VDG Land Gets Green Light for Mixed-Income Apartments Aimed at Breakers Hotel Staff
VDG Land Company has just gained approval from the City of West Palm Beach’s Planning Division for their newest proposal: an 8-story multifamily building aimed at housing Breakers Hotel employees. Located on a 2.46-acre site at 2410 and 2460 North Australian Avenue, the site will include 155 units, of which 51% of the units are designated as workforce. Residents will have access to a variety of recreational amenities, including a pool, sports field, clubroom, fitness center, conference room, salon, and a dedicated shuttle service for Breakers employees. On the south portion of the site, there will be 65 parking spots available for employees. Although architectural elevations were not shown during the meeting, the project, designed by Spina O’Rourke & Partners, is expected to reach approximately 80 FT in height, making it the tallest building in the surrounding area. While VDG Land Company owns the northern portion of the site, the southern portion actually belongs to the City of West Palm Beach. As such, the city is negotiating a land agreement with the developer that would allow the integration of the southern portion, home to a water pump station and largely vacant land, into the overall project. Under the terms of the deal, the vacant land surrounding the pump station will be converted into surface parking for Breakers employees, and in return, the city will receive infrastructure upgrades to the water pump facility. At the planning board meeting, the proposal was unanimously approved given the developer meet conditions requested by staff. The approval means a change to the property’s Future Land Use (FLU) and zoning designations. Specifically, the northern portion of the site was reclassified from Neighborhood Commercial to Multifamily High-Density Residential, while the southern portion shifted from Recreation and Open Space to the same residential category. The approval marks one of the many steps in a years-long effort by the Breakers Hotel to house and/or benefit employees. In a quote provided by CBS 12, a Breakers representative noted, “The independent resort, one of Palm Beach County’s largest private employers, makes an unrivaled commitment to its team by offering comprehensive benefits, robust resources for associates and their families, and excellent compensation—all part of its employee-centric culture.” The development still needs to move through additional approvals, permitting, and demolition work before construction can begin.
Mill Creek and Group P6 Gain Planning Board Approval for ‘Modera Boca’ in Boca Raton
Mill Creek Residential is slowly expanding their ‘Modera’ brand across South Florida, and downtown Boca Raton is the next destination. The firm, along with partner developer Group P6, recently submitted plans to Boca Raton’s planning and zoning board for a 12-story building at 400 S Dixie Hwy in Boca Raton, set to replace an existing office on-site. The building will be called Modera Boca. The development, which was reviewed by staff in late June, received unanimous approval for various reasons, including the site’s emphasis on greenery and design. While the approval isn’t the last remaining piece before construction can begin (that lies in the hands of city council members at a future meeting), the approval is one step in the right direction for Mill Creek Residential. Plans for Modera Boca include 306 units, ranging from studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, 3-bedroom, and penthouse units. Units will range from 701 SF at the lowest, to 2,870 SF at the highest. Residents will have access to various amenities throughout the building, including but not limited to a clubhouse, fitness center, a pool, amenity room, and lounge areas. Boca Raton places a strong emphasis on architectural quality and visual harmony, and the building’s design and landscaping align closely with the city’s standards. For instance, while the ground floor includes zero retail space, the development includes the construction of a new linear park along SE 3rd St, featuring widened sidewalks and abundant greenery. “We wanted to make sure that front was very vibrant. So we have zen gardens. We have putt-putt golf. We have sitting areas. We have green walls. We have a lot of activity going on in our property on Dixie Highway even before you get to the building,” according to a quote provided by Sun Sentinel of Ele Zachariades, an attorney for the project. According to submitted elevations, the building will reach a height of 142 FT at its tallest point. Parking, totaling 468 spaces, will be accessed via a private alleyway at the rear of the property, where a screened parking podium will be strategically positioned to face away from public view. This configuration minimizes visual impact while improving traffic circulation. Although Boca Raton’s code traditionally requires 538 parking spaces for a project of this scale, the developers secured a reduction by lowering parking ratios for studio and one-bedroom units.
