31-story Courtyard by Marriott coming to hot Omni area

Courtyard by Marriott is still coming to the Omni neighborhood of Miami, with a revised plan for a new high-rise hotel with meeting spaces, ballrooms and more.

One Miami Biscayne Bay and Art District Hotel LLC, affiliated with Mandala Holdings, proposes the new tower at 511 NE 15th St.

The property is about a half block from the Adrienne Arsht Center Metromover Station, and adjacent to the waterfront owned by Genting Group (the former Miami Herald site) where a resort and marina are planned.

In October 2017, the owner-developer had a similar mixed-use hotel proposal approved by the city’s Urban Development Review Board.

The new proposal is a shorter tower, down from 43 stories to 31, less leased office space at 16,131 square feet, and amenities related to the hotel totaling 28,261 square feet comprised of meeting rooms, ballrooms and restaurant space.

The plan includes 161 parking spaces off-site at a nearby existing garage.

The review board unanimously recommended approval of the latest proposal Nov. 20.

Mario Garcia-Serra, an attorney for the developer, introduced the team and spoke of the latest project to the board.

He said the Courtyard by Marriott will be home to 269 rooms, on the corner lot and next door to Trinity Cathedral on North Bayshore Drive.

The property is 0.27-acre and fronts on both Northeast 15th Street and North Bayshore Drive.

Mr. Garcia-Serra told the board the redesigned building is shorter, and they have overcome some issues with the loading areas, still making “a high quality of design” and compatible with the public realm at ground level.

The relatively small site has made it challenging to design the tower, he said, a reality mentioned in 2017 as well.

The city’s Miami 21 zoning ordinance allows off-site parking, if within 1,000 feet of the site.

In 2017, the review board recommended approval of a hotel for that site but did add conditions including the developer study the functionality of the loading area, commit to lease off-site parking spaces for at least 20 years, and consider larger shade trees near the building.

Concern was voiced in 2017 about the off-site parking, and some board members took issue with a drop-off and pick-up area that would provide only four spaces for vehicles operated by hotel valets.

In a Nov. 6 letter to the city, Mr. Garcia-Serra itemized the requested waivers, including:

■Reduction in rear and side setbacks above the 8th floor.

■Reduction in parking for properties within half-mile of a Transit Oriented Development area.

■Allowing off-site parking.

■Increase in lot coverage.

■Reduction in front setbacks for floors 1-8.

■Reduction in front setbacks above the 8th floor.

Mr. Garcia-Serra wrote: “The area of the former Omni Mall has historically been in a state of constant transition. Whether it has been transitioning to an improved situation has been subject to doubt previously, but, at present, the prevailing trend of new mixed use developments with significant residential components holds great promise for the renewal of this area.”

He added, “The construction of the first new hotel in this neighborhood in over 35 years will be a great accomplishment heralding the true return of this area as one of the City’s great neighborhoods.”

The new design includes a ground floor elevator to a sky lobby, office or restaurant space on the 8th floor, a pool terrace and fitness room on the 9th floor, and the top three floors for suites.

One ballroom is designed at about 3,300 square feet, and one of the meeting rooms is also that size. The two spaces can be joined for conference-type events.