Edgewater Waterfront to Gain 53-Story Glass Tower
Key Takeaways
- •OKO Lilli Tower will bring 117 luxury residences across 53 stories to Edgewater.
- •The development includes nearly 350 linear feet of public baywalk along Biscayne Bay.
- •An eight-story garage structure will provide 244 parking spaces and ground-floor retail.
A luxury residential tower is moving forward in Edgewater after receiving a favorable recommendation from Miami's Urban Development Review Board, marking another significant addition to the neighborhood's waterfront skyline.
OKO Lilli Tower will rise 53 stories at 717 NE 27th Street on an inlet of Biscayne Bay. The project by 700 Edgewater Development LLC and 720 NE Street Propco LLC includes 117 luxury residences in the main tower, along with an eight-story garage structure at 527 NE 26th Street. The parking facility will contain 244 spaces and ground-floor retail, bringing commercial activity to the street level.
The development occupies two separate parcels totaling approximately 45,000 square feet. The garage parcel spans 17,503 square feet with three street frontages, positioned immediately west of the Missoni Baia condominium complex. The tower parcel covers 27,555 square feet with frontage on Northeast 27th Street and dual water frontages facing Biscayne Bay and the Biscayne Inlet, located directly east of The Crimson condominium building.
Attorney Carlos R. Lago, representing the developers, emphasized the project's contribution to public waterfront access. The development will deliver almost 350 linear feet of new publicly accessible baywalk designed according to Miami 21's Waterfront Design Standards. This addition will create a critical connection in the Biscayne Line, linking existing baywalk segments to the north and south for continuous pedestrian access along the bay.
The Urban Development Review Board recommended approval with conditions requiring developers to meet with neighboring property owners regarding concerns and add additional trees to the landscape plan.
Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and ODP Architecture and Design are leading the project's design. According to the architectural narrative, the tower takes inspiration from its coastal setting, conceived as a fluid sculptural form shaped by water, light and wind. The design aims to create an elegant residential environment centered on wellness and connection to nature.
Developers have requested several waivers to Miami 21 zoning code, including a 10 percent reduction to the minimum front setback for the podium along Northeast 27th Street from 10 feet to nine feet, and allowances for parking in the second layer above the second story along principal and secondary frontages for the garage parcel.
The project represents continued investment in Edgewater's transformation into a high-density residential corridor. The neighborhood has attracted numerous luxury residential developments in recent years, capitalizing on waterfront locations and proximity to downtown Miami and the Design District. By extending public baywalk access, the development addresses ongoing efforts to improve pedestrian connectivity and public enjoyment of the waterfront throughout Miami's urban core.
