Two Luxury Towers Advance After Miami Design Review

Two high-profile luxury condominium projects have cleared a significant hurdle in Miami's development approval process, with the Urban Development Review Board voting to advance both proposals this week.

Vlad Doronin's OKO Group won approval for OKO Lilli Tower, a 53-story building containing 117 units on a half-acre waterfront site at 717 Northeast 27th Street in Edgewater. The project includes a 350-foot public baywalk along Biscayne Bay and an eight-story parking garage with ground-floor retail and 244 spaces located one block south at 527 Northeast 26th Street.

Separately, Arnaud Karsenti's 13th Floor Investments received a favorable recommendation for 619 Brickell by Nobu, a 75-story tower with 321 residential units on nearly two acres at 619 Brickell Avenue. The development will occupy the parking lot and school property of First Miami Presbyterian Church while preserving the historic church building itself.

The design review board's approval serves as a recommendation to the city's planning and zoning director, who holds final authority over both projects. Adrian Smith + Gordon Gill Architecture and ODP Architecture designed the Lilli Tower, which will feature units ranging from one to five bedrooms, all accessible via private elevator. Amenities including the spa, lounge, and pool deck will carry Doronin's Aman brand.

Lilli represents the second phase of OKO's four-part development strategy in Edgewater. The firm completed the first phase, the 60-story, 249-unit Missoni Baia at 777 Northeast 26th Terrace, in 2024 alongside London-based partner Cain after experiencing construction delays. Plans for the third and fourth phases remain undisclosed.

The approval package for Lilli includes multiple zoning waivers, notably reducing the podium setback to nine feet from the standard 10-foot requirement due to the site's narrow 81-foot depth along Northeast 27th Street. Additional waivers permit pedestrian entrances at wider spacing than typical regulations allow.

Architect Juan Betancur of Adrian Smith explained that the building's center is shifted slightly southward to enable wraparound unit floor plans, ensuring every residence captures views of Biscayne Bay from both eastern and northern exposures. The tower will feature warm champagne and metal tones in what Betancur described as a minimal, clean aesthetic.

While most board members praised both projects, architect Manuel Gallardo cast the sole dissenting vote on the Lilli proposal. He criticized the parking garage design and called portions of the tower cold and lacking creativity, though his objections did not prevent the project from advancing.

Both developments underscore Miami's continued appetite for ultra-luxury residential inventory, particularly in the Edgewater and Brickell neighborhoods where waterfront and branded properties command premium pricing.