Biscayne 18 Nears Groundbreaking as Melo Group Files for Construction and FAA Permits
A long-vacant block along Biscayne Boulevard in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood appears poised for redevelopment, as new permitting activity suggests construction could begin in the near future. Developer Melo Group has recently filed multiple construction permits with the City of Miami, along with Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) applications for the project’s two towers. The flurry of activity comes as the company nears completion of several major developments, including Aria Reserve and Downtown 6th, positioning Biscayne 18 as one of its next major projects. Plans submitted to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board more than a year ago call for two 45-story residential towers on a more than one-acre assemblage at 1825 Biscayne Boulevard. Melo Group acquired the property in 2019 for more than $30 million after assembling multiple parcels. According to the project’s master building permit, Biscayne 18 will deliver 1,178 residential units, split evenly between the two towers with 589 residences each. The development will also include 17,670 square feet of professional office space, 26,860 square feet of retail, and a 10,150-square-foot banquet and event hall, all located within the podium. Plans submitted to the Urban Development Review Board additionally call for 1,472 parking spaces. While construction has not officially begun, permitting activity indicates the project is moving steadily toward that milestone. The master building permit remains under review and is currently undergoing the city’s standard correction process. City records estimate construction costs at approximately $321 million, with Melo Contractors Corp. listed as the project’s general contractor. Several additional permits have also been submitted, including applications for site work and piling, tree removal, and phased vertical construction. Although each permit still requires final approval, work on-site appears to be ramping up, with construction equipment visible and initial ground disturbance already underway. The developer has also filed FAA applications for both towers. While the applications request authorization for structures reaching 490 feet, architectural drawings and city permitting documents consistently list the buildings at approximately 465 feet. It is common for developers to request slightly greater heights from the FAA than ultimately planned to provide additional flexibility during the design and construction process. The FAA is currently reviewing the applications, though approval is widely expected. Previous FAA determinations in the Edgewater area have permitted structures significantly taller than Biscayne 18, making the proposed heights unlikely to present an obstacle. Once complete, residences will range from one-, two-, and three-bedroom floor plans. Residents will also have access to an extensive amenity package, with additional details outlined in the project’s development plans.
700 North Miami Avenue Moves Into Construction After Securing $302.6 Million Loan
One of the final undeveloped parcels within Miami Worldcenter is officially entering the construction phase after its development team secured $302.6 million in construction financing last week. Known as 700 North Miami Avenue, the project is being developed through a joint venture between Witkoff and Monroe Capital. The financing will fund construction of the development’s first tower, the initial phase of what is ultimately planned as a three-tower residential complex. The project has been several years in the making, first appearing before Miami’s Urban Development Review Board in early 2023. According to Commercial Observer, the financing was provided by Apollo Global Management’s Athene Annuity and Life Company alongside J.P. Morgan Chase. The lenders refinanced approximately $57.3 million in existing debt while increasing the total loan to $302.6 million, representing an additional $245.3 million in financing. The first phase will deliver 894 residential units within a tower rising around 600 feet. Plans also call for 17,367 square feet of ground-floor retail and a nine-story parking garage containing 167,237 square feet of parking space with multiple vehicular entrances. While construction is beginning on only the first tower, the broader master plan is substantially larger. Documents submitted to the Urban Development Review Board a few years ago outline 2,346 residential units across three towers rising 50, 51, and 53 stories, along with 30,535 square feet of commercial space and 2,078 parking spaces. Whether construction on the remaining phases will begin shortly after the first tower remains unknown. Momentum on the project extends beyond financing. Multiple construction permits have already been filed with the City of Miami, including an approved site preparation permit. A master building permit and phased vertical construction permit have also been submitted and are currently undergoing the city’s correction process before issuance. The master permit estimates construction costs at nearly $270 million. Those approvals are already translating into visible activity on-site. Recent photographs by Ryan RC Rea and Carlos A. Lopez show work underway, with crawler cranes, excavation equipment, and other signs of active construction now present on the property. Construction will be led by Coastal Construction, which is listed as the project’s general contractor in the permitting documents. The firm is currently overseeing several other major Florida high-rise developments, including Pendry Tampa, 1775 Biscayne Boulevard, and CasaBella Residences Miami. The nearly five-acre site was acquired by the Witkoff-Monroe Capital partnership for $94 million in 2021. Located within Miami Worldcenter, the property sits just a short walk from Brightline’s MiamiCentral Station and other major transit connections, making it one of the district’s last major development sites to enter vertical construction.