A proposed development under Florida’s Live Local Act has sparked opposition in Surfside, where plans were submitted in November for an 11-story residential and hotel building on 95th Street. The project would replace a single-story post office from the 1950s. The application was filed by an affiliate of Postal Realty Trust, led by Andrew Spodek, and Ocean Walk Surfside LLC.
Surfside Mayor Charles Burkett criticized the proposal, describing it as a “disaster.” He said, “It’s outrageous that Florida politicians have ‘decided to destroy the fabric and composition of small towns’ via the Live Local Act.”
The Live Local Act became law in 2023. It aims to increase workforce housing by providing developers with incentives such as increased density, height allowances, parking reductions, and tax breaks if they set aside units for tenants earning up to 120 percent of area median income. The law also removes cities’ approval power for qualifying projects, allowing administrative approval without public hearings.
Residents and officials in Surfside have voiced concerns about potential traffic congestion, school overcrowding, and diminished local control over development decisions. Town staff are currently reviewing the application.
In Tallahassee, lawmakers appear unlikely to reverse course or restore municipal authority over such projects. Senate Bill 1548, introduced last week by Sen. Alexis Calatayud, proposes expanding eligible properties under Live Local to include land owned by counties, municipalities or school districts—with certain conditions for participation and location. The bill would also prevent counties from limiting building heights through indirect means like setbacks or stepbacks. Farms and farm operations are excluded from being considered commercial or industrial properties under this bill.
Other real estate developments continue in South Florida. In Palm Beach, a mansion at 1460 North Lake Way sold for $72 million; British investor Pamela W. Starret was the seller of this nearly one-acre property featuring six bedrooms and nine bathrooms (including half baths). In Coral Gables, DWS Group sold a two-building office complex known as the Alhambra for $119.6 million to a partnership including Lone Star Funds and Miami-based firms Square2 Capital and Highline Real Estate Capital.
A waterfront estate at 790 South County Road in Palm Beach has been listed for $105 million after selling for about $31 million in 2021; Christian Angle of Christian Angle Real Estate is handling the listing.
Google co-founder Larry Page recently bought two waterfront properties in Coconut Grove totaling $173 million while Sergey Brin reportedly made an offer on a home on Allison Island in Miami Beach for approximately $50 million.
In another recent event involving local real estate figures, a Coral Gables man pleaded guilty to careless boating following an accident that resulted in the death of Ella Adler—daughter of developer Matthew Adler—in Biscayne Bay while she was wakeboarding behind a yacht. As part of his plea deal reported by the Miami Herald, he will serve probation but avoid formal conviction; Matthew Adler called for stricter boating regulations during court proceedings.