Cassa Residences, a 17-Story Tower, Approved in Aventura
Cassa Residences, a development by The Lojeta Group and Miami Off Center Associates, was recently approved for a 17-story tower in Aventura. The multifamily high-rise proposed at 2850 NE 187th Street will replace a low-rising retail building from the early 1980s. The developers sought multiple code exceptions, including conditional use approval to allow greater height and density, a reduced floor area minimums for one-bedroom units, and various variances like a change in required setbacks. While full plans such as elevations or a site plan have yet to be submitted, the project is expected to include 208 residential units, approximately 12,000 SF of ground-floor retail, and 456 parking spaces. The 17-story tower will rise to 174 FT in height, not including architectural ornaments or mechanical elements. Designed by Cohen Freedman Encinosa and Swerdoe Architecture, the tower is thoughtfully positioned with the front facing NE 187th Street, while a screened parking garage will face NE 28th Street, minimizing visibility from the public realm. In exchange for the requested code deviations, the developers have proposed several public benefits. These include 12 designated Hero Housing units intended for essential workers such as firefighters, teachers, and healthcare professionals. In addition, the development team will contribute $1 million toward capital costs for the construction of a new charter school, along with an additional $1,000 per Hero Housing unit: totaling $12,000. The vote, in a joint meeting with Aventura’s City Commission and Planning Board on July 1st, reached almost a unanimous approval for all items presented, with the sole no vote being Commissioner Clifford B. Ain. A primary concern voiced in the meeting is the future concern of the Live Local Act. The Live Local Act has rendered cities like Aventura unable to control development that exceeds city-approved density and height. This approval, in hand, theoretically reduces the possibility of a future taller, denser building on-site. Although an official construction timeline has not been released, progress is expected to be relatively smooth given the development team’s experience and the minimal demolition required on-site. According to Aventura requirements, building permits must be consistent with submitted drawings unless changes are made through an administrative site plan approval.
Rio Vista Apartments Proposed Near the Miami River
Bricka CB Development, a collaboration between Bricka Real Estate and CB Development, has proposed a multi-story residential building near the border between Overtown and Downtown Miami. Located at 413 NW 3rd Street, the development will sit in front of Lummus Park, a waterfront park nestled in the Lummus Park Historic District. Plans include the construction of a 10-story tower, designed by Studio Mc+G Architecture, set to include 140 units. Units will range from studios, 1-bedroom, 2-bedroom, and townhome units. While plans are not finalized, the building will include abundant amenity space for residents including lounge space, a gym, a pool, and other amenities. The ground floor has been designed to meet historic preservation standards by integrating the existing 1920-built home at 453 NW 3rd Street into the project’s layout. The historic building, offering nearly 3,000 SF of interior space, will be preserved as part of the overall development. Surrounding the preserved home, the project will feature street-level townhomes, a lobby, and a parking podium discreetly hidden from public view. The garage will accommodate approximately 160 vehicles, with an additional 10 parking spaces provided along the street. To improve walkability and the overall streetscape, the development will also include wider sidewalks and added landscaping throughout the property. According to elevation plans, the building will rise 130 FT to its tallest point, aligning with the scale of other recent developments in the neighborhood. The design also pays homage to the area’s historic character through a careful mix of materials and finishes, including coral walls, terracotta finishes, bronze detailing, and traditional stucco. Before the project can move forward, it has to gain approval by Miami’s Urban Development Review Board. The meeting will be held on July 16th, 2025.
