Parking Authority Looks At Design District For Project

By Susan Stabley
The Miami Parking Authority is eyeing the city’s Design District for its next development.

The parking authority’s board plans this week to consider creating a request for proposals to mix residential and retail units with parking, according to agency spokesman Tim Dodson.

The parking authority’s property along the Miami River on the southwest corner of Southwest Second Avenue and Third Street is also being considered for a residential project. Planners are awaiting word on tax credits expected in September.

The residential project on the authority’s 1.6-acre site would not necessarily include a garage because there is no demand for parking in the area, officials have said.

The land is part of a zone along the river planned to become a pedestrian-friendly urban environment, according to authority documents. As much as 280,876 square feet of residential space and 121,776 to 175,547 square feet of non-residential space can be built on the site.

Some parking is required, with one to two spaces required for each residential unit and spaces for other uses. Mr. Dodson said the authority would not develop the project but would turn it over to Pinnacle Housing Group of Miami, which builds affordable housing.

The authority has become involved in real estate development, having added or planning retail businesses to its structures and making plans for mixed-use garages with commercial space or residential units.

Work on the parking authority’s redevelopment of the 45-year-old Municipal Garage No. 1, at 40 NW Third St., is to begin early next year.

Miami Downtown Developers will lead the $80 million redevelopment there, replacing the garage with a 36-story building of 309 condos, 15,137 square feet of street-level retail space and 1,285 public parking spaces. Miami Downtown Developers is a partnership with Red Rock Global of Atlanta, the Gale Co. of Florham Park, NJ, and Teja Associates of Miami. R.J. Heisenbottle Architects of Coral Gables is the project architect.

The mixed-use project is the first for the authority.

Red Rock Global has opened an office for the 30-month project. The new garage is scheduled to open in mid-2006 and the 36-story apartment tower in summer 2007, according to the authority.

The parking authority operates five garages, 42 surface lots and more than 21,000 spaces for the city.