A team of developers has received approval from the Miami Design Review Board for a new project in the Miami Design District that will include both condominiums and a hotel. The development, named Miami Design Residences Designed by Chipperfield, was well received by board members during its review.
The group behind the project includes Miami Design District Associates, Fort Partners from Fort Lauderdale, Raycliff Capital from New York, and Constellation Hotels Holding from Qatar. Miami Design District Associates is made up of Dacra, L Catterton Real Estate, and Brookfield. The site for the planned buildings is at the northeast corner of North Miami Avenue and Northeast 39th Street.
According to plans presented to the board, the development will feature a 25-story building with 143 condos on the southern side of the property and a 12-story building on the north side with 85 hotel rooms and 20 condo-hotel units. Both structures are set to have rooftop amenities, while the hotel will also include wraparound terraces.
The architectural design comes from Sir David Chipperfield, a British architect who has won the Pritzker Prize, along with Cube 3. This marks Chipperfield’s only current project in Florida.
Condo sales are scheduled to begin next month with Corcoran Sunshine Marketing Group handling marketing efforts.
The development spans several addresses: 45, 53, 55, 75 and 81 Northeast 39th Street; 10, 28, 40, 50 and 56 Northeast 40th Street; and 3995 North Miami Avenue. The properties were acquired by the partnership in two transactions in 2022 for $143.6 million.
Board member Francisco Perez-Azua commented on the proposal: “I think your project is very fitting to the district,” he said. “The elevations here are very simple and subtle but elegant.”
Other board members expressed similar views about the design. Gia Zapattini, vice chair of the board said: “It’s really a spectacular project,” adding “It’s very elegant and sophisticated.” She continued: “… It’s raising the bar really for the neighborhood.”
While approving the project, board members suggested three changes: reviewing balcony edges, using green roof material on part of the hotel building, and removing picket fence-style balcony railings.
Zapattini explained her view on one aspect of the design: “I think the vertical picket fence railing is something we see in lower level projects like workforce housing.”
Miami Design District Associates owns nearly half a million square feet within the district. Last month it secured a $100 million loan for six retail properties there—adding to an existing $250 million financing package for its real estate holdings. The area features luxury brands such as Louis Vuitton, Christian Dior, Fendi, Gucci, Off-White and Chanel.
Fort Partners is led by Nadim Ashi and has previously developed The Surf Club in Surfside as well as Four Seasons Hotel and Residences in Fort Lauderdale.
Recent activity in residential development within this part of Miami continues to grow. In July last year, Miami Design District Associates along with Hunter Pasteur and The Forbes Company obtained a $125 million construction loan for Cassi—a planned apartment building with over one hundred units nearby. Another proposal from Helm Equities received Urban Development Review Board approval last month for a tower containing nearly three hundred residential units plus office space at another location within the Miami Design District.
