Transformative Miami Riverbridge downtown wins backing

The major redevelopment of one of Miami’s highest profile sites in the heart of downtown is one step closer to reality.

A city review board on June 20 unanimously recommended approval of the Miami Riverbridge project, which will take the place of the James L. Knight Center and Hyatt Regency hotel on the Miami River.

The Urban Development Review Board did ask the development team to study the iconic Marina Bay Sands Sky Park, an architectural platform connecting the roofs of three skyscrapers in Singapore, as a potential design element to connect the three towers of Miami Riverbridge.

The new trio of towers will be linked at the top by a sky bridge featuring an upscale restaurant and lounge perched 700 feet over the city that will offer residents and hotel guests panoramic views of downtown Miami and Biscayne Bay.

Board member Gia Zapattini suggested the skybridge component design be finessed to make it an award-winning and iconic project.

She did, however, compliment the overall sweeping project, calling it beautiful.

Miami Riverbridge is a mixed-use venture that aims to revitalize the riverwalk with a modernized Hyatt hotel, residential apartments and an improved public promenade with green space along the water.

The property is city-owned.

Miami initially entered a long-term lease with Hyatt for the city-owned waterfront property at 400 SE Second Ave. in 1979. For years, officials have considered plans to renovate the four-acre site.

In November 2022, 64% of voters approved a referendum to extend the Hyatt lease with HRM Owner LLC, a joint venture between Hyatt Hotels Corp. and Miami-based luxury hospitality and residential real estate firm Gencom.

The city commission unanimously approved the amended lease in July 2023, paving the way for Miami Riverbridge to rise at the property.

According to the plans presented by Miami-based Arquitectonica, Miami Riverbridge will consist of three interconnected towers with a shared podium offering 1,342 multi-family units, a 615-room Hyatt Regency plus 264 apartment-hotel units, about 100,000 square feet of commercial space and 1,180 parking spaces.

All in all, it will be 3.8 million square feet of uses.

Phase one includes Towers One and Three. Tower One is planned to soar 62 stories and reach a height of 734 feet and will house the new Hyatt hotel and serviced apartments.

Tower Three will contain most of the residential units over its 87 stories that climb to 1,044 feet, making it one of the tallest buildings in South Florida.

Tower Two, scheduled to be built in the second phase, will have 52 stories and include one residential lobby and a leasing office.

After construction begins in 2025, the riverfront revival is expected to rise within five years, with the first two towers due by the end of 2028 and the third by the end of 2029.

The property is along the north bank of the Miami River in the heart of the urban core, fronting on Southeast Second Avenue and beside the Brickell Avenue Bridge.

Carlos Diaz, an attorney representing the developer, said the property provides a direct connection to the James L. Knight Center Metromover Station.

In a letter to the city Mr. Diaz wrote: “The project’s design is centered around a proposed New Riverfront for All which will consist of new and inviting public spaces along the Miami River including a new Riverwalk.

“The project complies with the Miami City Charter waterfront setback by providing a minimum 50-foot setback along the Miami River.

“The proposed Riverwalk will enhance the existing connection with the Miami River Greenway to the west and the connection underneath the Southeast Second Avenue/Brickell Avenue Bridge to the east.

“The proposed connections along the Miami River Greenway will allow cyclists and pedestrians to travel from the South Miami Avenue bridge all the way to Maurice Ferré Park along the Miami River and Biscayne Bay,” said Mr. Diaz.

He concluded, “The proposed uses will transform this underutilized and outdated property into a vibrant waterfront mixed-use complex that will create numerous employment and economic (opportunities).”

Attorney Iris Escarra, also representing the development team, told the review board that the Miami River Commission unanimously voted to recommend approval of the project.

Alejandro Gonzalez of Arquitectonica told the board that a goal of the project is to activate the waterfront by vastly improving public access.

He said the project will have grand steps to the waterfront and will help activate the riverwalk.

Mr. Gonzalez said, “Across the entirety of the podium we’ve lined that with commercial and active spaces.”

The project will have many shared spaces, he said, and a large amenity deck to serve all three towers.

Mr. Gonzalez also described the sky bridge as a unique feature in the upper levels of the towers and hosting a large commercial space.

Ms. Zapattini asked about some of the units that seem to have a very small balcony.

Mr. Gonzalez said the size and scale of the project gives it the impression of small balconies, but they are about 15 feet wide and 6 to 8 feet deep.

He said, “I think it’s a scale thing. You know, the tower is over 1,000 feet tall.”

Ms. Zapattini said, “I really like the podium when it’s higher up, when it’s a cleaner more oval shape … that looks much more elegant than the lower level where you’re kind of growing funny things, like there’s a section of the garage that comes out … It’s much more elegant as it goes up and it’s a clearer diagram.

“This could be a project that sets you apart and wins you many, many awards, but it’s missing that finesse that’s going to put you in the next level,” she said.

Ms. Zapattini added: “There’s a missing opportunity of that pool area that you have, it could be like the Marina Sky in Singapore.”

She concluded, “I think your project is very beautiful and it’s great, but if you just spend a little more time finessing the details it could be an award-winning project that could set you apart in Miami.”

Board member Robert Behar said, “I commend you guys for an incredible project. It’s going to be beautiful.”

Acting board chairman Dean Lewis said, “It’s a very important urban infill project. The mixed use is commendable, the integration, the massing.”