Link at SOMI Proposed on South Miami’s City Hall Property
13th Floor Investment has announced plans for a comprehensive redevelopment of the South Miami City Hall site named Link at SOMI. The process began when the City of South Miami issued a request for proposals on June 3, 2024, selecting five qualified developers to submit plans for the project. These developers included the Related Group, 13th Floor Investments, Integra, Adler Group, and Sonnenblick Development. By the conclusion of the bidding process, 13th Floor Investment emerged as the sole qualified bidder, with the other developers opting to withdraw from the process. An Evaluation Committee convened on August 6, 2024, to assess 13th Floor Investments’ redevelopment proposal. The committee consisted of six members, each with the ability to score up to 600 points, resulting in a total possible score of 3,600. The current proposal received 2,308 points, reflecting several concerns raised by the committee. One significant issue was the estimated $30 million cost for the new civic building, which does not include infrastructure or furnishings. Likewise, it was considered overly generous. In response, 13th Floor Investments assured the committee that the company would absorb any cost overruns and debt can be paid off with the land lease. Below is an economic summary for context. A formal selection and award to the proposal by the City Commission will take place on September 17th, 2024. Members of the public have the opportunity to participate via a phone line or zoom. Link at SOMI will proceed in two distinct phases. The initial phase will feature a 6-story, 70,000-square-foot civic building to accommodate city operations, alongside a 15-story multifamily residential tower containing 335 units and a 7-story parking garage with 360 spaces. The second phase will complete the full build-out of the site, introducing an additional 15-story residential tower with 335 units and a second 7-story parking garage offering 550 spaces. Both parking structures will be topped with 8 floors of residential units, making the majority of the buildings proposed 15 stories. Both phases combined will add 670 units, 910 parking spots, and 27,846 SF of commercial space. As part of the agreement with the City of South Miami, the development will also include several civic improvements to the existing site. These enhancements will feature a dog park, a playground, active retail spaces, a civic plaza, and a 27,500-square-foot park named Jean Willis Park. Central to the project is a 70,000-square-foot civic building, which will be divided into three sections: 30,000 square feet allocated to City Hall, 25,000 square feet for a new police station, and 15,000 square feet dedicated to a public library for Miami-Dade County. 10% of the units are dedicated to workforce housing. This includes 7 studios, 24 one-bedroom units, 34 two-bedroom units, and 10 three-bedroom units. Rents will be priced at 120% of the Area Median Income and housing will be prioritized for essential workers. 13th Floor Investments is proud to propose a program that waives all upfront fees like amenity fees, association fees, and application fees for city workers residing on the property. Corwil Architects is the main architect. RJ Heisenbottle is the historic preservation architect. The project is located at 6130 Sunset Drive.
2157 Flagler Residences Unveiled in Little Havana, Miami
WR Flagler, LLC has submitted new plans under Miami’s Urban Development Review Board for an 8 story residential building. The building coined “2157 Flagler Residences” will be between 2157-2199 W Flagler St Miami. As per site plan data, the building has a proposed 197 units, 14,412 SF of commercial space, and 315 parking spots. To reduce the required parking spaces under code, the developers are requesting 3 waivers regarding parking deductions. Waiver one allows for a 10% reduction in parking for residents, waiver two allows for a 10% reduction in guest parking, and waiver three allows for a 10% reduction for commercial parking. In a letter, developers outlined that lowered parking is acceptable due to sufficient nearby transit. In addition, the development will include 26 bicycle racks. According to elevations, the building will rise 95 FT or 85 FT to the highest occupied floor. Materials chosen by the architects include aluminum picket railings, aluminum frames for doors/windows, a perforated metal screen to properly hide the parking garage, and more. Corwil Architects is the main architect.
