Miami commissioners will soon decide on a proposal that would permit developers to double the density in certain neighborhoods, beginning with Edgewater. The measure, which was approved by the city’s Planning, Zoning and Appeals Board in October, is scheduled for a first reading vote on Thursday. A second reading would be required for final approval.
The proposed policy focuses on high-demand areas. So far, only two such areas have been identified, both located in Edgewater from the Julia Tuttle Causeway south to Northeast Eighth Street. Watson Island is also included in the plan as it has two new projects planned.
Commissioner Damian Pardo is sponsoring the legislation. If enacted, funds collected through the city’s Resilience Trust Fund would support flood control and climate adaptation projects such as raising streets, replacing seawalls, and installing pump stations. According to the proposal, money raised must generally be used within the same area where it was collected. Any development project costing more than $100,000 would need commission approval.
Critics of increasing density warn that it could further strain local infrastructure and speed up gentrification.
Edgewater has experienced frequent flooding during rainstorms that damage cars and homes while seeing significant growth in new developments. In October, Miami’s Urban Development Review Board approved a 47-story mixed-use tower with nearly 500 apartments at 3350 Biscayne Boulevard—a site currently for sale. Developers Black Salmon, Boschetti Group and Constellation Group recently announced a partnership with Sam Nazarian to develop a branded condo tower at 422 Northeast 29th Street.
Aaron DeMayo, chair of Miami’s Climate Resilience Committee, expressed his support but also noted: “I found it somewhat ironic that we’re incentivizing additional development capacity in an area that obviously is already flooding significantly.”
