MIAMI | 500 Alton | 50 fl |

[chris08876]

Tuesday, March 18, 2014

500-600-700 Alton/SoBe Park/The Wave/the land of endless megaproject proposals by Crescent Heights and its king/the head if the company Russell Galbut, has had plans for yet another megaproject unveiled today. Presenting the latest design, by Perkins + Will, which will include a 50-story tower, a park, and a lake. Yes, apparently what South Beach needs is a lake.

Details are coming to light today, as Galbut gives presentations at the Related Group's South Beach sales center (apparently the Related Companies, and perhaps the Related Group too, are involved) but so far we know that the lake has something to do with counteracting South Beach's flooding, and the tower gives South Beach an entrance feature that's a whole lot classier than a dirt lot, abandoned hospital, and the hideousness that is 5th & Alton, which is basically the entrance we have now.

Two more presentations are scheduled for today, at 4 and 6 pm at Related's South Beach sales center at 6th & Collins. If you can go, do check it out.

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http://miami.curbed.com/archives/201...tower-lake.php

[brickell]

The latest in a long line of stuff proposed for this site. I give it a 1 in 4 chance.

[MiamiSpartan]

The area isn't zoned for a building of that size....The mayor sounds like he will not sign off on this proposal...

[Dale]

It's too good for South Beach. Let them build in Sunny Isles.

[chris08876]

500 Alton's Fate Could Depend on Public Referendum

The super developers behind 500 Alton, an ambitious development plan that focuses on what would become Miami Beach's tallest building, knew their plan didn't meet city codes. But, hey, it's only local government and they're super developers. There's ways of getting around those things, but it's quite possible things could get a lot tougher for those developers. The plans could go to a public referendum.

Related and Crescent Heights's plans for 500 Alton call for a 50-story residential tower with units starting at $2 million. The problem? The current height limit for the area are set at just 75 feet and seven total stories.

They could get around that with a vote from a supermajority of the city commission and approval form the design and planning boards.

However, things could get a bit more complicated. The parcel of land they've assembled, which stretches from 500 to 700 Alton Road, could be considered one separate parcel or three separate parcels depending on the interoperation of city laws. To build that 50-story building they'd need to pool together the development rights from all three plots of lands.

According to the Miami Herald, City Attorney Jose Smith thinks that because those three separate lots are separated by public roads they can't be considered a single parcel. So it would not be legal to pool all three lots' development rights together.

Thanks to the Save Miami Beach campaign of the '90s, changing such rules require a city-wide referendum.

Basically, the civic history of Miami Beach is scattered with several laws and referendums that prevents (or at least makes it really, really hard for) developers from building giant-ass condo buildings wherever they please.

Even if that referendum passed, the developers would still need to get past the city commission and two boards.

Though, the Herald points out that to get around that law the city of Miami Beach could just hand over the two public roads to the developers. We're sure that would go over well with local activists.

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By Kyle Munzenrieder Tue., Apr. 1 2014
http://blogs.miaminewtimes.com/ripti...d_depend_o.php

[bobdreamz]

I seriously doubt this will ever get built at that height on Miami Beach.

[chris08876]

Developer to hold off on plans for 50-story tower on Miami Beach

A proposal to build what could be Miami Beach’s tallest building has been put on hold.

Developer Russell Galbut said he is reconsidering the 50-story tower he recently proposed for Alton Road north of Fifth Street, in light of the city’s intention to create a master plan for the area.

In a recent email to a South Beach homeowner’s group, Galbut wrote: "Due to the possibility of Alton Road being master planned in the near future, we have decided to follow this process before we make a final decision on whether to develop the site in accordance with our existing entitlements, pursuing the presently advertised project, coming back with a modified version, or perhaps building nothing at all at this time.”

He confirmed his intentions in an email to the Miami Herald on Thursday.

Only weeks ago, Galbut, in partnership with Related Group, had proposed the tower at the foot of the MacArthur Causeway, a main entrance to the city. The site, which spans the 500 - 700 blocks of Alton Road, now houses a dilapidated old hospital and parking garage. Residents say the area needs improvement since it’s the first thing many visitors see when entering Miami Beach.

Galbut had proposed building condos starting at $2 million, a six-story waterfall and a three-acre public park. He unveiled the proposal with dazzling renderings and a massive model at a series of public meetings — but without much prior consultation with City Hall, officials there have said.

The proposal quickly met backlash from the city’s new mayor, Philip Levine. On Thursday, Levine said the proposal was “completely out of whack with our zoning, as well as, I believe, not in the best interest of the residents.”

The maximum building height allowed where the tower was proposed is only 75 feet. And a recent opinion by the city attorney determined that a public referendum would be needed in order for Galbut to build his tower, or the city would have to agree to give up at least one public street that divides the development site.

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BY CHRISTINA VEIGA
04.10.14
http://www.miamiherald.com/2014/04/1...#storylink=cpy

[Perklol]

I guess it's time to put this thread into the never built/visionary archive until the master plan is unveiled.

[chris08876]

HIGHRISE CANCELED

BUT.... something may still go here which is way shorter.
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Russell Galbut scraps proposal for 50-story South Beach tower

Developer Russell Galbut is giving up on his plan to build a 50-story condo tower and adjacent three-acre public park at the entrance to South Beach, after Miami Beach’s mayor refused to entertain alternative proposals for a slightly shorter tower, The Real Deal has learned.

Galbut, the managing principal of Crescent Heights, told TRD on Wednesday that he is moving forward “immediately” on an already-entitled project in the 600 block of Alton Road, with 445 rental apartments and 60,000 square feet of commercial space. As for the 500 block, where he proposed co-developing the tallest tower in South Beach with Related Group, Galbut said he is now considering a “more subdued park” and “smaller tower.”

Jorge Perez, Related’s president and CEO, told TRD the proposed 50-story tower with 180 units could fetch prices averaging $1,200 per square foot, with penthouses garnering as much as $2,000 per square foot. The Alton Road site is the largest piece of land available for residential development in South Beach, according to Perez.

“It is one of the few sites left with spectacular waterfront views,” Perez said. Related Group is not interested in co-developing Crescent Heights’ entitled rental project.

Galbut decided to abandon plans for the 50-story tower after Mayor Philip Levine blocked his proposal and declined to consider shorter alternatives. Levine told Galbut the project was incompatible with city zoning regulations, including height restrictions that allow only a seven-story building of up to 75 feet.

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July 17, 2014
http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20...h-condo-tower/

[aquablue]

Originally Posted by chris08876

HIGHRISE CANCELED

BUT.... something may still go here which is way shorter.
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Russell Galbut scraps proposal for 50-story South Beach tower


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July 17, 2014
http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/20...h-condo-tower/

You need a new mayor or government in Miami Beach. That's why Sunny Isle beach is taking over in the interesting architecture department. Way too conservative in South Beach.

[KevinFromTexas]

Well, shucks. I was going to say Miami is really stepping up its game with new proposals, though as indicated this is South Beach. That was a really nice tower. Too bad.

[chris08876]

Originally Posted by aquablue

You need a new mayor or government in Miami Beach. That's why Sunny Isle beach is taking over in the interesting architecture department. Way too conservative in South Beach.

I have a feeling I will be posting canceled as well for Skyrise. The referendum is in August and the project depends on it. Hopefully the voters will be for it. I'd be a shame to see a supertall go bye-bye.