7501 NE 2nd Avenue Joins Miami’s Growing List of Live Local Projects in Little River
Miami’s Little River neighborhood is facing yet another ‘Live Local Act’ high-rise. The development, which will rise on the corner of NE 2nd Avenue and NE 75th Street, is joining a growing cluster of planned and already completed high-density projects in an area once conceived as an industrial corridor. Backed by Midtown Capital Partners and designed by Corwil Architects, the development will bring a U-shaped 22-story building to the area, containing ground floor retail, amenity space, and a blend of workforce and market-rate units. The building is proposed to include approximately 350 residential units, offering a mix of studios, one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations. Under traditional zoning regulations, this level of density would be considered highly uncharacteristic. The site lies within a T6-8-O zone, which typically limits density to 150 homes per acre. However, the Live Local Act significantly expands that threshold, allowing up to 1,000 homes per acre for qualifying projects. This dramatic increase in allowable density comes with a condition: developers must reserve at least 40% of the units for workforce housing, defined as housing to those earning up to 120% of the Area Median Income (AMI). For this development, that requirement translates to a minimum of 140 workforce units, with the most common workforce unit being a 1-bedroom and 2-bedroom unit. On the ground floor of the project, there will 5,912 SF of retail, a lobby, and a leasing office facing NE 2nd Avenue. To handle an increase of pedestrian traffic from retail patrons and residents, the existing sidewalk will be expanded to 28 FT. The project will also include 406 parking spaces: significantly fewer than what the Miami’s zoning code would typically require. While standard code would call for 575 spaces for a development of this scale, the project qualified for a 30% reduction due to its location within a designated transit corridor, where walkability and public transportation access justify lower parking counts. According to elevations, the 22-story tower will rise to a maximum height of 235 FT. While the site’s zoning traditionally caps buildings at 8 floors, the project is leveraging height from 1 mile away. In this case, the Magic City Special Area Plan (SAP), located within one mile of the site, permits buildings up to 25 stories. Located at 7501 NE 2nd Avenue, the existing property will require extensive demolition before site work can begin. While the UDRB will approve or deny the project based on compliance with code and design standards on July 16th, the project lies in a contested area that may bring challenges to the project’s approval down the line. For instance, The Magic City Innovation District, which is located blocks away, has been facing years of community concerns regarding displacement from gentrification.
Seven Broadway by YTECH Submitted to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board
YTECH is back with another skyscraper in Brickell: this time dubbed Seven Broadway. After teasing the tower a month ago, YTECH has finally submitted official plans to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board, unveiling new information to the public. The building, designed by world renowned KPF Architecture, will sit at a corner lot in South Brickell, almost serving as an entry point to the neighborhood. The 54-story tower, which is bound by SW 15th Rd and SW 1st Avenue is located at 75 SW 15th Rd. Planned to include 113 residences, the tower will offer generously sized units ranging from 1,380 to 5,932 SF. Layouts will span one-, two-, and three-bedroom configurations, with the top floors reserved for 3 full-floor penthouses on levels 46 through 48. While still in early stages, current plans call for a resident-exclusive amenity level on the 50th floor, featuring a lounge, rooftop terrace with views of Brickell and Biscayne Bay, and a pool. According to the tower’s floor plans, there will be no retail space at ground level. Instead, the developer has designated the ground floor for a residential lobby and a private office space for staff. Parking will be housed in the basement and on floors 2 through 7, offering a total of 193 spaces. To maximize efficiency, the building will use mechanical parking lifts, allowing 2 vehicles to occupy the footprint of a single traditional spot. Mechanical parking lifts have become increasingly common in South Florida residential developments, enabling projects with limited area, like this one, to maximize parking without sacrificing key space. Elevations provided by KPF showcase the 54-story tower rising 682 feet. While the building reaches 54 stories to the mechanical roof, the highest occupiable floor is level 50. To maintain a clean street presence, the design cleverly conceals resident parking behind a fully glazed podium, rather than offering art or a mesh facade. This seamless integration reflects KPF’s focus on fluidity in the design. According to a letter provided by the firm, ‘the project offers soft geometries throughout, including the building envelope which is accentuated by an undulating profiled horizontal band. This feature looks to add richness in material, color, and movement through the dynamic swell as it goes around the building form. To maintain the single expression, the tower façade continues down through the parking podium ensuring a high caliber aesthetic. The ground floor boasts a glass storefront allowing visibility into activated program.’ Before the project can break ground, the site has to be demolished. YTECH has already demolished the eastern building on-site but has not filed a demolition permit for the western building. A hearing for the project will be held on July 16th at 2 P.M., where Miami Urban Development Review Board Staff will analyze the project’s design efforts and compliance with code.
