The project is moving forward after the Miami Beach Commission approved a unified development site including the rezoning of a small parcel of surplus property purchased from FDOT and changes in setback requirements to give “more breathing room” to the adjacent Talmudic University. Initially, Mast sought approval to build a 290-ft tower, later reducing it to 140-ft. But given the allowable 85-ft height on the site and significant community pushback, the developer abandoned any height requests and proposed the eight-story building within the current 85-ft limit. Last month, Mast announced the JV with Rockpoint.
Attorney Michael Larkin, Bercow Radell Fernandez Larkin & Tapanes, wrote in the Design Review Board (DRB) application, the design is “a modern curvilinear” tower with 176 units, “ample amenities, and covered parking” with “two wings on the east and west sides connected by a recessed central tower that breaks up the massing of the building and orients the spacious amenity deck towards the afternoon sun.”
“For improved access to the site, the Applicant proposes a new right turn lane from the western portion of State Road 907/Alton Road, which will connect to an existing ingress egress driveway located on the east side of Alton Road,” Larkin noted.
[T]he proposed design provides pedestrian walkways that lead to the lobby level and ground floor bicycle storage, which serve to encourage pedestrianism and multimodel transport,” according to Larkin’s letter to the DRB. “The pedestrian walkway and lobby level will be lushly landscaped to provide screening of the lobby level ramps and improve the pedestrian experience approaching the building.”
The unit mix includes 28 studio units (550-600 sq ft) and 148 one, two, and three-bedroom units ranging from 575 and 1,440 sq ft. The average unit size is 910 sq ft. The project includes 269 parking spaces, more than the 241 required.
No variances or waivers are required.
“Overall, the proposed curvilinear U-shaped building design responds appropriately to the irregular shape of the Project Site, and the challenging conditions with respect to the ‘island’ affect caused by the surrounding roadways,” Larkin wrote.
The building is designed by Arquitectonica. It is on the DRB agenda for July. Details of the application are here.
Renderings: Arquitectonica
