Housing Coming for Historic Miami Beach Site City Condemned

Legacy Real Estate Development and Urban American are seeking a density boost for their multifamily plans on a city-owned property in Miami Beach’s Collins Park neighborhood.

The developers’ business entity requested a zoning change to build 105 residential units while preserving portions of the historic Barclay building, which has sat empty for years. The project will also add 1,000 square feet of neighborhood retail.

The proposal is scheduled to go before the Miami Beach Planning Board on July 7 and requires approval from the Miami Beach City Commission to move forward.

Miami Beach commissioners selected Legacy Real Estate and Urban American in 2024 for a long-term ground lease to redevelop the property, at 1940 Park Avenue.

Melissa Berthier, a spokesperson for Miami Beach, said the developers will provide a one-time, non-refundable payment of $2 million and will cover all costs related to development, design, construction, operation and maintenance.

They are requesting a change from a medium-density multifamily designation to governmental uses. The changes would allow more density than the 100 dwelling units per acre that is allowed on the site. The proposed amendments would increase that limit to 150 units per acre, with bonus provisions allowing up to 180 units per acre. The development site spans 1.6 acres.

An attorney for the developers did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Legacy Real Estate and Urban American could not be reached for comment.

Brooks + Scarpa Architects is designing the project, which would rise six stories and encompass 78,700 square feet.

Besides residential and retail space, the project would restore the historic lobby, and add co-working and fitness areas and an 8,600-square-foot outdoor amenity deck with a pool.

The development would be heavily geared toward smaller apartments, plans show. Fifty-four units would be studios averaging 450 square feet, 39 would be one-bedroom apartments averaging 650 square feet, and 12 would be two-bedroom units averaging 926 square feet.

The developers plan to designate 15 percent of units for households earning up to 160 percent area median income, alongside seven affordable housing units for seniors, all maintained throughout the duration of the ground lease, Berthier said.

The application emphasizes the need for additional housing inventory in Miami Beach, where the average studio rents for $1,800 a month.

In 2014, the Barclay Plaza Apartments were condemned by the city, which purchased the property a year later. The city paid the Miami Beach Community Development Corporation $5.4 million for the former affordable housing building. Since then, it has remained vacant.