Plans Revived? New FAA Filing Reveals 954-Foot Tower at Brickell’s Burger King Site
The last major undeveloped corner lot at South 8th Street and South Miami Avenue, just steps from Brickell City Centre and SLS Lux, may finally be moving toward redevelopment. While many know the property simply as the Burger King site, those familiar with Miami development know it has a long and complicated history, with multiple attempts to transform the parcel into one of Brickell’s tallest towers. That vision may once again be gaining momentum after a new FAA application was filed for a 954-foot tower. For longtime followers of Miami development, the filing may feel familiar. The application was submitted by City Center Properties, LLC, an entity associated with Simon Karam of The Karam Group, and closely mirrors an FAA filing first submitted in 2023 by The Karam Group and Claro Development. That earlier application generated excitement but ultimately led to little visible progress, with the project gradually disappearing from the development pipeline. The newly filed application now raises the possibility that the long-dormant proposal is once again gaining momentum. The 954-foot height corresponds with Tower 18, a high-rise proposal originally approved by Miami’s Urban Development Review Board in 2017. Plans at the time called for a striking curvilinear glass tower containing nearly 1 million square feet of development. According to the approved plans, the tower would include 392 residential units, 66,618 square feet of ground-floor retail, and 457 parking spaces. Residents would have access to an extensive amenity package, including a rooftop swimming pool offering some of the highest residential views in Miami, outdoor gathering spaces, and other luxury amenities. The project also proposed widening the narrow sidewalks surrounding the site, creating a more pedestrian-friendly streetscape. The FAA filing, submitted on July 10th, does not authorize construction. Rather, it evaluates whether a proposed structure would interfere with navigable airspace, making it a common early step for high-rise developments before additional permitting and approvals. Only one FAA filing has been submitted so far at the site’s coordinates (25°45’58.45″N, 80°11’38.60″W) at 10 Southwest 8th Street. However, the application notes that three additional filings will eventually be submitted to represent the remaining corners of the tower’s footprint, a typical process for large buildings. Whether the renewed FAA activity ultimately leads to construction remains uncertain. Still, after years of little to no movement, the refiling represents the most tangible sign in recent years that the long-discussed Brickell highrise may start after all.
Plans Submitted for Four-Tower Expansion of Pier Sixty-Six Waterfront Development in Fort Lauderdale
The second phase of Pier Sixty-Six, a large waterfront mixed-use redevelopment along Fort Lauderdale’s 17th Street Causeway, is moving forward after plans were submitted to the city’s Development Review Committee. The submission comes shortly after developer Tavistock Development Company officially unveiled the next phase of the project, following completion of the first phase. That initial phase included the renovation of a historic 1960s high-rise while introducing new hotel and residential components to the waterfront property. The latest proposal would significantly expand the development. Plans call for four residential towers spread across multiple parcels at 2150 SE 17th Street, 2301 SE 17th Street, and 2202 SE 17th Street in Fort Lauderdale. Each tower is planned to rise 23 stories, or approximately 320 feet, making them consistent in scale with surrounding high-rise development while remaining below the 400-foot mark. The four buildings, identified in planning documents as Buildings A, B, C, and D, will be divided between the site’s northern and southern portions. Building A will occupy the northern parcel and contain 101 residences, while Buildings B, C, and D on the southern parcel will include 90, 75, and 73 residences, respectively. Combined, the second phase will add 339 residential units. Residences will range from two- to four-bedroom floor plans, with two-bedroom units comprising the largest share of the development. Most residential floors will contain no more than eight homes, highlighting larger residences rather than high-density floor plates. Every unit will feature at least one private balcony, floor-to-ceiling windows, ceiling heights ranging from 10 to 14 feet, and views of both the Intracoastal waterfront and the Fort Lauderdale skyline. Residents will have access to a variety of amenities, including swimming pools, spas, sports courts, children’s play areas, dog parks, and additional indoor and outdoor gathering spaces. One of the defining characteristics of the second phase is its emphasis on public open space and waterfront accessibility. According to the plans, the southern portion of the site will include approximately 251,546 square feet of open space, while the northern parcel will provide an additional 48,957 square feet, substantially exceeding minimum zoning requirements. That investment in open space extends beyond landscaping. Plans include publicly accessible waterfront areas, a new marina basin, 37 additional marina slips, and expanded pedestrian connections throughout the site. Upon completion of both phases, Pier Sixty-Six will feature approximately 1.43 miles of public waterfront promenade, while existing parking beneath the 17th Street Causeway will be transformed into publicly accessible green space. The mixed-use component will also expand substantially. Ground-floor plans include approximately 25,145 square feet of retail space, 17,327 square feet of restaurant space, 29,050 square feet of office space, and 13,955 square feet of grocery space, creating an active pedestrian environment throughout the development. The project has been designed by 10 Design, serving as lead architect, with EDSA leading the landscape architecture and master planning. Architectural renderings depict slender towers wrapped in glass with expansive balconies, aluminum detailing, stucco finishes, green walls, and abundant native, drought-tolerant landscaping intended to complement the waterfront setting. According to the design team, the architecture draws inspiration from nautical forms, with towers tapering as they rise to maximize water views while reducing their visual mass. The buildings sit atop a mixed-use podium featuring carved-out sections intended to create a lighter architectural expression and improve pedestrian connectivity. The current proposal also represents a notable evolution from earlier concepts. Initial plans explored the possibility of three towers reaching approximately 480 feet, but those concepts faced public opposition. The revised proposal instead distributes the project’s density across four shorter towers, reducing overall building heights while maintaining a substantial residential program. Although submission to the Development Review Committee marks an important milestone, the project must still proceed through additional city review and approval processes before construction can begin.