Overview
Javi Vazquez is a land use and zoning attorney focused on helping developers, property owners and builders navigate the complex web of entitlements and required governmental approvals to realize transformative real estate projects throughout South Florida.
Javi's practice spans large-scale residential communities, mixed-use urban centers, educational institutions, medical complexes, industrial facilities, and retail development projects. His work includes zoning approvals, land use plan amendments, variances, site plan approvals and most other entitlements required for his clients and their proposed developments. Javi’s work also includes existing developments and the various regulatory issues property owners face, such as code enforcement violations and fine reductions.
Javi regularly appears before planning and zoning boards, municipal commissions, and administrative agencies, including the Department of Environmental Resources Management (DERM). He is deeply experienced in jurisdictions including Miami-Dade County, City of Hialeah, City of Miami, Homestead, Florida City, North Miami Beach, and others across the region.
Often engaged early in a project’s life cycle, Javi represents clients ranging from national homebuilders and institutional investors to local entrepreneurs and nonprofit organizations, collaborating with their architects and design teams to untangle problems and shape proposals to position them for approval. He is skilled in identifying potential roadblocks and developing strategies to resolve them efficiently.
Javi draws on longstanding relationships with planning directors, municipal staff, and elected officials to advance his clients’ interests. Strategic and experienced, Javi understands how to get projects built, which is especially helpful in getting them approved.
Honors
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce, Real Estate Achievers & Leaders Awards, “Land Use Attorney” Finalist, 2016
News & Insights
Media Features
- "Over 200 apartments planned near Miami airport,” South Florida Business Journal, January 2025
- "Florida’s Legislature Tweaks Affordable Housing Law After Pushback, Helping Developers Feel More Secure," Daily Business Review, March 2024
- The Real Deal Quotes Javi Vazquez in, "“Beneficial to Developers”: Florida Legislature Approves Tweaks to Live Local Act," The Real Deal, February 2024
- "Developer Proposes 120K SF Office With Studio Apartments in Aventura,” Bisnow Cities, January 2024
- "Lawmakers Mull Major Changes to Landmark Live Local Act", Bisnow Features, January 2024
- "Playing with the House’s Money: How buyers, sellers are closing deals," The Real Deal, November 2023
- "Livin' La Vida Local," South Florida Business Journal, June 2023
- "Zinn Automotive plans new dealership in Miami-Dade County," South Florida Business Journal, May 2023
- "Hialeah to consider 4 big development projects this week," South Florida Business Journal, April 2023
- South Florida Business Journal Quotes Javi Vazquez in, "Legacy Residential plans 2nd apartment complex near Miami airport,” South Florida Business Journal, February 2023
- "Property in Goulds neighborhood could be replaced with garden-style apartments" South Florida Business Journal, January 24, 2023
- "Dania Beach Approves 13-Story Apartment Project," South Florida Business Journal, September 2022
- "Hialeah assisted living facility could be redeveloped, expanded" South Florida Business Journal, September 2022
- "How to Take Advantage of Federal Infrastructure Funds," South Florida Business & Wealth, August 2022
- Berger Singerman Survey Reveals Florida Businesses Have Significant Doubts About Infrastructure Bill,” August 4, 2022
- "Apartments, commercial space proposed in Florida City," South Florida Business Journal, April 2022
- "Not Too Far: Homestead now a hotbed of development,"South Florida Business Journal, February 2022
- "North Miami Beach to consider 23-story residential/hotel tower," South Florida Business Journal, December 2021
- "Phase I of the Hialeah Park redevelopment project will soon begin," Construction Review Online, September 2021
- “Rolling the dice: Charter school, apartments planned for Hialeah Park racetrack and casino property," The Real Deal, August 29, 2021
- "Miami-Dade rezoning paves way for 321-unit multifamily project in Homestead," The Real Deal, February 23, 2021
- "Miami-Dade Commission approves 321-unit apartment project," South Florida Business Journal, February 19, 2021
- "Mixed-use project slated for Homestead," South Florida Business Journal, February 2021
- "Office, hotel, retail project Gateway proposed near Aventura Mall," South Florida Business Journal, September 2020
- "Violet Capital proposes apartments, commercial near Homestead," South Florida Business Journal, August 2020
- Javi Vazquez weighs in on the impact the pandemic has had on commercial zoning, South Florida Business Journal, July 28, 2020
- "Popular Bank to relocate Florida HQ to new office building," South Florida Business Journal, July 2020
- “Coronavirus Slows Development Pipeline, but Not Construction,” South Florida Business Journal, March 2020
- "South Florida Builders Active, But Pipeline Stalls Amid Coronavirus," South Florida Business Review, March 2020
Speaking Engagements
- "Tech & Real Estate: The City of the Future", moderator, Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce 2021 Real Estate Summit, April 2021
- "BASF Developers Showcase," speaker, September 2020
Involvement
Civic & Community Service
- Florida International University, Executive Advisory Board Assets Committee, 2024
- SebastianStrong, Board of Directors, 2019
- Greater Miami Chamber of Commerce
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- Board of Directors
- Real Estate Committee, Chair, 2014-15
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- Miami-Dade Expressway Authority (MDX), Board of Directors, 2014-17
Education
- University of Miami School of Law, J.D., cum laude
- Florida International University, B.S.
Admissions
- Florida
Languages
- Spanish
