Work set for 93-story Waldorf Astoria glass box downtown

The developer poised to redefine Miami’s skyline with an impressive tower of glass boxes rising 93 stories on Biscayne Boulevard is citing progress on the ambitious mixed-use project.

The development, called 300 Biscayne, is to bring not only multi-family residential units and commercial-retail uses to downtown, but also a new Waldorf Astoria hotel.

PMG Downtown Developers LP is in charge of the high-profile property near the waterfront.

In an email response to Miami Today on Tuesday, a company spokesperson said full construction is expected to begin in 2022’s first quarter.

The tower is slated for completion in 2025.

The spokesperson also confirmed the City of Miami had recently issued a demolition permit for the property, allowing preliminary site work to commence on Phase II.

The project was recommended for approval this fall by the city’s Urban Development Review Board, with members commending the developer’s team and calling the project impressive, beautiful and incredible.

Acting board chairman Ignacio Permuy said: “This is going to be a signature building on the Miami skyline.”

The site is at the northwest corner of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast Third Street, directly across from Bayfront Park.

The tower is to reach 1,036 feet, becoming the city’s tallest building.

Javier F. Aviñó, the developer’s attorney, said: “At 1,036 feet in height, it may be one of the tallest towers in the State of Florida, and will be home to the new Waldorf Astoria Hotel and Residences.”

The glass tower is to have 461 multi-family residential units, 205 hotel rooms and 1,321 square feet of commercial-retail uses, and would have parking for up to 694 vehicles and space for 356 bicycles.

Amenities include swimming pools, a grand staircase, condo lounge, hotel lounge and bar, hotel pool bar and more.

The tower of mismatching boxes is to have penthouses. It was designed by Sieger Suarez Architects LLC.

Mr. Aviñó said the project will establish an iconic luxury hotel, residences, and commercial uses within a tower of remarkable design in Miami’s urban core.

The city’s review board was asked to approve a minor modification to Phase II of a Major Use Special Permit or MUSP, originally approved by the city commission on March 27, 2008. Phase I has already been constructed.

Mr. Aviñó said the applicant team has carefully developed the design of Phase II over the course of six years.

The structure consists of nine cubes of differentiated position. The top cube moves from the tower’s central axis toward the southeast, creating dynamic visual tension.

Near the bottom of the tower, the third cube rotates in response to the pool deck while the second cube is positioned farther to the east, creating an outdoor dining platform for an upscale restaurant.

At street level, the first cube rotates dramatically upward to receive residents and visitors, supporting the entire tower.

The requested modifications to Phase II of the MUSP are being processed under a warrant, to bring the project into greater compliance with the provisions of the Miami zoning code as follows:

■Lot coverage: The originally approved MUSP permitted a lot coverage of 73,638 square feet, or 82.9%. The proposed lot coverage for Phase II is 36,706 square feet, for a combined total coverage of 71,360 square feet between Phase I and Phase II, or 80.5%. This total lot coverage is less than that permitted by the MUSP.

■Building Height: The approved MUSP design had a height of 1,060 feet 8 inches. Phase II proposes a reduction of 24 feet 8 inches from the tower to a maximum height of 1,036 feet in 93 stories. Miami zoning permits an unlimited maximum bonus height for this property, subject to Federal Aviation Administration regulations.

■Density: The MUSP was approved with 1,557 dwellings in the overall project. Under zoning, a maximum of 2,039 dwellings are permitted. The completed Phase I contains 464 dwellings, leaving 1,093 available for Phase II or 1,575 units pursuant to zoning code. The applicant is proposing a maximum of 564 dwellings (461 residential units and 205 hotel rooms), a reduction of 529 units from what is entitled under the MUSP or a reduction of 1,011 from what is permitted in zoning.