Banco Santander Advances Towards Construction with Newly Filed Permits
As demolition crews wrap up work on Banco Santander’s 14-story office tower in the heart of Brickell, plans for their newly proposed 40-story office tower are slowly chugging along. In fact, construction permits have recently been filed for the tower’s eventual rise, including a foundation and site work permit, a master construction permit, and a phased vertical construction permit. While all three permits remain under review, their eventual approval will pave the way for construction to officially begin on Brickell’s tallest office tower, surpassing the recently constructed 830 Brickell. The first permit submitted, the master construction permit, has been under review for about 80 days and still requires several revisions before it can move forward. Coastal Construction is listed as the general contractor on record for the project. According to the building permit, the tower will include 634,890 SF of office, 38,865 SF of restaurant space, 35,542 SF of recreational SF, and 39,981 SF of retail. To house both patrons and office workers alike, the tower’s 15-story podium will include 519,500 SF of parking. While plans filed to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board last year indicate the 40-story tower rising to 765 FT, new plans show a slight reduction to 758 FT. In all, the tower’s impressive height will rack a steep construction cost, with more than $200 million spent in construction alone. The most recent permits filed, the foundation/site work permit and the vertical construction permit, were both submitted on March 19th of this year. Miami staff accepted the foundation permit in late April, while the phased vertical construction permit was only approved recently on June 2nd. As of July, Banco Santander has yet to announce a groundbreaking date. While Miami’s office market has seen a sharp slowdown due to a steep decline in preleasing activity, it remains unclear whether Banco Santander plans to secure office leases before beginning construction or will proceed regardless of market conditions. The tower’s mixed-use design, including substantial retail space alongside office areas, could provide a strategic advantage in this uncertain environment. Rilea Group is serving as the coordinating developer, with Handel Architects responsible for the tower’s design. The building’s design is touted as ‘among the world’s most sustainable office buildings’, with the diagrid design handling gravitational and wind loads, in turn reducing structural concrete by more than 30%. Along the tower’s facade, terraces will provide both open space and shading from the Miami sun.
Swerdlow Group & SJM Partners Plan Major Redevelopment of 40-Acre County Site in Miami-Dade
After gaining approval for Miami-Dade’s largest affordable housing project in the county’s history, the Swerdlow Group is back with another mega-project, this time under a joint venture coined ‘SG Ponciana Ventures’. The partnership, backed by Michael Swerdlow of the Swerdlow Group, Stephen Garchik of SJM Partners, and Alben Duffie, are seeking approval for a land deal with Miami-Dade that would deliver around 40 acres of retail, housing, and industrial uses to suburban Miami-Dade. The development of county-owned land will proceed in three phases within close proximity of Metrorail service, providing alternative transit routes to the new residents and workers. Phase 1 will deliver 155 affordable housing units for seniors earning up to 60% of the area median income, along with two retail spaces designed to attract both national and local tenants. It will also include 251,000 SF of industrial space for MedLog, an affiliate of the Mediterranean Shipping Company: the world’s largest shipping container operator. MedLog’s facility is expected to create approximately 300 logistics and supply chain-related jobs. Phase 2 will add a 110,000 SF small-bay industrial facility and 175 affordable and workforce housing units for residents earning between 60% and 120% of the area median income. The final phase, Phase 3, will feature a 479 unit mixed-income residential building, another 110,000 square feet of industrial space, and 15,000 SF dedicated towards Unite Here HEAT. Unite Here HEAT will be a training facility offering workforce re-entry training, restaurant space, immigration services, and language classes. Residents no matter the building will have access to high-speed WIFI, a communal swimming pool, adequate parking for vehicles, parking areas for bicycles, a washer and dryer in every unit, as well as other modern amenities. While already existing, the Frederica Wilson Community Health Center will be doubled in size to accommodate the demands of the community. The deal between Miami-Dade and the developers will consist of a proposed purchase of MedLog’s industrial site for $33 million, deducting costs for environmental cleanup and improvements. In addition, for every affordable housing unit constructed, the developer must pay the County $5,000 per unit until closing, 15% of net cash flow from operations, and 30% of all developer fees for units constructed under the Low-Income Housing Tax Credit Program. Workforce and market-rate housing will also pay the county $5,000 per unit, but only 10% of net cash flow from operations. Arquitectonica and Bruce Retzsch are the main architects of the project, while Coastal Construction will serve as the general contractor. Although phasing is still preliminary, the project is estimated to take 7 years or around 80 months once permitting commences.
