Harry Gross’ G-Holdings has filed a lawsuit against the city of Aventura and the developer behind Cassa Residences, seeking to reverse zoning changes that would allow for a larger mixed-use project next to its own planned development.
The dispute centers on the site at 2770 Northeast 187th Street and 2822-2850 Northeast 187th Street, where Miami Off Center Associates—a partnership between The Lojeta Group and a Delaware entity—plans to build a 17-story tower with 208 apartments, ground-floor retail space, and a seven-story garage. The existing one-story commercial building on the property, mostly leased to Mo’s Bagels & Deli, will remain in place according to city records.
G-Holdings argues in its Aug. 8 lawsuit and an appeals petition that the rezoning does not comply with Aventura’s comprehensive development plan and harms its adjacent Port Aventura project at Northeast 185th Street and Northeast 28th Court. In 2018, G-Holdings obtained approval for Port Aventura, which is set to include two towers with a total of 121 condos and 167 hotel rooms. While construction has not started yet, attorney Neisen Kasdin said G-Holdings plans to break ground next year.
“We have been engaged in discussions with our neighbor, and we are optimistic we will be able to resolve it,” said Neisen Kasdin, an Akerman attorney representing G-Holdings. “The result will be good for their project, for our project and for the city.”
City officials and Michael Marrero, who represents Cassa Residences on land use matters, did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the lawsuit, prior zoning limited buildings on the Cassa Residences site to a maximum height of 12 stories. However, during a July meeting, the city commission approved changes that increased this limit by five stories—raising allowable density from 25 units per acre up to 69—and reduced minimum floor areas required for one-bedroom apartments from 900 square feet down to as little as 800 square feet.
G-Holdings claims these changes negatively affect its investment: “G-Holdings ‘is aggrieved and adversely affected by the City’s approval,’ and ‘has expended significant resources in developing Port Aventura,’” states the lawsuit.
The complaint further alleges that new features of Cassa Residences—including its parking garage—would block light and air from both lower residential floors of Port Aventura as well as upper levels: “The Cassa Residences rezoning is ‘significantly more impactful, with the parking garage directly blocking light and air from Port Aventura’s lower residential floors and [Cassa Residences] blocking much of the light and air from the upper floors,’ G-Holdings’ lawsuit alleges.”
Additionally, G-Holdings asserts that approval was granted only after developers agreed to allocate twelve units within Cassa Residences under Aventura’s Hero Housing program—a local initiative offering below-market-rate apartments for teachers or first responders working in the area.
Kasdin indicated that any settlement would likely require modifications both to current zoning approvals as well as aspects of Cassa Residences itself.
