Historic Biscayne Boulevard church revamp with residential tower nears

The plan to restore and repurpose a historic church on Biscayne Boulevard in Miami and build a new companion 40-story residential tower next door is finally moving forward after modifications.

The owner-developer, AQOZFI SLP BISCAYNE LLC, submitted new plans that further refine the final design for the project at 1836 Biscayne Blvd.

The city’s Urban Development Review Board is recommending approval of the latest plan with a condition to integrate art into the public areas.

The First Church of Christ Scientist was designed in 1925 by architect August Geiger, and built on the southwest corner of Biscayne Boulevard and Northeast 19th Street. The church was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1988.

The original development plan dates to 2015.

That plan called for maintaining the church structure and topping it with a multi-layered parking garage large enough to hold 637 vehicles. The garage was to be attached to a new 38-story tower with 352 “residential or condo” units. The plan provided for more than 20,000 square feet of ground level retail space.

Changes in the market, and the growth of ride-sharing services, led to a new design for the project in 2019 with less parking.

The new plan includes a tower at 40 stories, home to 364 residential units and 16,000 square feet of amenities, along with parking for 389 cars in the podium of the new tower. Plans also include repurposing the church structure to convert it to about 15,000 square feet of retail.

The latest updated design plans were presented to the review board by the developer’s attorney, Carlos Diaz, and the project architect Jon Cardello of CUBE 3.

In a letter to the city, Mr. Diaz spelled out the latest modifications:

■Material and patterning modifications for the garage screening from metal louvers to stucco and vinyl screen mesh.

■Minor shifts in window locations along all façades.

■Balcony reductions at the corners of the proposed tower.

■Removal of metal screen at above the Biscayne Boulevard pedestrian and vehicular entry.

■Redesign of the tower entry eyebrow at the Biscayne Boulevard driveway.

■Material replacement to use pewter vinyl in lieu of perforated metal panel at parking and mechanical penthouse levels.

■Reconfiguration of interior spaces at the 11th story.

■Relocation of units to the 11th story from the 38th story. The total proposed density remains the same.

■Replacement of doors and window “in-kind” on the historic church building.

■Rebuilding the new limestone façade with matching stone in lieu of salvaging existing stone from the demolished portion.

Mr. Diaz wrote, “The proposed modifications are the product of further refinement of the project. The artistic intent for the garage treatment remains unchanged from the one previously reviewed and approved by (the review board) and the city.”

He said the latest plans were approved last October by the city’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board.

Mr. Diaz told the review board the developer is in the process of obtaining building permits.

Mr. Cardello told the board, “This is a challenging project. We’re keeping a historic church. We have a footprint of 60 feet wide that we’re offsetting a tower on, so I feel from the original design to now we’ve kept the intent very closely. We need just a little bit of help to get it past the finish line.”

Board member Agustin Barrera said, “I for one appreciate the new design. The building being over the existing church (in the original plan) really kind of took away from the sanctuary, what that church was.

“The changes overall are positive … I really appreciate the fact that you’ve stepped away from being on top of the church and the church is now free standing the way it is,” he said.

Board member Anthony Tzamtzis asked about the former church building.

Mr. Cardello basically said they are getting it into shape in order to lease the space.

He said, “The sanctuary remains 100% intact, the meeting room. The ground floor and the choir, we imagine someone will adapt and reuse it, maybe flatten it out in the future. Our intent is to get a retail restaurant user in there that could really bring new life into the building.”

Board Chairman Ignacio Permuy said, “I think you’ve done a very good job. I like the changes and I like the way you’re respecting the history of the building … the framing and the scale is not too close, not too high, not overpowering, so you’re paying respect to the historical building. You’ve done an excellent job.”

Board member Dean Lewis made the motion to approve the project with a condition that the developer integrate art within the public spaces on the property.

Mr. Lewis noted, “The Bacardi building, just a stone’s throw away, is leading the charge on that. It would be a pity not to see that (art) integrated here, particularly with the façade.”

Mr. Cardello said, “We are reusing the pipes from the pipe organ in the lobby to make an artistic arrangement in the ceiling … it’s the intent to bring components of the church into the project.”