Elevate 54 Planned in Brownsville, Miami-Dade Through the Live Local Act
Another multifamily proposal is advancing near Brownsville’s Metrorail Station, as transit orientated development in Miami picks up. Known as Elevate 54, the project intends to serve as a 75-unit multifamily development, developed by 54 St Owner, LLC, an affiliate of Bay Heights Capital. It’s the latest project under the group, which has proposed multiple developments under the ‘Elevate’ branding in Miami-Dade. The development is planned for 2845 NW 54th Street, at the intersection of NW 29th Avenue and NW 54th Street. Plans indicate the project is intended to move forward under Florida’s Live Local Act, a state housing program that allows qualifying residential developments to bypass certain local zoning restrictions in exchange for the inclusion of workforce or affordable housing. Projects approved under the legislation may benefit from increased density, additional height allowances, and other incentives. The development site consists of four assembled parcels totaling 0.702 acres. The properties were acquired in late 2024 for a combined purchase price of roughly $1.225 million. The properties were acquired in late 2024 for a combined purchase price of $1.225 million. The site is currently cleared and operates as a car lot, conditions that are expected to limit the scope of site preparation required prior to ground breaking. Units in the 75-home development will range from studio, one-bedroom, and two-bedroom apartments. One-bedroom units account for the majority of the total, representing more than half of the project’s residential mix. While the project is being submitted under Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows for a maximum residential density of up to 250 units per acre, the proposed development utilizes a substantially lower density of approximately 100 units per acre. In exchange for these zoning changes, the project is required to allocate 40% of its units, or 30 apartments, as workforce housing priced at or below 120% of Area Median Income. At ground level and within the podium, the development will include 1,090 SF of retail space alongside parking for 75 vehicles. Additional ground-floor uses include a residential lobby, leasing office, and expanded sidewalks buffered by landscaped greenery. Under Miami-Dade County code, qualifying workforce housing projects are eligible for reduced parking requirements. Based on the project’s residential square footage, only 36 parking spaces would be required, down from an original requirement of 88. Designed by Caymares Martin Architecture, the development is planned to rise eight stories, reaching 90 FT at its tallest point. For context, the only taller structure in the immediate area is Brownsville Village, where the tallest building rises to roughly 150 FT. The building’s facade will feature a palette of red, white, and gray tones. Exterior materials will include smooth stucco finishes, aluminum railings, impact-resistant glass, and vertically articulated textures across select portions of the elevation. There are no permits submitted to Miami-Dade as of February 2026. It’s unknown if Elevate 54 is being planned for construction, or to be sold with entitlements. However, the application submitted to the county is still under review. Submitted through an Administrative Site Plan Review, the development will move through approvals faster, primarily because the Live Local Act expedites projects by limiting public review.
Construction Begins on Richman Group’s Capri Place II in Miami-Dade
NW 27th Avenue, a major corridor home to multiple commercial hubs, Metrorail stations, and large-scale development proposals, has recently seen construction begin on a new affordable housing project. The development, known as Capri Place II, will deliver an 8-story multifamily building designed by Behar Font. Led by the Richman Group, a national developer with a portfolio spanning both affordable and market-rate housing, the project has been under consideration for several years and was initially envisioned as a 12-story structure. With construction now underway following a groundbreaking, the project will add new affordable and workforce housing to an area that has increasingly benefited from Miami-Dade County’s transit-oriented development framework. The project is located on a 2.6-acre parcel at 8001 NW 27th Avenue, located directly across from Northside Shopping Mall. The site was cleared in the early 2010s and was acquired by the Richman Group in late 2021 for approximately $6 million. Ortega Construction has been recently selected to serve as the project’s general contractor. Although the development was originally expected to break ground in the fourth quarter last year, site activity has now commenced. Recent updates from the contractor indicate that clearing work has been completed and that topsoil removal is complete via multiple excavators. County permitting records show that several approvals have already been granted, with additional permits still progressing through review. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ortega Construction Company (@ortegaconstructioncompany) Issued permits to date include the site plan, while permits related to temporary construction facilities, a general construction permit, and other supporting work remain under review. The approved site plan permit reflects a construction valuation of $15 million, while the pending general construction permit lists a projected value of $33,572,527. Capri Place II is planned to include 180 residential units, despite zoning allowances that would permit as many as 374 units on the site. The residential mix will consist of one-bedroom and two-bedroom apartments. Along the eastern portion of the property, the parking garage will be partially concealed by a row of two-story townhome-style units. Future residents will have access to a broad amenity package, including a swimming pool, fitness center, yoga studio, clubroom, business center, mail facilities, literacy and library spaces, multipurpose rooms, and an outdoor pavilion with seating. Parking will be provided through a 254-space garage, resulting in a ratio that allows larger units to be allocated more than one parking space. At street level, the development will introduce 2,821 SF of retail space facing NW 27th Avenue. Based on the Richman Group’s previous projects, retail spaces are often leased to local organizations or small businesses rather than national tenants, though leasing plans for Capri Place II have not yet been disclosed. Additional ground-floor elements include landscaped buffers, widened sidewalks, and pedestrian-oriented improvements along the frontage. Architectural elevations prepared by Behar Font indicate the eight-story structure will rise approximately 81 FT, excluding a rooftop crown that brings the overall height to more than 90 FT. The exterior design incorporates smooth and scored stucco finishes, aluminum framing, and impact-resistant glazing. With early foundation activity now underway, Floridian Development anticipates the project reaching completion in late 2026 or early 2027.