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. "