Today’s Floridian Rundown spotlights two high-rise projects, both in Miami-Dade. One centers on a largely under-reported development in Sweetwater, where Alma at FIU is moving forward as a major student-oriented tower serving Florida International University, with demolition complete and capital raising underway. The other turns to Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, where Tower 36 is showing signs of renewed momentum following the filing of a new FAA height application, marking the first substantive update on the project in several months.
Floridian Rundown is an experimental article format designed to surface development activity that may not always warrant standalone coverage. Published as a periodic roundup, the series focuses on early-stage proposals, design evolutions, and under-the-radar projects that are quietly moving through the pipeline, offering readers additional context beyond Floridian Development’s traditional weekday reporting.
Please take the time to complete a poll at the end of the article to help the site better understand public perception of this publication type.
Alma at FIU
Sweetwater, already experiencing a surge in student-oriented high-rise development tied to Florida International University, is preparing to add another major project to its skyline. Dubbed Alma at FIU, the multifamily tower is planned for a roughly 0.8-acre site at 300 SW 109th Avenue. The project is being developed by BAI Capital and designed by BKV Group, with plans calling for approximately 561,000 gross SF of construction.
Once built, the tower would stand among the tallest developments in Sweetwater. Construction is currently targeted to begin in January 2027, marking the project as the city’s third high-rise to enter construction since 2025, following two recent groundbreakings.
As the project moves through Sweetwater’s design and approval process, the development team is also raising capital. Alma at FIU is offering multiple investment tiers, including an EB-5 Immigrant Investor Program. Because the project is located within a Targeted Employment Area (TEA), foreign investors are eligible to participate at the reduced EB-5 threshold of $800,000, while still qualifying for a green card.
Alma at FIU is planned to deliver 565 residential units, totaling 644 beds. The development will include ground-floor retail, above which an eight-story parking podium will be constructed and wrapped with residential units to maintain architectural continuity. The podium will provide 644 parking spaces, effectively allocating one space per bed to accommodate student demand.
Miami-Dade County permitting records show that a demolition permit for the former retail building on the site was issued months ago. Demolition activity quickly followed in early 2025 and has since advanced to the complete clearing of the property. Construction will be led by HITT Contracting as general contractor, with Kimley-Horn serving as the project’s civil engineer.
FAA Application Filed for Tower 36
News surrounding Tower 36, a planned high-rise in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood, has been relatively quiet in recent months as the project has undergone internal design revisions. That lull appears to be breaking, however, with a new FAA height application recently filed by One Thousand Group, the firm behind 1000 Museum by Zaha Hadid Architects.
The project was first presented to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board in 2023 as an office-focused development, proposing 312,058 SF of office space, 28,922 SF of retail, and 691 parking spaces within a 32-story tower rising 635 FT. That concept was later abandoned in favor of a revised program centered on branded residences, a private members club, premium dining, and other hospitality-oriented uses. Detailed plans for the updated vision have not yet been publicly released, as the project is still in the planning phase.
Designed by KPF in collaboration with ODP Architecture, the tower is envisioned as one of Miami’s more distinctive recent high-rise designs. The building is largely wrapped in glass, with balconies periodically carved out, giving the facade depth and a modern profile.
The tower was filed with the Federal Aviation Administration at a height of 649 FT, or 662 FT above mean sea level. The filing suggests that the project’s height and massing may have changed over time, though it may also reflect a common decision to submit a more generous height for flexibility. In FAA filings, developers often list maximum possible heights rather than finalized numbers, allowing change for future design evolution without requiring a new aviation review.
Located at 3601 Biscayne Boulevard, the One Thousand Group acquired the 1.6-acre lot for approximately $53 million in late 2024. The property, formerly occupied by a gas station, was quickly cleared following the acquisition and is now fully vacant.