Three-tower Edgewater residences to replace older condos

A large three-tower mixed residential project is planned for property on Biscayne Bay in Edgewater.

Called Biscayne 21, when completed the towers will offer about 705 multi-family dwelling units, ground floor commercial space, and more than 800 linear feet of new waterfront promenade.
Miami’s Urban Development Review Board recommended approval of the project to the planning director on a 5-0 vote, with one recommendation.

Owner-developer TRD Acquisitions LLC plans the project at 2121 N Bayshore Drive.

The property is on the southeast corner of North Bayshore Drive and Northeast 22nd Street, fronting Biscayne Bay on the east and the Biscayne Bay Inlet on the south.

Marissa Neufeld, an attorney representing the developer, said the property is one of the only parcels in the City of Miami with waterfront access on two sides, which creates an exciting opportunity for Biscayne Bay connectivity.

In a letter to the city Ms. Neufeld wrote, “The Project proposes waterfront walkways along the South and East frontage, to extend the City’s bayfront pedestrian network.”

The baywalk is open to the public.

All three towers are planned to rise 649 feet above sea level; two are to have 56 stories and one 55 stories. The new construction will replace an existing condo building.

The project will include more than 8,433 square feet of commercial uses and more than 970 parking spaces on 11 levels. There will be valet services.

The developer is requesting waivers allowing for:

■A 10% reduction of the tower spacing between the east tower and south tower.

■Driveway spacing less than 60 feet.

■Up to a 30% reduction of required parking for a development within one-half mile of a transit-oriented development (TOD) area or one-quarter mile of a Transit Corridor.

■To permit, along a secondary frontage (Northeast 22nd Street), parking above the first story to extend into the second layer.

■Pedestrian entrances spaced greater than 75 feet apart.

■A nonconforming site improvement (access) to remain. The property currently has nonconforming access (ingress) from North Bayshore Drive. The developer proposes to reduce the existing nonconformity by combining the two driveways into a single driveway providing ingress and egress from North Bayshore.

Ms. Neufeld wrote, “The proposed Project will have convenient access to numerous transit opportunities, such as Metrobus, Miami Trolley and Metromover and will support the growing residential community. The Property is located within a TOD and therefore encourages a vibrant mix of commercial and residential uses.”

Arquitectonica is the project architect, and the firm’s Bernardo Fort-Brescia presented details of the trio of towers to the review board.

He said the property is unusual in that it sits on a rare corner on Biscayne Bay, and it will allow the developer to add “the missing link” in the city’s baywalk.

He said the project will have commercial spaces along the street, active uses on the secondary 22nd Street, active uses along the baywalk, and they are also creating internal circulation for the towers.

The project is to have a large swimming pool, clubhouse, tennis courts, and more.

Board Chairman Ignacio Permuy commended the developer’s team and the design of the project.

“I particularly like the massing. With three towers that’s difficult to control and make the site work … you left a view corridor,” he said.

Board member Anthony Tzamtzis said, “I’m impressed with the project, the scale of the project.”

Board member Gia Zapattini said, “It is beautiful, very streamlined, very elegant.” She added that the project will be out of scale “until the rest of the area is built up.”

Board member Fidel Perez said, “This is a beautiful project … the way that you have put it together is incredibly good … it seems like a very high-end type of residence.”

Ms. Zapattini made the motion to recommend approval of the project, with one recommendation to study providing ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) parking spaces closer to the entrance of each building.