Miami may swap taller MiMo buildings for public amenities

To remedy a parking shortage in the Biscayne Boulevard historic district, the City of Miami is considering increasing building height as an incentive for developers in exchange for infrastructure improvements.

The Miami City Commission is to hear the first reading of an ordinance today (3/14) that would permit new building projects an additional 20 feet above the maximum height currently allowed in the Miami Modern (MiMo)/Biscayne Boulevard historic district. To take advantage of the new allowance, projects must contribute at least $6 million in infrastructure improvements in the area.

Nearing its 100th year, the construction of Biscayne Boulevard from downtown Miami northward began in 1925. As the city was experiencing a real estate boom at the time, the roadways couldn’t keep up with the frantic pace of development.

Now, the MiMo/Biscayne Boulevard neighborhood, which was designated a historic district in 2006 and noted for its wealth of 1950s-era motels, is severely impacted by a parking shortage.

The area encompasses the buildings situated to the east and west of Biscayne Boulevard, which lie between Northeast 50th and 77th streets.

The Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) ran a traffic study along the Biscayne corridor between Northeast 63rd and 75th streets to determine the feasibility of on-street parking.

The study indicated that on-street parking can only be achieved if improvements to the existing bicycle corridor are completed along alternative routes available within the surrounding area.

The study also revealed that the adjacent commercial corridor, the Palm Grove Historic District, is harmed by the parking shortage in the MiMo/Biscayne Boulevard Historic District.

As such, Miami commissioners are considering an amendment to city code that would provide bonus allowable height for new developments in the historic district in exchange for public benefits. The legislation is sponsored by Chairwoman Christine King, who represents the area.

Under the proposal, new construction of a single project on a one-acre contiguous lot or larger that provides a public benefit to the surrounding community will be granted an additional height up to 20 feet above the maximum currently permitted, for a total of 55 feet.

The legislation defines public benefits as “infrastructure improvements not required by local regulations, including but not limited to public parking, sustainability measures, streetscape improvements, and alternative transportation services, accessible to the public with a value no less than $6 million.”

If approved today, the ordinance must be heard for a second time before becoming official.