‘Park Residences’ Proposed with a Blend of Office and Multifamily Space in Coral Terrace, Miami-Dade
7350 Coral Way Prop. Co. has recently filed a pre-application meeting with Miami-Dade, requesting administrative site plan approval for a mixed-use project consisting of office, retail, and multifamily space. The two-building development coined ‘Park Residences’ and designed by Anillo Toledo Lopez will utilize Live Local Act benefits, in hand delivering workforce housing and commercial space along Coral Way. The Live Local Act has prioritized immense density along industrial corridors, and this project is a byproduct of such legislation. Previous zoning regulations allowed zero residential, but with the Live Local Act, 250 units per acre can be built at maximum so long as 40% of the constructed units are designated as “affordable/workforce”. This translates to 246 market rate units and 164 workforce units. Units will be in either studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, or 3 bedroom orientations. In addition, there will be 950 parking spaces, 90,000 SF of medical office space, and 7,000 SF of retail space. According to elevations, the residential tower will rise 19 floors while the medical office building will measure 7 floors. This comes out to a height of 88 FT for the office building and 190 FT for the residential tower, making it the tallest building to be constructed in the area thus far. Likewise, the residential tower is set back 220 FT from coral way in an attempt to hide the project’s podium, but also its massing. To alleviate this set back, a pedestrian bridge will be constructed in-between the office and the tower’s base. The development is still preliminary, with renderings likely at a later date. The future development is located at 7350 Coral Way on an 4.11 acre parcel, currently housing a grass lot with an unpaved parking lot. Little site preparations are needed in the event the developer gets funding and begins.
PBA University Proposes 25-Story Dormitory and Parking Garage Amidst Plans to Expand Student Enrollment
Palm Beach Atlantic University, a private faith-based institution in the heart of Downtown West Palm Beach, has proposed a 25-story dormitory highrise as well as an 11-story parking garage amidst its plans to increase student enrollment from 3,000 to 5,000. Plans include the construction of a 355,510 SF building with 275 units (990 beds), a 5,275 SF fitness area, and 888 parking spaces with active uses on the ground floor. Cube3 is the official architect. The proposal was passed 5-1 on February 19th, with Sam Fisch being the only member voting no. All members expressed concern regarding the podium’s height and lackluster active use liners. “I don’t think anyone has a problem with the height of the dorm or even the architectural style itself… I think its just having a massive massive parking garage… in a main thoroughfare right at the border of the city” according to a comment by Sam Fisch, albeit all board members seemingly agreed. As per the approval agreement, there comes multiple conditions requested by staff and the planning board, such as ones addressing the podium’s impact by pushing for a necessary redesign. Although the Planning Board’s approval is just a recommendation, it signals a positive advance for the University. The tower will be 300 FT tall, consistent with heights of surrounding buildings like Forte, The Bristol, or La Clara, which reach similar heights. Likewise, the University expressed its distance from single family homes in its effort to justify the height. On the ground floor, there will be a large buffer zone consisting of greenery and seating between the residential dormitory and the street. A service road will also separate the parking garage and the dorm. The university is requesting 4 waivers at 1200 S Dixie Hwy, such as an increase in the maximum building height currently allowed. Among the waivers is also an amendment to the PBAU CSPD Master Plan. The property is set to reach the City Council for approval before permitting can finally begin.
