MiMo development wins OK on second try

A developer planning to start the second phase of a residential development in Miami’s MiMo neighborhood, next door to Legion Park, is moving ahead after a second try before the city’s Urban Development Review Board.

Plans for phase two of Adela at MiMo Bay, at 645 NE 64th St., stalled before the board in April. The board made a motion to recommend approval of the project with several conditions, which failed on a tie 3-3 vote, resulting in the project being continued to the next board meeting.

Several board members were critical of the size and massing of the new building, which would have about 500,000 square feet of floor area.

The designed building is six stories, for up to 337 dwellings, more than 5,645 square feet of commercial space, and parking for up to 524 vehicles.

The development team for owner-developer MiMo Bay Apartments II LLC returned for another presentation to the review board May 21.

Attorneys and architects for Adela II said they made several changes to their proposal based on comments from board members.

Corwil Architects designed the project. A Corwil representative told the board, “We really listened last time and incorporated the board comments into this new design.”

One design element in the original plan had several spherical shapes on the roof.

“We removed the ellipses on the rooftop,” said Nicholas Rodriguez, an attorney representing the developer.

The board ultimately passed a motion unanimously to recommend approval with these conditions:

■Break up the volume of the building on the north and south elevations into at least two or three buildings, with bridge connectors, including glazing openings into the corridors.

■Redesign the paseo on the north elevation providing a minimum buffer width of 20 feet and coordinating with the city parks department to move or eliminate portions of the park fence.

■Set aside a recommended minimum 75 parking spaces for public use.

■Include the heart-scape design of the historic building as presented at the latest meeting.

The positive vote came after the board heard from several residents voicing objections to the development, and particular distain for vacating Northeast 64th Terrace.

The company owns an assemblage consisting of 17 properties that abut Northeast 64th Terrace and Northeast 64th Street.

The lots that comprise the property and the area of Northeast 64th Terrace, which is proposed to be vacated and closed, is about 141,519 square feet (3.25 acres).

Mr. Rodriguez noted closure of Northeast 64th Terrace as a public street will ultimately be decided by the city commission.

In connection with a successful rezoning request, the owner-developer proffered a covenant that, in part: limits development to 337 units; calls for a maximum height for portions within the MiMo District of 75 feet; and requires a minimum of 20 units must serve income ranges between 80% of the Area Median Income (AMI) or less and 120% of the Area Median Income.

Of the 20 units, a minimum of 16 units are to be reserved for households whose annual income is at or below 80% AMI.

The covenant also requires the applicant to seek a warrant to provide public parking within the ground floor of the proposed development.