Sunny Isles Beach is set to receive its tallest skyscraper yet under a new proposal from a joint venture led by the Related Group, Dezer Development, and the BH Group. Planned for 19051 Collins Avenue, the development is scheduled to go before the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission on January 15th as the partnership seeks approval for a 62-story tower. Designed by Cohen Freedman Encinosa with landscape architecture by Enea, the long-anticipated project gained momentum after the FAA cleared the site for a structure of up to 820 FT: a height that would make it the tallest building outside of Miami.
The roughly two-acre site is currently occupied by the Miami Beach Club condominium complex, which the partnership bought out for approximately $130 million under the entity MB RE Investments. Despite the buyout, recent photos from about two months ago show that the existing buildings remain intact, with demolition still pending.
Plans submitted to the city call for 145 ultra-luxury condominium residences, with unit types ranging from three-bedroom layouts to four-, five-, and six-bedroom homes. Two full-floor penthouses of around 9,000 SF each are proposed near the top of the tower. While existing zoning permits only 50 units per acre, the development is seeking increased density through financial contributions and public benefits offered to the city in exchange for the additional units, bringing the final density to 73 units per acre.
According to a representative of the project, the tower will have a large array of amenities for the residents. These include outdoor amenity space such as a padel ball court, water features, raised pool deck, and a sculpture garden. In addition, ‘The project also includes impressive “sunrise” amenities on the east side of the building facing the ocean such as a large lap pool, outdoor spa facilities, cabanas, outdoor seating, and a lawn area transitioning to beach access.’
The structure will rise from a three-story podium containing 298 parking spaces (featuring a mix of tandem and standard spaces), providing a ratio of more than one space per unit as well as parking for a proposed 2,390 SF private restaurant. An elevated driveway will carry vehicles up to the main lobby level at the top of the podium, a layout that is common for high-rise developments in Sunny Isles Beach.
Architectural elevations show the tower rising 818 FT to its highest architectural point, or 820 FT including aircraft warning lights. The building is designed with an almost entirely glass facade, accented by limited areas of linen-painted stucco. All residences will feature glass railings and 12-FT ceilings, except for the penthouse units. In an accompanying letter of intent, the tower is described as a ‘slender’ structure with a ‘classical’ and elegant appearance, designed to maximize spacing from neighboring buildings.
While the project has not yet gone before the Sunny Isles Beach City Commission, staff analysis has found the proposal to be ‘consistent with the City of Sunny Isles Beach Comprehensive Plan and all applicable provisions of the City’s Land Development Regulations.’ If approved, the development team would be required to satisfy 19 conditions prior to the start of construction.
The project is estimated to have a construction cost of approximately $294 million, with completion targeted for December 2031.