Edgewater Development Plans 1,030 Apartments in Dual Towers
Key Takeaways
- •NEMA will bring 1,030 residential units in two towers to Edgewater.
- •Crescent Heights will reserve 412 units at 120% AMI for 30 years.
- •The project includes 932 parking spaces and 105,011 square feet of commercial space.
A major residential development is taking shape in Miami's Edgewater neighborhood, where Crescent Heights plans to construct two towers containing 1,030 apartment units on a full city block.
The NEMA project will feature a 49-story eastern tower and a 21-story western tower, both positioned along Northeast 32nd Street. The development sits on property bounded by Biscayne Boulevard to the east and Northeast Second Avenue to the west, spanning from the former Northeast 31st Street to Northeast 32nd Street.
Crescent Heights intends to utilize Florida's Live Local Act to secure additional height and density beyond standard zoning limits. The state legislation requires qualifying projects to reserve at least 40% of units for residents earning up to 120% of Area Median Income for a 30-year period. According to attorney Ethan B. Wasserman, representing the development team, the project will designate a minimum of 412 rental units as affordable housing at the 120% AMI threshold.
The development will include a parking structure accommodating 932 vehicles, topped with commercial space totaling 105,011 square feet. The project maintains residential use at 65% or more by square footage, with ground floor active uses planned along all street frontages.
Miami's Urban Development Review Board unanimously recommended approval of the site plan, prepared by RSP Architects, though the board attached two conditions. The panel requested that developers refine the parking podium design to reduce its garage-like appearance through enhanced architectural detailing and perforations. Additionally, the board mandated that shade trees be planted along Biscayne Boulevard, specifically prohibiting artificial trees or plants.
The developer has sought several waivers from Miami 21 zoning code provisions. These include reduced parking requirements given the project's proximity to public transit, permission for extended parking along secondary frontages with appropriate architectural treatments, allowance for single floor levels exceeding 14 feet to count as one story, and a 10% reduction in tower setback along Northeast 32nd Street. The project also proposes nine on-street parking spaces.
The Edgewater location positions residents near employment centers, dining, entertainment venues and retail establishments throughout the neighborhood. The development adds to the ongoing transformation of the Biscayne Boulevard corridor, which continues attracting significant residential investment as developers respond to strong demand for urban housing in Miami's core neighborhoods.