Floridian Development Introduces ‘Floridian Advanced’, a Free Service Providing Comprehensive Development Info Across Florida
Floridian Development is proud to introduce Floridian Advanced, a free, easy-to-use tool designed to help anyone stay informed about the major developments shaping Florida’s future. From towers rising in downtown Miami to mixed-use communities planned in Tampa or Fort Lauderdale, Floridian Advanced brings all the details together in one centralized platform, no paywalls, no sign-ups, no stress. Florida’s real estate landscape is constantly evolving, with hundreds of new developments proposed, approved, or breaking ground every year. For many, keeping track of these projects means sifting through complicated planning documents or relying on hidden, outdated reports. Floridian Advanced changes that. It offers a clear, well-organized view of the latest projects with data pulled directly from official sources and presented in a clean, simple format. But this isn’t just a site about unit counts. Each listing on Floridian Advanced is thoroughly researched to provide enhanced context, including details like total square footage, floor count, proposed height, number of parking spaces, retail/commercial components, and more. Most entries also include site plans, elevations, or architectural renderings when available, offering visual insight without needing to go through city PDFs or planning agendas. Getting started is simple. Just click the Floridian Advanced tab in the header. You’ll be greeted by a home screen that explains how the system works and how to navigate it. From there, select the city you’re most interested in, and explore away. Each project is categorized by status or type, from multifamily to office or planning to construction so you can filter based on what matters most to you. Who’s this for? Floridian Advanced was built for anyone with a stake or interest in Florida’s growth. Whether you’re a broker trying to understand the local pipeline, a journalist seeking accurate project data, or a resident curious about what’s being built down the block: this platform is for you. This release marks an exciting step forward in Floridian Development’s ongoing mission: to make Florida’s evolving real estate environment more understandable, transparent, and accessible to those who care about it most. Today’s update is just a start to an exciting evolution for the website. Stay tuned for updates including a development map, added cities, and cosmetic/technical updates designed to make your life easier.
Sky-High Plans: Related Group and Macklowe Plan Two 43-Story Towers at 8000 East Drive, North Bay Village
High-rise development in North Bay Village shows no signs of slowing down. The Related Group and Macklowe Properties have recently proposed plans for a pair of 43-story towers to North Bay Village’s planning board. Designed by Arquitectonica, the glass-clad towers are the latest in a growing trend of high-density proposals in the area. Like several recent projects, the development is seeking a Special Area Plan, which allows for a more unified site plan and can enable zoning exceptions that wouldn’t typically be allowed under existing zoning regulations. Although plans may evolve, the current proposal calls for 364 residential units, 201 in the northern tower and 163 in the eastern tower. Units will be offered in one, two, three, and four-bedroom layouts, with an average size of 2,138 SF. To accommodate residents, the developers have proposed 798 parking spaces. Although this is below the recommended count, the developers have assured planners that, based on their extensive experience, the proposed number is actually optimal for a project of this scale. Among other plans, the development also includes a 25-foot-wide Island Walk for the public, along with enhanced landscaping that contributes to a total of 9,000 SF of waterfront public park space. It’s worth noting that Island Walks are a required feature under North Bay Village development regulations, aimed at improving waterfront access and connectivity for island residents. On the other hand, the tower’s occupants have access to more than 100,000 Gross SF of amenities, spread between the development’s deck, ground floor, and level 5 of both towers. While the exact plans for the amenity space haven’t been released, the site will also have access to over 40 boat slips along the Biscayne Bay, complemented by a marina dockmaster. According to the project’s elevations the two towers will rise 497 FT to the 43rd floor. This height does not include the mechanical roof, which brings the total height to well over 500 FT. Such height would not be allowed under traditional zoning but is made possible through the Special Area Plan (SAP). Through massing studies, the development team found that by consolidating the project into two taller towers, rather than three shorter ones, view corridors and open space will be preserved. City staff agree with this assessment. Elevations also grant insight into the towers’ design: while the buildings appear nearly identical, the northern tower is the widest, followed by a slimmer eastern tower. Likewise, the facade will primarily consist of curtain glass wrapped in glass balconies, though this treatment will not extend across the entire structure. The rear of the towers will feature what appears to be stucco with artistic patterns, although the design isn’t finalized. City staff has recommended approval of the project, contingent on resolving a few minor issues. However, a staff recommendation does not guarantee approval. While the North Bay Village Commission considers staff recommendations during the final decision-making process, it ultimately isn’t the final say during the approval or denial process. If approved, the developers will have two years to obtain a master building permit as a general requirement, with a maximum of two one-year extensions possible. Failure to secure the permit within that timeframe will render the project’s approval null.