Little River project seeks city waivers

A new 12-story mixed-use building is planned for the Little River area of Miami.

Little River Cedar Property Owner LLC plans a 12-story building for a site at 7715-7737 NE Second Ave., between Northeast 78th and 77th streets.

The site plan shows the new residential building for 191 residential units and 8,009 square feet of ground floor retail, and parking for 296 vehicles.

Benjamin Hedrick, an attorney representing the developer, wrote: “The project will enhance the overall city and the Little River communities by providing a new, state-of-the-art mixed-use building with residential uses as well as ground-floor retail along one of the city’s growing commercial and retail corridors – NE Second Ave in Little River just south of the historic NE 79th Street commercial corridor.”

The developer is requesting waivers from the city’s zoning code that, if approved, would allow:

■Reduction in parking from 326 spaces required to 296 spaces being provided, a reduction of 9.2%.

■Increase in the maximum permitted lot coverage on the T6-8-0 transect zone portion of the property from 36,698 square feet (80% lot coverage) to 39,255 square feet (85.57% lot coverage).

■A 10% reduction in required secondary setback on the Northeast 77th Street frontage, on the T6-8-0 portion of the frontage only from ground level to the eighth story.

■Reduction in required parking garage drive aisle widths from 23 feet to 22 above the ground floor, and from 23 feet to 22 feet, 4.25 inches at the ground floor.

■Extension of above-ground parking into the second layer beyond 50% of the pedestal frontage with an architectural treatment on the south façade.

Kurt Dannwolf, the founder of ODP Architecture and Design, offered some details about the project to the review board, and noted the developer’s team had presented it earlier to the board and took many of the board’s comments and concerns into a redesigned plan.

The heaviness of the building is hopefully lessened by eliminating large rounded arches. The proposed building will have a 25% increase in use of glass too, he said.

Board member Ligia Ines Labara said, “The changes you have made make it a much more successful project, and it will be a great addition to that side of the neighborhood.”

Board member Fidel Perez said, “The land elevations look better. I think you’ve done excellent improvements from what I saw.”

Board member Anthony Tzamtzis said, “I think you did a great improvement from your last presentation.”

Board Chair Ignacio Permuy said, “I think you’ve done an exceptional job.… It’s a very good example of responding to the board’s comments. I’m still amazed at the speed at which you’ve come back. Congratulations.”