Board recommends OK for Residence 23 in Edgewater

A new mixed-use residential project, Residence 23, is planned for Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood.

Owner-developer TF Second and 23rd LLC plans the 33-story building at 212 NE 23rd St.

The building will house 369 residential units, about 13,113 square feet of ground floor retail, parking for about 504 vehicles, and related amenities.

The city’s Urban Development Review Board has unanimously recommended approval of the project.

Carlos Lago, an attorney representing the developer, said the property is on the east side of Northeast Second Avenue, between Northeast 22nd and 23rd streets, at the intersection of the Omni/Arts & Entertainment District, Edgewater, Wynwood, and Midtown neighborhoods.
In a letter to the city, Mr. Lago said this area has “recently experienced rapid population growth and business expansion.”

He said the property’s total lot area is 71,644 square feet, or 1.645 acres.

“The project has been designed to activate this portion of Northeast Second Avenue and enhance the pedestrian experience in the area. The project’s design along the ground floor responds primarily to human scale and pedestrian interests,” wrote Mr. Lago.

“The project provides inviting public sidewalks with landscaping, hardscaping, and other improvements. The proposed pedestrian amenities promote pedestrian interaction and provide a connection to the surrounding area,” he wrote.

He said the site is irregularly shaped with dual zoning designations, which creates practical difficulties in strict adherence to certain Miami 21 zoning code requirements.

So, the developer is requesting several waivers to allow:

■Up to a 30% parking reduction for properties within a transit corridor and within the Downtown Development Authority area.

■Parking to encroach into the second layer, above the first story, along the secondary frontage beyond 50% of the length of the frontage, with an art or glass treatment approved by the city planning director.

■Vehicular entries at a minimum spacing of less than 60 feet.

■Substitution of one commercial loading berth for two residential loading berths.

Mr. Lago noted the project’s onsite parking is lined along all frontages, while providing a level of parking appropriate for the tenant mix and the site’s transit corridor designation.

He said the parking access has been internalized within the site.

The project is designed by SB Architects of Coral Gables.

Board member Anthony Tzamtzis said, “Very nice job. I like the layout. I like the playfulness of the building, with its angles and different materials.”

Board Chair Ignacio Permuy said, “Exceptional job … you have a beautiful product here.”

Board members Robert Behar and Dean Lewis said they like the relationship between the tower portion and the parking podium.

“Overall, a successful building,” said Mr. Behar.