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.