Wynwood Norte is starting to see taller and denser development take hold, sparked by spillover from nearby neighborhoods and rules set by the Live Local Act. It wasn’t too long ago when another developer proposed the ‘Wynwood Tower’ slightly north of NW 36th St, featuring one of the tallest towers in a one mile radius. Now, 36th Street Owner, LLC is looking to join developers recently eyeing the area with a high-rise proposal at 70 NW 36th Street. The close to half-acre lot will soon call home to a 37-story tower along NW 36th Street, a major thoroughfare connecting to neighborhoods like Midtown, Edgewater, or Wynwood.
Proposed with a total of 330 units, the development will feature a blend of typologies from studios, 1 bedroom, or 2 bedroom apartments. Density is almost entirely from the Live Local Act, as current zoning only permits 150 homes per acre, compared to Live Local density of 1000 homes per acre. In this case, the developer could only build close to 65 units under traditional zoning, but with the Live Local Act, they’re now permitted up to 436 units. In exchange for increased housing density, the developer will provide 132 workforce units. Below is a table for more information provided by Arquitectonica: the project’s architect.
The current site at 70 NW 36th Street is currently home to a car dealership, with surrounding sidewalks that provide little width or protection for pedestrians. The newly proposed tower envisions a change to that, with widened sidewalks, increased greenery, and a residential lobby on the ground floor. While there will be no retail space, plans are still preliminary and subject to change. On the top of the tower will be a pool deck for residents, along with a bar, lounge area, and other amenities.
To accommodate the anticipated increase in neighborhood residents, the project will include 190 parking spaces: made possible through a 30% parking reduction and participation in a “payment-in-lieu” program. Essentially, the developer pays the city a fee for each required parking space not provided on-site. In this case, the developer is offsetting 76 parking spaces through payment-in-lieu.
Lastly, the tower will measure 421 FT to the tallest point, or about 377 FT to the tallest occupied floor. While current zoning only allows heights between 9 and 12 stories, the Live Local Act can take the highest allowable height from 1 mile away and apply it on-site. In hand, the developer now has a potential height of 60 floors, although the developer is only applying for a 37-story tower.
Before demolition and site work can begin, the developer must gain necessary approvals. The first step is approval for Miami’s Urban Development Review Board on June 18th. The project’s architect, Arquitectonica, will be reviewed based on architectural consistency, design standards, and compliance with code.