Lilli Edgewater Heads to UDRB as Plans Advance for 53-Story Bayfront Tower
Plans for the recently unveiled Lilli Edgewater condominium have been submitted to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board, marking the next step for OKO Group’s second luxury waterfront tower in the neighborhood. The Russian-founded international developer is planning the 53-story condominium at 717 NE 27th Street, directly along Biscayne Bay. The project follows the completion of Missoni Baia, the firm’s first residential tower in Edgewater, and represents the second phase of a broader four-tower vision for the waterfront. Designed by Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture, with ODP Architecture and Design serving as architect of record, the tower will rise on property already owned by OKO Group. A separate parking structure will also be constructed on an adjacent parcel at 527 NE 27th Street. According to plans submitted to the city, Lilli Edgewater will contain 117 condominium residences ranging from one-bedroom homes to four-bedroom residences and penthouses. With just 117 units spread across 53 stories, residential floors will contain no more than three residences, resulting in larger floor plans than typically found in Miami high-rises. Sales launched several months ago, with residences starting at $1.65 million. Fortune Development Sales is overseeing sales and marketing for the project. Residents will have access to an amenity program organized around what the developer describes as four lifestyle pillars: movement, recovery, nourishment, and connection. Planned amenities include a rooftop saltwater pool, movement studio, treatment rooms, saunas, cold-plunge pools, and additional wellness-focused spaces. At street level, the project will include a residential lobby, amenity areas, and a 350-foot publicly accessible baywalk along Biscayne Bay. The waterfront promenade is required under Miami 21’s Waterfront Design Standards, which are intended to preserve continuous public access along the city’s shoreline. Because the structure contains no visible parking podium, necessary parking will instead be accommodated in a separate garage located across the street at 527 NE 27th Street. Plans call for 244 parking spaces along with approximately 2,516 square feet of ground-floor commercial space. The garage will rise several stories and feature a decorative perforated metal mesh screen designed to conceal the parking levels. According to submitted elevations, the condominium tower will rise 631 feet to its highest architectural point. The exterior will be dominated by floor-to-ceiling glass, expansive glass balconies, and a sleek curtain wall consistent with Miami’s luxury residential market. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture describes the design as a slender, sculptural tower inspired by the movement of water, light, and wind. According to the architects, the building’s gently curving geometry creates a dynamic silhouette intended to contrast with the more orthogonal glass-and-stucco towers that characterize much of the surrounding Edgewater skyline. The proposal is scheduled to appear before Miami’s Urban Development Review Board on July 15th at 2:00 p.m. Although approval by the board is not required for the project to proceed, its recommendations often influence final architectural refinements before construction begins. Lilli Edgewater represents only the second phase of OKO Group’s long-term vision for the neighborhood. The developer ultimately plans four residential towers on the waterfront. Upon full buildout, the master plan is expected to include 748 condominium units, with the completed Missoni Baia accounting for 249 residences and Lilli Edgewater adding another 117.
One of Brickell’s Tallest Towers, 619 Brickell by Nobu, Heads to UDRB
Plans for one of Miami’s tallest residential towers have officially been submitted to the city’s Urban Development Review Board. Known as 619 Brickell by Nobu, the 75-story waterfront tower would add another high-profile branded residence to Brickell, continuing a development trend that has transformed Miami’s luxury condominium market over the past several years. The project, led by 13th Floor Investments and Key International, is scheduled for review by the Urban Development Review Board (UDRB) on July 15th, marking another major milestone after years of planning. The development is proposed for a 1.97-acre waterfront site currently used for parking and special events by First Miami Presbyterian Church. Under a $240 million agreement, the church would sell the property while retaining its historic sanctuary and receiving new religious facilities integrated into the base of the development. Momentum around the project has continued to build in recent weeks. Sales launched only days ago, with the development team announcing more than $1 billion in reservations. Developers are aiming to convert those reservations into purchase contracts later this summer, positioning the project to break ground as early as next year. According to plans submitted to the city, the tower will contain 321 residences, slightly higher than the 312 units previously advertised. Homes will range from studios to five-bedroom residences, including multiple one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom configurations with optional den layouts. The project will also include 894 parking spaces, approximately gross 7,596 square feet of commercial space, 95,583 gross square feet of religious facilities, and 1,303 bicycle parking spaces. Retail space will be concentrated along the ground-floor waterfront and is expected to accommodate restaurant uses. Religious facilities will occupy portions of both the ground floor and the ninth level, including dining halls, kitchens, serving areas, gathering spaces, and additional seating overlooking Biscayne Bay. Residents will have access to approximately 90,000 square feet of amenities centered on Nobu’s hospitality and wellness brand. Planned offerings include multiple swimming pools, padel courts, fitness facilities, game rooms, IV and peptide therapy, ozone therapy, hyperbaric oxygen therapy suites, and other health and wellness services. The tower is being designed by Foster + Partners in collaboration with Sieger Suarez Architects. According to the design team, the building draws inspiration from Miami’s Art Deco heritage through a gently twisting form created by rotating each floor plate toward Biscayne Bay. The geometry is intended to maximize daylight exposure, improve water views, and reduce view obstruction for neighboring residences. Plans show the tower rising approximately 885 feet, placing it among Miami’s tallest buildings and one of the tallest towers in Brickell. The exterior will feature a predominantly glass facade with floor-to-ceiling windows, glass balconies, smooth stucco, aluminum accents, decorative screening around the parking levels, faux keystone detailing, and integrated louvers. Although the Urban Development Review Board does not have final authority over the project because it is proceeding through an administrative approval process, the board’s recommendations often influence the final design. Developers frequently incorporate suggested revisions before advancing toward construction.