LivWrk is entering Miami’s Wynwood neighborhood with a striking proposal: three art-adorned towers that would become the tallest buildings in the area. This isn’t the first plan for the lot, though. Back in early 2022, LivWrk brought a more modest proposal to Miami’s Development Review Board featuring 542 residential units along with retail, office, and hotel space across two 12-story towers. But with the recent signing of the Live Local Act, in turn allowing greater height, density, and loosening other restrictions, the developer has returned with a much larger vision. The new MKDA-designed three-tower project, set to go before the Wynwood Design Review Committee on June 3rd, would include 1,363 residential units.
Inside the towers, there will be a mix of layouts from studios, 1 bedroom, 2 bedroom or even three-bedroom apartments. Like many developments under the Live Local Act, the project is required to include workforce housing, with 40% of the units (547 in total) set aside. These rents are ideally aimed at middle-income renters like teachers, healthcare workers, fire fighters, and other vital industry workers. All workforce units will be built as studios and one-bedroom apartments throughout most levels of the towers.
This kind of density, over 1,300 homes into just two acres, might come as surprising, but it’s entirely legal thanks to the Live Local Act. In fact, under the law, the site could support up to 2,000 units without special exceptions due to a new density of 1000 units per acre.
While the original proposal called for high-rises at both 2400 N Miami and 2500 N Miami, two sites separated from each other by a minor road (see diagram), the new proposal is only aiming to redesign the 2400 N Miami lot. Likewise, the site at 2400 N Miami will be alike the original proposal in that it heavily prioritizes the pedestrian. According to site plan drawings, there will be 23,152 SF of retail space on the bottom of an 8-story podium available for restaurants, shopping, and more. The 8-story podium, lined by abundant public art displays and units, will feature 950 parking spaces: slightly higher than the required 912 under code. However, it’s important to note that this low parking minimum is actually supported by multiple parking reductions due to the development’s proximity to transit.
This prioritization of the pedestrian is further supported by the inclusion of key design elements like a 5,328 SF pedestrian passage, expansion of existing sidewalks by more than 10 FT, and elements in the facade that shade pedestrians from the harsh Florida sun.
According to elevations, all 3 towers will rise 45 floors and measure 487 FT each. Along the facade includes cutouts aimed at bringing light into the tower’s amenity portions on both floor 9 and 29. Art pieces like cherries will sit atop the tower, aiming to give the structures a characteristically Wynwood feel through unique and colorful art.
Before construction can begin, LIVWRK must demolish the existing structures on the parcel which includes multiple retail buildings, greenery, and a surface parking lot. Replacement greenery will be abundant all throughout the tower, as evident through the tower’s renderings.