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, 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.
Construction Advances at Three Major Development Sites in Downtown Tampa
Downtown Tampa is experiencing one of the most significant development waves in its modern history. The skyline is currently dotted with a high concentration of cranes for high-rise projects, an intensity of construction not seen since the late-2000s cycle. Among the most prominent projects reshaping the urban core are One Tampa, Pendry Residences Tampa, and a future tower planned by Stock Development. Together, the announced developments are expected to add roughly 425 condominium units and 220 hotel rooms to downtown, not including details from Stock Development’s still-unreleased project. These three towers occupy closely aligned sites along North Ashley Drive near the Hillsborough River. Pendry Residences Tampa is rising at 111 South Ashley Drive, while One Tampa is under construction at 507 North Ashley Drive. Just north of both sites, Stock Development controls 601 North Ashley Drive, where demolition is currently underway following the company’s $40 million acquisition of the property. The site was previously owned by TLR Group, which had proposed a roughly 540 FT tower that went through several design iterations before ultimately being shelved. As Tampa’s skyline continues to evolve, new photos highlight the rapid progress of several major projects now reshaping the downtown core. One Tampa According to photos taken by Floridian Development, One Tampa has reached its 24th floor, with the structure rising at a pace of roughly one new floor per week. The pace has accelerated since the project’s foundation and the large parking podium, spanning approximately 10 floors, were completed. Window installation is now underway on the lower residential floors, while exterior treatments for the podium will be installed at a later stage of construction. One Tampa’s podium will feature a distinctive mesh screening incorporating artistic patterns designed to provide both visual interest and ventilation for the parking levels. The podium will also incorporate a reconstructed historic facade as part of an agreement with the City of Tampa. The original structure at 520 North Tampa Street was built in the 1920s and later demolished to make way for the tower. As part of the development agreement, Kolter Urban committed to reconstructing an interpretive version of the building’s facade along N Tampa St and E Twiggs St. Work on that reconstruction is currently underway. The portion of the podium where the historic facade will appear is currently covered with a concrete backing, which will later be clad with brick detailing and window elements designed to replicate the appearance of the original building. One Tampa is set to include 225 residential units, along with 464 parking spaces and 5,000 SF of ground-floor retail. The tower will ultimately rise 44 stories, reaching a height of about 494 FT. The project is being developed by Kolter Urban, Adache Group Architects is serving as the architect, and Moss Construction is the general contractor. Pendry Residences Tampa Pendry Residences Tampa has recently begun vertical construction on its first residential floors following completion of the tower’s 11-story podium and two amenity levels on floors 12 and 13. Crews are now working on the 14th and 15th floors, marking the start of the residential portion of the building. Similar to One Tampa, construction has accelerated after an extensive foundation phase, which included some of the deepest piles installed in Florida, and the completion of a podium spanning the full length of the site. With that work finished, the tower is now rising at a pace of roughly one floor per week. Pendry Residences Tampa is taking shape as a prominent tower along the Hillsborough River, with a footprint that will make it the widest skyscraper in the city. The waterfront hotel portion of the podium, anchored by the Pendry brand and planned to include 220 hotel rooms, is currently being enclosed in glass. Meanwhile, the garage section of the podium is slated to be finished with vertical metal louvers. This design reflects a modification by the developer: earlier plans incorporated greenery between the louvers, but the revised design removes that element in favor of a simpler black-and-white finish. Pendry Residences Tampa will introduce 200 luxury condos, 220 hotel rooms, and approximately 5,000 SF of retail space to the heart of Tampa. The 38-story, 444-FT-tall development will also feature a podium with 656 parking spaces. Arquitectonica is serving as the project’s architect, while Two Roads Development is the developer and Coastal Construction Group is acting as the site’s general contractor. 601 North Ashley While full development plans have not yet been announced for 601 North Ashley Drive, Stock Development is continuing demolition work on the existing structure occupying the site. The property was previously home to the 12-story GTE Tower. The office building has origins dating back to the 1920s but was later heavily modified, including the addition of a stucco exterior that concealed much of the original brick facade. The building most recently housed a branch of GTE Financial, which has since vacated the premises. Demolition crews are now stripping away the building’s modern exterior, leaving behind a gray structural shell where sections of the original brick occasionally emerge beneath the removed cladding. Windows are also being removed throughout the structure. Much of the facade along the west, south, and north sides has already been cleared, while the eastern elevation remains partially covered by scaffolding as work continues. According to permitting records, demolition is being carried out by D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company and includes the removal of the existing structure, basement, and foundation. Reporting from roughly two months ago indicated that Stock Development may consider utilizing development plans previously submitted by the TLR Group under its former ownership of the site. Those earlier plans called for a 540 FT tower containing approximately 600 residential units, along with 68,000 SF of office space and 12,000 SF of retail. The proposal also included a large parking podium featuring circular cutouts and capacity for up to 985 vehicles.