51-story Brickell office tower adds to county donation, wins OK

Zoning approval for a 51-story tower that would add 14% to the Brickell area’s pricy Class A office space, twice deferred as county commissioners sought more from the applicant, sailed through as developers raised their cash contribution to $2 million.

“I really do appreciate all the work that’s happened,” said Commissioner Eileen Higgins, who in two earlier meetings pushed developers for more money and a revised transportation methodology. She finally got what she wanted from the planned 848 Brickell tower. The offer in October was $1.1 million.

Plans show the tower with 750,901 square feet of offices, 6,506 square feet of retail fronting Brickell Avenue, and a 1,006-car internal garage that would open to both Brickell and a rear alley. It would replace a 13-story office building on the site.

The property earlier had been under City of Miami zoning rules, but the county last year took over zoning there and in other chosen locations as part of the Metromover subzone. The acre and a quarter sits on the west side of Brickell between Southeast Eighth and Tenth streets.

In September commissioners had told the developers to coordinate street improvements with the Dolce & Gabbana condominium tower planned next door at 888 Brickell.

“I’m not ready to approve this,” responded Commissioner Higgins in October. She represents the area and champions the rapid transit zone (RTZ) in which the building would sit. “The fact that you and [888] have divvied up how you’re going to pay for street improvements doesn’t mean that I agree with that.”

In a statement then, Ms. Higgins also invoked the future condo tower next door, telling developers that in their offer “the public benefits contribution was very much not comparable to both your next door neighbor that was just approved and the other Metromover RTZ items.”