The Aurelian Begins Rising as 161-Unit Rental Project Takes Shape in Coral Gables
Coral Gables’ multifamily boom continues to gain momentum, as crews have begun vertical construction on The Aurelian, a 12-story rental development planned along East Ponce De Leon Boulevard. The project is being led by European developer Empira Group, which has become increasingly active in the Miami metropolitan area. Once completed, The Aurelian will mark the firm’s third multifamily project under construction in the region and will deliver 161 luxury rental residences. Located at 912 E Ponce De Leon Boulevard, the project occupies a site acquired by Empira Group for $18 million in August 2025. The property came with existing development entitlements, as a nearly identical proposal had previously been submitted and approved for the site in 2018. Known as Regency on the Park, that project ultimately never materialized, allowing Empira Group to move forward with a new vision while potentially avoiding another lengthy entitlement process. Just months after breaking ground, The Aurelian has now entered its vertical construction phase. Photos taken by Floridian Development show the first columns forming the building’s initial floor, with construction already beginning to rise above the foundation. The ground-floor columns are notably taller than those on the residential levels, as they will accommodate the building’s lobby, amenity spaces, and the ramp leading into the multi-level parking podium. A tower crane has also been erected on the property and is expected to be raised as construction progresses toward the building’s eventual topping out. Construction documents submitted to the city indicate that the development will encompass approximately 324,000 square feet of new construction. With completion currently projected for 2028, the project is expected to take roughly two years to build from its recent groundbreaking. The Aurelian will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences, with spacious floor plans planned throughout the building. Residents will have access to 248 parking spaces within the multi-level podium, along with a range of indoor and outdoor amenities. These will include a swimming pool, fitness center, yoga studio, outdoor lounges, and additional resident-focused spaces. Although the ground floor will not include retail, the project will make several improvements to the pedestrian environment surrounding the property. Plans call for a new park along the western side of the site, along with a colonnade, expanded sidewalks, additional landscaping, and other improvements intended to enhance the public realm. The 12-story building is expected to rise approximately 143 feet, based on the entitlements approved for the original 2018 proposal. A crown-like architectural feature will form the highest point of the structure. The design incorporates elements of Coral Gables’ Mediterranean-inspired architectural requirements, with a predominantly beige color palette, balconies, and other details intended to complement the city’s established architectural character. Behar Font designed both iterations of the project, having originally created the design for Regency on the Park in 2018 before returning in 2026 to design the revised Aurelian development for Empira Group.
Floridian Development Explores Miami’s Construction Canyon Along NE 6th Street
When walking through Downtown Miami, it is a sight that is hard to miss. Along NE 6th Street, a canyon of towers is beginning to take shape as developers race to build three high-rises along the same stretch of road, with a fourth already completed. The concentration of construction is creating one of the most active development corridors in the city, bringing a mix of uses to an area already anchored by the retail-focused Miami Worldcenter. When finished, the projects will add hotel rooms, for-sale condominiums, and rental apartments to the rapidly changing district. Floridian Development recently traveled to the corridor to document the construction activity. Three towers are currently under construction: 600 Miami Worldcenter, led by Aria Development and Merrimac Ventures; Downtown 6th, developed by Melo Group; and Okan Tower, led by Okan Group. Nearby, The Crosby Miami Worldcenter, developed by Related Group and Merrimac Ventures, has already been completed, adding another 450 residential units to the area. The centerpiece of the corridor is Okan Tower, which will rise among the tallest buildings in Miami and surpass Panorama Tower, a building that only a few years ago held the title of Miami’s tallest. Altogether, the three towers under construction will deliver 1,829 residential units, 316 hotel rooms, and thousands of square feet of ground-floor commercial space. Okan Tower The tallest of the three projects, Okan Tower has now reached the 55th floor and is expected to top out at 70 floors, or approximately 893 feet, late this year or early next year. According to issued construction permits, the tower will contain 399 condominium residences and 316 hotel rooms anchored by Hilton. The 914,124-square-foot development will also include 65,828 square feet of office space, 2,915 square feet of commercial space, and a parking garage expected to contain more than 500 spaces. Construction is being handled by Jacob Companies in partnership with Okan Construction, with completion expected in 2027 or, at the latest, 2028. Recent photos show glass installation underway across the hotel’s portion of the tower, while balcony and curtain-wall glazing for the residential sections will follow as those floors progress. The parking podium has already been built out and is now awaiting its exterior treatment, which will incorporate artwork, metal coverings, and other architectural elements intended to conceal the garage from street level. Construction remains active across the site, with two tower cranes currently being used to build the upper portions of the structure. Downtown 6th Further east along the corridor, Downtown 6th is already approaching the end of its construction process. Built by Melo Group’s in-house construction operation, the tower has moved at a rapid pace since breaking ground and topped out several months ago. Crews are now focused on exterior finishing work, with facade painting underway and window and balcony installation largely complete. The parking podium is also nearing completion, with much of its exterior covering now installed. The finished facade will incorporate spandrel (faux) glass designed to give the parking levels the appearance of active building space rather than an exposed garage. In addition, with the tower nearing completion, its construction crane has already been dismantled, and the project is expected to be completed later this year. Downtown 6th will deliver 824 rental apartments within a 54-story tower rising 581 feet. The development also includes 2,427 square feet of commercial space and 639 parking spaces toward the base of the building. Melo Group has become an active force in Miami’s condominium and rental market, with rapid construction timelines becoming one of the developer’s defining characteristics. Downtown 6th is a notable example: construction began toward the end of 2024, with completion expected near the end of 2026, giving the 581-foot tower a construction timeline of roughly two years. 600 Miami Worldcenter Completing the trio is 600 Miami Worldcenter, a 32-story condominium tower that will rise approximately 327 feet and contain 606 residences. The project is particularly notable for its extremely limited parking supply, with only five parking spaces planned within the building itself. Instead, parking for residents will be provided off-site. The development will also include 3,750 square feet of ground-floor commercial space and 1,261 square feet of office space within the building. 600 Miami Worldcenter topped out in October 2025 after breaking ground in March 2024. Construction has now entered its final stages, with exterior painting, balcony installation, and glass work already largely underway. The tower is expected to be completed later this year. Beauchamp Construction is serving as the project’s general contractor. A New High-Density Corridor Once construction wraps up across the block, the scale of the transformation will become even more apparent. The three towers currently under construction will deliver 1,829 residential units, while the recently completed Crosby Miami Worldcenter adds another 450. Together, the developments will account for 2,279 completed residential units within an exceptionally concentrated area, not including the 316 hotel rooms being built as part of Okan Tower. That concentration will translate into thousands of new residents living within a relatively tight corridor, further increasing the residential density of Downtown Miami. With more than 2,000 residential units planned across just these four projects, the NE 6th Street corridor is poised to become one of the densest pockets of new development in the country.