Renderings Released for 1414 Brickell, One of the Tallest Proposals in Brickell
1414 Brickell, LLC, associated with Fortune International Group, has revealed plans for one of the tallest proposals in Brickell. Plans originally surfaced in October of last year concerning a pre-application with Miami-Dade, revealing an 81-floor tower designed by Arquitectonica. The developer is continuing these plans, albeit with minor tweaks to the exterior design. Plans include a mixed-use 81-story tower with 560 units, 84 hotel rooms, 117,310 SF of usable office space (145,950 GSF), 6,038 SF of commercial space, and 1,226 parking spaces. Significant density and height pictured in the renderings below are made possible given an RTZ District Subzone designation approved for the property on February 21, 2024. However, because the project exceeds certain zoning allowances, the property necessitates a Special Exception under Miami-Dade. The tower is no long subdivided into rectangles, but will feature a sleek, flat, highrise with square cutouts for greenery and large balcony space. In addition, the parking podium will be masked with glass, uncharacteristic of most towers in Brickell. Elevations showcase a 1010 FT “supertall” tower, the max height permissible according to the FAA. The bottom floor will consist of retail, a gallery, and parking. Then, floors 12 to 23 will contain office and hotel space, followed by residential uses from floors 24 to 79. Finally, on floors 80 to 81, there will be sizeable residential amenities with a pool deck overlooking the Atlantic Ocean. Site plan photos show retail fronting SE 14th St, S Miami Ave, and Brickell Avenue. Sidewalks will also extend generously to 15 FT, giving significant pedestrian improvements to the area. According to floor plans, units will be in studio, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom, and 3 bedroom configurations for most of the tower. The project still needs to move through a separate Administrative Site Plan Review, where final renderings and polished plans will be released for extensive review. Current renderings are for reference only, and will likely change.
Sunbeam Unveils Isle of Dreams, the First Phase of a Controversial Property Redevelopment
Sunbeam Properties, affiliated with WSVN 7News, has launched the first phase of its contentious multi-block redevelopment in North Bay Village. The project is part of the Sunbeam NBV SAP, a master plan approved in 2022 outlining proposals for towers soaring up to 650 feet. Encompassing 13 acres, the master plan imagines a mix of residential, retail, office, and hotel space, with Isle of Dreams marking the first step in bringing this vision to life. Isle of Dreams, designed by Arquitectonica, will be a 39-floor residential tower with 246 units, 7 floors of parking, and 23,043 SF of commercial space. Although renderings are not yet available, the project’s elevations offer insight into its height and overall form. The development will rise to 490 FT at its tallest measurable point, making it the highest tower within a two-mile radius until reaching the 492 FT Akoya Condominium, which is only two feet taller. To help balance the tower’s height, developers have proposed several setbacks, as proposed in a letter of intent submitted for the Miami-Dade Shoreline Review. A 35-FT setback from the bay is planned, aligning with standard requirements. However, given the tower’s 490-foot height, a larger setback of 75 FT is required: something Sunbeam Properties has not included. Instead, the developer will take advantage of an exemption permitted under code by incorporating a public bay walk. The company must also address visual corridor concerns. To accommodate this, a 68-FT-wide setback will be included on the west side of the property, exceeding the required 57 FT. Additionally, the tower’s curved design creates further visual corridors at higher elevations. Site plan details underline retail spaces along Adventure Avenue and the newly proposed bay walk. Likewise, the property will be complemented by about 18,720 SF of landscaped area, encapsulating dog parks, sidewalk greenery, and bay walk beautification. The developers must first demolish a 4-story office building on site, constructed in 1957 and located at 1400 79th Street Causeway. The property is owned by Sunbeam properties, and while phasing is unknown, previous statements from the company indicate confidence for the project’s speed. This submission also fulfills a city requirement mandated in late 2022, requiring Sunbeam Properties to file building permits within 2 years.
3000 Waterside Submitted to Fort Lauderdale’s Planning and Zoning Board
3000 Waterside by Claridge Homes has been submitted to Fort Lauderdale’s Planning and Zoning Board, aiming to satisfy conditional use requirements, adequacy standards, neighborhood compatibility regulations, and other municipal guidelines necessary for the project’s approval. The development, which remains mostly consistent with a prior submission to the city’s Development Review Committee in May 2024, is set to feature 129 residential units, 4,935 square feet of commercial space, and 310 parking spaces. The most notable revision from the earlier proposal is a reduction in commercial space along East Oakland Park Boulevard, where plans show a retail slot scaled down from 1,500 to 935 square feet. However, the 4,000 square feet of restaurant space overlooking the Intracoastal Waterway remains unchanged. The project will measure 19 floors, 164 FT to the roof, or 186 FT to the highest point. The tower will rise around the same height as the many other towers near the Intracoastal. Additionally, the development includes an articulated parking garage with a diverse range of materials from perforated metals, stucco, and wood finishes: an effort to enhance pedestrian aesthetics. The current site is a grass lot. The property, located at 3000 E Oakland Park Blvd, was home to a standalone parking garage and a low-rise building before being demolished in 2023. The project’s official architect is FSMY, based in Fort Lauderdale.
