judged by longer-term operation and financial performance, not by 90 days of move-ins."