Downtown Doral development thrives

Spearheaded by community developers Codina Partners, the economic impact of Downtown Doral has created its share of growth.

During a time where many other commercial operators in South Florida were finding ways to survive, the 250-acre mixed-use community that is Downtown Doral managed to thrive throughout the pandemic, said Ana Marie Codina Barlick, CEO of Codina.

Since the start of the pandemic, ten new restaurant concepts have been signed to Downtown Doral’s entertainment and lifestyle experience. These include local staples like Bulla Gastrobar and Pisco Y Nazca. The community’s office component saw an uptick in tenants, with 2021 bringing new tenants like KIA Motors.

“Something innovative is brewing right at Downtown Doral’s iconic main entrance on Northwest 87th Avenue and Northwest 53rd Street, marked by the 30-foot-tall, red paint steel John Henry sculptures,” Ms. Barlick said. “We are working on transforming passive sections of our retail area into more engaging settings to further support our tenants in their success.”

The new plaza will transform one of their retail spaces and parking lots into an extended culinary haven.

LUX Doral, which launched in 2021, is planning for additional art installations that will light up organic focal points in the community, she said of the open-air light gallery that brings art to Doral year-round.

The City of Doral is also busy at work on the Doral Cultural Arts Center and is projected to be completed later this year. Located between Northwest 53rd Street and Northwest 53rd Terrace, adjacent to the City of Doral Government Center, this facility will serve to celebrate the variety of cultures, arts and experiences.

The center is to feature a large art gallery space visible from both inside and outside the building, a flexible multi-purpose room, outdoor courtyards, a catering area, dedicated vehicular drop-off area, accessible rooftop plaza, amphitheater green roof terrace, additional multi-purpose green space, public art, public garden spaces and supplementary seating areas.

Paso Tower, downtown Doral’s fifth luxury residential tower, is also rising at 5225 NW 85th Ave. just east of 5250 Park. The Tower will share the block and amenities with Tower I of the Paseo Tower group, currently known as 5250 Park, Ms. Barlick added.

Residents at Paseo Tower will have access to a resort-style pool, a state-of-the-art gym overlooking Downtown Doral Charter Elementary School, a theater room, an event room with spacing for catering, a meeting room, a dog spa and a dog park, among others.

“When complete, the tower will feature 20 stories with 228 units of one-, two- and three-bedroom residences. The best part of this new residential tower is its proximity to the thriving dining and entertainment scene in Downtown Doral,” she said, “which continues to attract customers from throughout South Florida and beyond.”