Developers have quickly begun to capitalize off of the Live Local Act. Joe Acquisitions, LLC, a company managed by Vertical Real Estate’s Lyle Stern and Kerry Newman, is no exception. The company is tapping into Miami’s recent surge of Live Local Act projects with a proposal to transform a 1.17-acre industrial site in Allapattah, currently occupied by warehouses and parking lots, into a highrise featuring 400 residential units. Of which, 160 units are workforce housing, mandated by the Live Local Act’s 40% affordable housing requirement that necessitates the construction of cheaper housing in exchange for higher density and a quicker permitting process. The developer is also requesting a warrant for the construction of 40 microunits out of the 400 units proposed. Microunits will be in the upper 300 SF range, significantly smaller than studios.
Beyond microunits, there will be studio, 1-bedroom, and 2-bedroom apartment orientations. The average unit size comes in at 580 SF, uniquely smaller than other nearby apartments. Because providing smaller workforce units closer to the bottom floor allow developers to profit off of certain Live Local projects, workforce apartments will be added between floors floors 6 to 12, and occasionally throughout floors 13 to 18. More expensive, larger units will be on the higher floors.
The 23-story tower, set to rise 276 FT, will bring 17,800 square feet of retail space to the area, spanning two levels at the base. While 335 parking spaces are planned, zoning doesn’t actually require any. A 20-FT-wide sidewalk lined with varied greenery aims to create a more inviting, pedestrian environment.
Designed by Built Form architecture, the project will feature a predominantly flat facade, an uncommon design choice in Miami where towers typically include balconies. Portions of the building will be adorned with artwork and screening, including an artistic kinetic wall by Extech on the podium that moves with the wind. Located at 1344 NW 22nd Street, the development sits near Miami’s Metrorail, positioning it as a transit-oriented project.