‘Gallery in the Grove’, a Mixed-Income Building Proposed in Coconut Grove
Gallery in The Grove, a mixed-income high-rise, is being proposed by The Related Urban Development Group to transform the Gibson Plaza housing site at 3160 Mundy Street in Coconut Grove, Miami. The project is the final qualifier for a previous ‘Request for Proposal’ (RFP) instituted in 2023, aiming to develop the site into a mixed-income building with market rate units, workforce housing, and affordable units. Gallery in the Grove will include 345 units, a 7,800 SF library, a 5,500 SF wellness center, and 303 parking spaces. To be more specific, there will be 36 units, 163 1 bedroom units, and 146 2 bedroom units. The building will encapsulate approximately 248,265 net rentable SF. The tower will demolish existing housing on-site. However, current units are not public housing, but apartments with existing HAP contracts with the US department of Housing and Urban Development. Hence, the demolished site will transfer its existing HAP contracts to the new tower, while also incorporating deeply affordable units (exactly 46 units through the Restore-Rebuild program). The new highrise will be among the tallest towers in the area, rising 20 floors or 213 FT according to elevations. For context, the recently constructed Cascade Link at Douglas rises 37 floors and is merely blocks away. The highrise will be among 2 other buildings on site also with attainable housing. Site plan photos show the mentioned 7,800 SF library fronting Douglas Road, with linear units lining the parking podium to provide adequate pedestrian activation along both Day Avenue and Douglas Road. A wellness center will front Mundy Street and Day Avenue. Likewise, residents have access to an amenity deck on level 6, adding a large pool, seating, a club room, a health club, and co-working space. Cohen Freedman Encinosa is the official architect on site. The development is located at 3160 Mundy Street, Miami FL.
Legacy Miami WorldCenter Is Still Stalled. Here’s What We Know
Legacy Miami WorldCenter is still stalled. The project, which broke ground in late 2021, rose about 20 floors before stalling last year. Problems arose when the developers behind the project found that the slabs for the towers included incorrect placements of plumping and electrical. Because the project changed from design usages throughout the years, changes were not reflected in the new floor plates. According to the Real Deal, the luxury mixed-use tower was aimed to restart months ago, with a letter sent out to buyers indicating completion of revised plans necessary to restart construction. Construction has still not restarted. According to a webcam provided on the official developer site, the site has not changed in about a year. In addition, the western crane on site looks to have its head dismantled. Efforts to revive the long-stalled project have played out in the site’s permitting history, with a plethora of filings between late 2023 and early 2024. The developer submitted a series of phased permits, covering building, electrical, mechanical, and plumbing work, signaling an attempt to restart construction. Yet, in a reversal, every permit was either revoked or canceled, leaving only stand-alone elevator permits for construction use intact. Despite multiple inquiries, Floridian Development has received no response from the developer regarding the project’s phasing. More tellingly, not a single new permit has been submitted or approved in the past year, raising questions about whether the project has quietly slipped into limbo. The development will include 310 short-term rentals, a 219 room hotel, a wellness center, and immense retail space if built. The condo portion of the project has sold out.
Sonesta International Hotels Introduce ‘The James Hotel & Residences Downtown Miami’, Rising 82 Floors
Mint developers and Sonesta International Hotels Corp have joined ties to develop ‘The James Hotel & Residences Downtown Miami’ according to Hotel Investment Today. The property is among the many supertall residences planned in Miami, with an estimated construction cost of $850 million for 82 floors of hotel rooms, residences, and parking spots. Specifically, there will be 336 fully furnished residences with approximately 200 units participating in a hotel leaseback program, amenity space, and restaurants that include the highest bar and restaurant in the Americas. Sales for the development will begin in the second quarter of 2025. Sonesta Hotels, a corporation that racked over $300 million dollars in revenue in 2024 and owns more than 1,100 locations worldwide, will develop the supertall as a sister property to the ‘James Hotel’ in South Beach. Mint developer’s Daniel Berman says funding is secured for the first round of funding, with groundbreaking on the first quarter of 2026. Mint developers is a collaboration between Big Development, AD1, and To The Stars. ‘The James Hotel & Residences Downtown Miami’ was originally revealed as ‘Two31 Flagler’ a few months ago by Big Development, encapsulating 83 floors and 369 residences rather than a mixed-use orientation of hotel and residences. The supertall will open in late 2028 once planning and construction finalize. Idea Architects is the project’s designer, with the property’s location at 231 E Flagler St, Miami.
