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Week of September 29, 2005 |
Miami clears way for residential project on Sheraton site By Deserae del CampoThe Miami City Commission has approved the Related Group of Florida's Icon Brickell, three towers at 495 and 501 Brickell Ave. that will add 1,705 condos between Brickell Park and the Miami Circle. On the site of the former Sheraton Brickell Biscayne Bay hotel, which is being leveled, Icon Brickell's towers are to range from 520 to 604 feet and include 95 hotel units, 25,000 square feet of retail space and 2,085 parking spaces. The commission last week granted Related - which has about 50 projects in Florida, 40 of them in the county - three permits that clear the way for Icon. It changed zoning beside the hotel from recreational to office, changed part of the site from park and recreation to Brickell residential-office district, and approved a major use special permit. Architectural firm Arquitectonica is planning the project and setting up a baywalk plan with open spaces and greenery, Vice President Sherri Gutierrez told commissioners. One vision, said Related Vice President Bill Thompson, is to continue that baywalk around the Miami Circle, the state-owned preservation site of a 2,000-year-old Tequesta structure whose remains are just north of the former hotel. "We will try to make the baywalk accessible to people by putting in two restaurants," Mr. Thompson said. Unit prices for all towers range from about $400,000 for a 650-square-foot studio to $1 million. The largest will be a 3,000-square-foot penthouse. The North Tower will have 710 units; South Tower 599 and Brickell Tower 395. Groundbreaking for the first tower is set for January. "This project will enhance the area so that people will be able to enjoy the bay," said Commissioner Joe Sanchez. "We need an ambiance where people can enjoy the beauty of our city and we need to make sure we protect that area because it is the people's property." |
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