Sunset Place Redevelopment Released Featuring Immense Retail, Housing, and Entertainment
Midtown Development, the proprietor of Sunset Place in South Miami, is gearing up for an ambitious redevelopment of the site. Once a thriving mall after its opening in 1998, Sunset Place has faced a prolonged downturn in the 21st century, with numerous redevelopment efforts faltering over the years. Now, the developers are presenting a new vision to the South Miami Planning Board, aiming to breathe new life into the property with immense retail and residential space. The new master-plan will consist of 7 high-rises, ranging from 15 to 33 floors. To contribute to a mixed-use, transit-orientated vision, developers are planning 1,513 units, 287 hotel rooms, a movie theater/performing arts theater that holds a maximum of 1,300 seats, 149,506 SF of retail, and 50,892 SF of office space. Units range from studios, one-bedrooms, two-bedrooms, and three or more bedroom configurations. The developer is also planning 2,418 parking spaces to accommodate for residents and visitors. 213 bike spaces are required under South Miami code, and will be included in the parking garage. The development is entitled to two bonuses (Tier 1 & 2) for increased height, density, and more. Without the bonus, the high-rises would measure between 4-17 floors at the highest. The development is divided into four zones to minimize disruption to existing single-family homes. The Sunset Zone, located along Sunset Drive, is the farthest from US Highway 1. Following it are the Village Zone, Central Zone, and lastly, the Gateway Zone, which is closest to US Highway 1 (also known as South Dixie Highway). The Gateway Zone will feature the tallest buildings, with towers reaching 33 floors, while the Sunset Zone and Village Zone will have buildings up to 15 floors. For a visual overview, please refer to the illustration below. According to elevations, two buildings in the Sunset Zone and Village zone will both rise 15 floors. One is 181 FT and the other is 212 FT (Height difference due to mezzanine level). In the central zone, two buildings will measure a respective 21 floors and 25 floors. The 25 Floor tower is 346 FT and the 21 floor tower is 284 FT. In the Gateway Zone, three buildings are planned to reach a maximum of 33 floors. One building will stand at 357 feet, while the other two will each reach 426 feet. The difference in height, despite all having 33 floors, is due to a mezzanine level at the top of the two taller buildings. If constructed, the 426-foot height will become the tallest point south of the Douglas Road Metrorail Station in Miami. Heatherwick Studio recently unveiled a video showcasing the architecture and design of Sunset Place. The studio emphasized their aim to preserve the character of Sunset Drive while enhancing it by introducing lively storefronts and creating several pedestrian-only streets. The video can be seen here. ODP is the architect of record. The development is located at 5701 Sunset Dive, South Miami, FL 33143.
New Renderings Revealed For Banco Santander’s Flagship Office
Banco Santander has unveiled updated renderings for their planned 40-story office tower at 1401 Brickell Avenue, which will be named Santander Tower. It will replace the current 14-story structure on the site. Earlier renderings didn’t include the tower’s logo or depict it within the Miami skyline. The new renderings, however, showcase significant ground-floor activation, immense greenery, a spacious lobby, and a view of the building at dusk and day. A video was also released showcasing a dynamic fly-around view of the office spaces, amenities, and what appears to be solar panels integrated into the building’s façade. The video highlights the sleek design and sustainable features of the tower. According to the Bank, construction will have the highest international standards for sustainable construction as well. According to plans released in February, the building will include 612,918 SF of office space, 107,953 SF of commercial space, and 1,496 parking spaces. It will rise 765 FT, around the same height as the adjacent building named, “Four Seasons Hotel Miami”. According to the bank, total demolition of the existing structure will occur in the next few weeks. BG Demolition, a company based in South Florida, will handle the demolition. As construction and demolition progresses, Banco Santander will move their employees to temporary office space in Brickell and Coconut Grove. Handel Architects and Bernadi & Peschard Arquitectura are the architects.
2215 NW 1st Place Submitted to Wynwood Design Review Committee
Whale & Star Wynwood Owner, LLC has submitted new plans for a project located at 2215 NW 1st Place and 170 NW 23 Street. Plans include an 8-story mixed use building with 214 hotel rooms (between floors 2 and 5), 87 multifamily units (between floors 6 and 8), 87 parking spaces, and 313 bicycle spaces. To activate the ground floor for pedestrian traffic, the lobby will be accompanied by 8,935 SF of retail/restaurant space. Seeing that there’s been a flurry of development in Wynwood, it will be one of the shorter buildings in the neighborhood measuring 132 FT. Like many Miami projects nowadays, the project is requesting a slight increase in density in exchange for providing public benefits. For instance, under existing code, the building can only rise to 5 floors. Since the project is using Wynwood’s NRD-1 Public Benefits Program, planners are allotted a 50% density bonus and a max benefit height of 106 FT for habitable floors. Likewise, to meet the standards for Wynwood’s neighborhood characteristics, the project is including elevated art treatment by Goldman Global Arts. Six waivers were requested. These waivers ranged from increases in maximum allowed lot coverage, a reduction of parking by 30%, an allowance of parking within the mezzanine level, and more. It should be prefaced that the requested waivers don’t allow for taller heights nor increased density, but to enhance the overall design and function of the building. ODP is the architect of record while HWKN Architecture is the design consultant.
