Miami Beach’s skyline could get its tallest addition in nearly three decades, after a developer submitted plans for a 43-story tower in the Flamingo/Lummus neighborhood, just east of West Avenue.
The developer behind the proposal is Crescent Heights, the Miami-based firm led by Russel Galbut, which has become one of the most active players in Miami Beach’s emerging high-rise pipeline. The company has proposed nearly 10 high-rise developments across the city as it continues to pursue a significant vertical transformation of Miami Beach.
The 163-unit tower would replace a Firestone tire repair center at 1575 Alton Road dating to 1935, which has since been converted into dining space. While the building is among the older structures in the surrounding neighborhood, it’s not protected by historic designation. The property sits just outside the boundaries of the area’s historic districts and is classified as non-contributing, meaning the existing structure does not contribute to the historic character of the district.
How is it possible? Well, the proposal is being pursued under Florida’s Live Local Act, the state’s major pro-housing law intended to encourage new housing production. The legislation provides qualifying developments with significant zoning advantages, including the highest density permitted within the municipality and the ability to reach the highest height allowed within one mile of the property, alongside tax incentives and other benefits.
In exchange, at least 40% of the project’s units must be designated as workforce housing. For this development, that translates to 62 workforce units, which will occupy the lower floors of the tower and be priced at 120% of Area Median Income; that corresponds to maximum rents range from $2,862 for studios to $3,066 for one-bedroom units, $3,678 for two-bedroom units, and $4,249 for three-bedroom units. It’s unclear if Crescent Heights will go this high, but it’s possible.
The remaining residences will occupy the upper portion of the tower. A total of 91 larger units, likely intended as for-sale condominiums, are planned between levels 15 and 43. Across the building, residents will have access to a pool, private club spaces, outdoor seating and open areas, as well as approximately 4,107 square feet of indoor amenity space.
The project will also include a parking deck with 149 vehicle spaces and 170 bicycle spaces. Beneath the parking structure, approximately 1,739 square feet of commercial space will front Alton Road, adding a small retail component to the development.
At approximately 557 feet, the tower would come remarkably close to the height of Miami Beach’s two tallest buildings, the Blue and Green Diamond towers at 559 feet, which were completed in 2000. If built as proposed, the Crescent Heights project would become the city’s third-tallest structure and the tallest building constructed in Miami Beach in nearly three decades.
Designed by RSP Architects, the tower will feature a palette of white and brown tones, floor-to-ceiling windows, and selectively placed balconies. A perforated decorative mesh screen will wrap portions of the parking garage, helping conceal the structure while adding another architectural element to the base of the tower.
Unlike many major developments in Miami Beach, the project will not advance through the city’s traditional public board process because of its submission through the Live Local Act. Instead, its approval will largely depend on whether the proposal complies with applicable zoning, building, and safety requirements rather than proceeding through a series of public hearings and community reviews.
That process has also kept much of the project’s evolution out of public view. Floridian Development first reported on the proposal when it called for an 18-story tower. Over the following months, the project continued to change, eventually growing into the 43-story, 557-foot tower now being submitted to the city. If approved and ultimately built as proposed, the project would not only add 163 residences to Miami Beach’s housing supply, but also introduce one of the city’s most significant new additions to its skyline in decades.
