1,372 residences, 42-story towers planned for Downtown Miami. A large double tower mixed-use residential development is planned for Northeast First Avenue, in the heart of Downtown Miami. Namdar Group proposes one structure made up of two 42-story towers at 222/234 NE First Avenue and 50/60 NE Third Street.
A project simply known as 222, the towers are to house 1,374 residential units, and include about 8,000 square feet of ground floor retail use, 336 parking spaces and more than 1,300 bicycle racks. The City’s Urban Development Review Board recommended approval of the project. Project architect is Behar Font Partners P.A. The attorney for the project, wrote a letter saying the property consists of about 52,004 square feet or 1.194 acres of lot area after required right of way directions. The developer said the towers will be rental apartments.
The property holds one-story commercial structure and surface parking. The site fronts Northeast First Avenue on the east, one property’s principal frontage. It has secondary frontage on Northeast Second and Northeast Third Streets. The attorney added the property is zoned T6-80-0 with a comprehensive plan designation of CBD. There are multiple Metromover and Metrorail stations within 1,000 feet. The property is also located one block from Brightline Station, and will be served by bus and trolley routes. Waivers will push massing away from the structure as the developers are very mindful of that building. The developers are requesting waivers from the Miami zoning code: 1. Reduce the secondary frontage setbacks above the eight story to 9 feet for lots having one dimension less than 100 feet. 2. Reduce the side and rear setbacks above the eight story to 20 feet for lots of the block and its context. 3. Match the dominant setback of the block and its context. 4. Reduce the podium setbacks 10% along Northeast Second & Third Streets from 10 feet to 9 feet. 5. Extending parking into 21 permits this where an art or glass treatment is provided for 100% of the encroachment. The art glass treatment must be approved by the planning director, upon recommendation of the Urban Development Review Board. 6. Extend parking into the second layer above the first story along the secondary frontage. 7. Substitute two commercial loading berths for one industrial loading berth. 8. Reduce tower-to-tower separation 10% above the eight story from 60 feet to 54 feet.