Renders and Designs Revealed for Citadel’s New Global Headquarters
Plans have been unveiled for Citadel’s new global headquarters at 1201 Brickell Bay Drive. The project will cover about 4.17 acres, including the sites at 1201 Brickell Bay Drive, 1250-1260 Brickell Bay Drive, and the 1221 Brickell Avenue parcel, which currently houses an office building. The developer intends to pursue this project under Miami’s RTZ Metromover Subzone, which allows for higher-density and transit-oriented development. According to the application, the tower is classified as a supertall structure (exceeding 300 meters) and will reach a height of 1,028 feet, comprising 54 floors. If built, it will become the second tallest tower in Miami, just behind the Waldorf Astoria Miami which stands at 1,041 feet. In addition to its height, the developers intend to construct 1,293,373 square feet of office space, 413,476 square feet dedicated to a hotel with 212 rooms, and approximately 23,590 square feet for restaurant and retail use. Below are elevation counts. Although official plans show the tower at 1,032 FT, the ground level doesn’t begin until it’s 6 FT off the ground, making the tower 1,028 FT in actuality. To accomodate for on-site visitors, the tower will include 50 below-grade parking spots with additional parking being used at 1221 Brickell Avenue and 1250-1260 Brickell Bay Drive. The development will proceed in planned phases, beginning with the renovation of the main office tower and a new parking structure at 1221 Brickell Avenue to accommodate the new headquarters. There’s approximately 1420 parking spaces between 4 basement levels and 8 parking tiers. Below are new facade treatments for the parking deck at 1221 Brickell Avenue. The buildings at 1250 and 1260 Brickell Bay Drive will be demolished to create space for outdoor public seating. Likewise, the tower is connected with its environment, having a large, accesible baywalk with trees and a 55.92′ setback. Fronting the baywalk is dining space and an outdoor terrace. The design architect is Foster + Partners while the architect of record is AAI Architects, P.C.
Lofty Brickell Debuts a New Webcam for Construction Progress
Newgard Development’s flagship project coined “Lofty Brickell” now has a live webcam for construction progress. Lofty Brickell is part of a two tower complex currently under construction named “One Brickell Riverfront”. Both towers will possess 784 units, 919 parking spaces, retail, and 13,170 SF of office space. The live webcam is accessible here: Webcam According to the live view, both towers have their foundation and pilings ready to go for a concrete pour. There are two tower cranes on site with the southernmost crane fully erected. G.T. Mcdonald Enterprises is the general contractor. They’ll oversee the construction of both towers, the enhanced riverwalk, and other improvements to pedestrian experiences. Newgard has approval for both construction and foundation work. According to construction permits, both towers will rise at once instead of having a phased plan. Lofty Brickell will be a multi-family condo with 362 units and the southernmost tower will be a rental project with 422 units. Arquitectonica is the architect. The location is 99 SW 7th St, Miami.
Melo Group Breaks Ground on “Downtown 6th” in Downtown Miami
Melo group has broken ground on their 54 story, 581 feet tower in Downtown Miami named Downtown 6th. According to South Florida Business Journal who originally reported the groundbreaking, Melo Group hopes for completion to be in about two years. The project will contain 824 units, 639 parking spaces, and 2,427 SF of retail space. Uniquely, the parking podium is wrapped in habitable units and colored protective glass, giving it enhanced pedestrian views. The development is also in proximity to a plethora of development including Okan Tower, 501 First, 600 Miami Worldcenter, Natiivo Miami, and the Crosby. According to building permits, Melo Group filed for both structural permits and site plan permits under Melo Contractors Corp. Both permits are under review but on track for being approved shortly. The site is already demolished and ready for construction. Melo Architecture and G3aec are the architects. The location is 46 Northeast Sixth St, close to multiple transit modes including Miami’s Metromover, Metrorail, and Brightline station.
16 Floor Tower Proposed Near Miami’s Culmer Station
UBC Miami, LLC has submitted new plans for a multifamily development near the Culmer Metrorail Station in Miami. The developer intends to capitalize on the zoning benefits available under the Rapid Transit Zone (RTZ) Smart Corridor Subzone, which offers increased density allowances and reduced parking requirements for developments that support transit-oriented growth. Given that the project is LEED certified, the developers are granted additional flexibility regarding height and density parameters. As a result, the proposed development will feature 119 residential units, 123 parking spaces, and 12 bicycle parking spaces. Of the 119 units, 65 are 1 bedroom (or 1 bedroom + den) and 54 are 2 bedroom. Interestingly, despite the project’s proximity to transit, the ground floor will not include any retail spaces. According to plans, the building will rise 195 FT or 16 floors. Of these, the first five floors will form a pedestal, with four of those floors dedicated to parking. The tower’s podium will feature a “live green wall” designed by Behar Font. Additionally, circular, perforated metal-covered cutouts will be incorporated into the podium, giving it an artistic flare. The location is 1136 N.W. 8TH AVE. Behar Font is the main architect.
Biscayne Shores Revealed in Miami at 11400 Biscayne Blvd
Biscayne Shores Development Group LLC, an affiliate of Ben Josef Group Holdings based in NYC, has revealed new plans for a 15 floor tower in Miami. The development will have 561 units, 20,000 SF of commercial space, 723 parking spots, and 16 bicycle rack spaces. 12.5% of the units and an additional 14 of them will be set aside for workforce housing. Its also worth noting that these plans are still conceptual and can change. The developers are amending Miami-Dade’s Comprehensive Development Masterplan’s High Density Residential text to allow 150 units per acre and a FAR of 3.0. These changes in text will only apply to select properties, like this one. Likewise, the Future Land Use Map will be changed to High Density Residential for the entire property. The tower will reach a peak of 179 FT fronting Biscayne Blvd and a peak of 107 FT fronting NE 14th Ave. The architect is Kobi Karp.