Signs of Life Emerge at Brickell Gateway as Developers File Updated Plans
Long-awaited progress is finally emerging for the Brickell Gateway project in Miami’s Brickell district. After more than a year of inactivity, developers Gazit Horizons and Atlantic Pacific Companies have submitted updated plans to Miami-Dade County, signaling renewed momentum for the mixed-use development. The filing comes in the form of an administrative modification to the previously approved plans, a process used to request minor adjustments without requiring a full redesign review. The revisions include modest increases to the project’s height as well as several design updates led by Corwil Architects. Planned for a relatively compact parcel at 90 SW 8th Street and 809 SW 1st Avenue, the site has already been cleared following demolition of the previous structure. While the development has gone through several program and design iterations over the years, the latest filing suggests the project may finally be approaching construction. A master building permit, valued at approximately $150 million and covering over 900,000 SF of new construction, remains pending and is expected to move forward once the administrative modification is approved. According to plans submitted to the county, the project’s density and unit count remain unchanged. The development will continue to include 504 residences, with a mix of studios, one-bedroom units, one-bedroom plus den layouts, two-bedroom units, and three-bedroom residences. Residents will have access to a wide range of amenities, including a rooftop pool on the 62nd floor, a terrace deck, sky lounge, private dining rooms, lounges, golf simulators, gaming areas, and several additional shared spaces. Floor plans show the development will include 16,591 SF of commercial space across the first and second floors, after which the structure transitions into the project’s parking podium. The podium will accommodate 332 parking spaces across multiple levels, an arrangement driven largely by the site’s compact footprint despite a parking ratio of fewer than one space per residential unit. Both figures represent slight reductions from the project’s earlier plans. Previous filings called for 18,276 SF of retail space and 344 parking spaces. One of the most notable revisions involves the project’s design and overall height. Previously approved plans called for a 61-story tower rising approximately 746 FT to its highest point. Updated filings now show the building reaching 62 stories and approximately 773 FT, positioning it among the taller towers in Brickell. The additional height comes from both the inclusion of an extra floor and increased floor-to-ceiling heights across the upper four levels of the building. Changes have also been made to the design of the development’s podium. Earlier plans envisioned the podium being largely enclosed in glass, creating the appearance of active uses along the facade and a more continuous facade. The revised design instead introduces sections of mesh screening across portions of the podium between floors 4 and 16, finished in darker gray and black tones. According to the developer, some of these levels could potentially accommodate retail or other active uses in the future, though they are currently planned as part of the parking structure. The design changes, which are not expressed in renderings yet (new renderings may come later), may stem from several factors, including rising construction costs in the United States, which have led many developers to simplify or scale back certain design elements in recent years. With the administrative modification now under review, the project could move closer to construction in the coming months. While a formal groundbreaking date has not been announced, a start later this year could place completion around 2029.
New Plans Revealed for 28-Story Tower at 1250 West Avenue in Miami Beach
Plans for a new luxury high-rise along Miami Beach’s West Avenue waterfront are moving forward, as developers work to clear the remaining regulatory hurdles for a redevelopment that would replace one of the neighborhood’s aging condominium buildings. The proposal, located at 1250 West Avenue, is scheduled to be reviewed by Miami-Dade County’s Shoreline Development Review Committee, marking another milestone for a project that has already secured key zoning approvals from the City of Miami Beach. Those approvals were granted under the Alton Beach Bayfront Overlay, clearing the way for a tower significantly taller than what was previously permitted on the site. As part of the deal with the city, the development will include less than half of the density previously permitted on-site, a significant concession in exchange for the height increase. The partnership is also obligated to design and fund new Baywalk segments out of pocket across four properties: 1250 West Avenue, 1228 West Avenue, 800 West Avenue, and 1450 Lincoln Road. Should the team be unable to fulfill those obligations directly, they are required to pay the city in lieu to complete the segments in their place. Beyond the waterfront commitments, the developers separately agreed to acquire the Bikini Hostel at 1247 West Avenue, with plans to demolish the property and replace it with a public park. The hostel currently serves portions of Miami Beach’s unhoused population, meaning the redevelopment will also require a plan for relocating those residents. The redevelopment is being pursued by a partnership between Terra Group, JDS Development Group, GV Development, and RG Development. Together, the group assembled the site through a rare and complex condominium buyout of Bay Garden Manor, a 15-story residential building constructed in 1964. The developers acquired more than 95% of the building’s 238 units from over 100 individual owners, where they will move to terminate the condominium association: a necessary legal step before demolition can proceed. The proposed development will feature 106 residential units, with each floor designed to include only a select number of spacious homes. The average unit will span approximately 3,479 SF, while even the smallest unit stands at 1,767 SF. This represents a reduction from the original plan, which called for 125 units, the maximum allowed on the site. Residents will enjoy amenities including a pool, lounge areas, private driveway, gym, spa, and additional shared spaces. The project also includes 11,267 SF (up from the original plans of 9,500 SF) of commercial space along West Avenue, with plans currently indicating a potential club or spa, although tenant uses could change. Beneath the ground floor, the building will feature three levels of parking, a relatively rare feature for waterfront developments in Florida (or any development for that matter), providing a total of 249 spaces. According to the new design by ODP Architecture and MK27 Architecture, the 28-story (lower from an original 33 stories) building will reach a height of 363 FT at its tallest point, with the tallest occupied floor standing around 342 FT. Like many luxury towers in South Florida, the development will feature wrap-around balconies, floor-to-ceiling windows, and ceilings of 11 FT. The exterior will showcase a modern palette, highlighted by light wood accents, ultra-clear glass railings, and other refined architectural details. According to permitting records obtained by Floridian Development, no demolition permits have yet been filed with either Miami-Dade County or the City of Miami Beach. However, given the experience of the development team and the rapid pace of planning, demolition permit applications are expected to be submitted in the near future.