Related Group Scales Down Apogee West Palm Beach After Board Rejection
The Related Group is back with a re-imagined proposal for its luxury condominium development, Apogee West Palm Beach, located at 4906 N. Flagler Drive. After facing unanimous rejection from the West Palm Beach planning board on December 19, 2023 due to concerns over its height, massing, and impact on neighboring single-family homes, the developer has returned with an adjusted proposed aimed at addressing city requirements. On top of this, multiple nearby community members expressed concern regarding the height of the development along such a constrained lot size, making approval seem ill-sighted. The Related Group showcased the redesigned project at a Planning Board Meeting on January 22nd, 2025. The revised plans now feature a slender 21-story tower with 39 condo residences (4 fewer than the maximum allowed) along with 99 parking spaces. Standing at 255 feet to the mechanical floor, the new structure is 52 feet shorter (an 18.15% reduction) than the original proposal, reducing massing impacts for nearby residents and complying with necessities outlined by the City of West Palm Beach. Part of the new proposal comes different waivers. Of the 6 waivers previously requested, 1 was removed. Waiver 3 which initially presented an around 3 FT deviation from a required 20 FT setback was slashed. Likewise, staff findings found the new proposal to comply with development standards. Despite complaints still arising by some residents, the project was recommended approval by the City of West Palm Beach’s planning board. “We have to balance a lot of needs here. Needs for the whole city, not always just individual neighborhoods”, “there is a huge demand in the city for housing, there is a need for investment in the north end”, “city staff’s issues were addressed, so they have done what we asked of them” according to Steven A. Mayans, chairperson of the board who originally called for denial of Apogee West Palm Beach. Site plans by the project’s architect, Arquitectonica, outline new sidewalks, greenery, public art, and a street-facing garage that aims at blocking the tower’s elevation from pedestrian view. The development is located at 4906 N. Flagler Drive, blocks away from Related’s newly constructed Icon Marina Village
Preliminary Plans Revealed for a Hotel Building at 111 N Meridian Ave in Channelside, Tampa
A rezoning application was recently filed on January 20th, entailing a proposed hotel featuring extensive retail space along N Meridian Avenue and hotel amenities and rooms. An original rezoning plan was approved by the Tampa City Council in 2019, outlining a first phase that later constructed 330 units and a phase two featuring a mini warehouse facility with ample commercial space. As per a new rezoning application, phase two will instead create a close to 500,000 square feet building (495,132 SF) developed by McKibbon Equities. According to the property’s site data, the project will include 304 hotel rooms, 35 parking spaces, 13,000 SF of retail on the bottom floor, and a 4,800 SF ‘AC Cafe’ along East Washington Street and North Meridian Avenue. Likewise, a large sidewalk lining newly planned landscaping will compliment the project’s massing. The development will request no waivers, with close to zero setbacks along any portion of the development. Uniquely, the site plan hints at the hotel being an ‘AC Hotel’ with the projects name being ‘MHG Tampa DT ACH-MX, LLC’ and the site plan showing an ‘AC Cafe’, albeit it’s all speculative and naming isn’t confirmed. Elevations draw out a 13 floor tower measuring 164 FT to the building’s parapet or 148 FT to the roof. Because the project is preliminary, rendering unfortunately aren’t available. Current processing status indicates the project is in its earliest stage: application review and traffic analysis, with closure occurring in the distant past. The project is located at 111 N Meridian Avenue.