The timetable for the construction of a new retail complex in South Beach may be thrown off — by a Pilates studio.
Eleven months ago, the Miami Beach Design Review Board approved plans by a subsidiary of Crescent Heights, a company headed by developer Russell Galbut, to build a 203,711-square-foot, five-story retail complex and parking garage along Alton Road. Called 1212 Lincoln Road, the Perkins + Will project is designed to match the Herzog & de Meuron-designed 1111 Lincoln Road building and the Regal Cinemas across the street.
But before 1212 Lincoln Road can be built, the 75-year-old Wells Fargo building at 1200 Lincoln Road and a string of retail buildings between 1614 and 1624 Alton Road must be demolished. Crescent Heights originally planned to demolish the retail first and within 18 months of the board’s October 2014 approval.
So far, however, only a portion of the strip mall, located at 1620-1622 Alton Road, has been demolished. Taco Rico, a pizza shop, SoBeFit, Spiaggia Furniture, and a gun store are among the businesses still operating on the purportedly doomed block.
Crescent Height’s attorney, Graham Penn, said one tenant, is “very intent in remaining.” Because of this, Penn asked for and received a one-year extension from the design review board during its meeting on Tuesday. During that time, Penn said they will try to work around the tenant if a deal can’t be worked out.
Penn described the holdout as a Pilates and yoga studio. SoBeFit, which offers Pilates, yoga and “ballet bare fusion,” is located at 1618 Alton Road. Marilyne Neuchat, owner of SoBeFit, could not be reached for comment.
Crescent Heights may be communicating to SoBeFit, but Patricia Gonzalez told The Real Deal that the company has said nothing to her about the 1212 Lincoln Road project for months. Gonzalez has owned Spiaggia Furniture in South Beach since 1989. She’s operated at 1624 Alton Road since 2003.
“Last year they [Crescent Heights] said in January they would tell us something,” she said. “It’s now August.”