Helm Equities has received approval from the Miami Urban Development Review Board for its Live Local Act project in the Miami Design District, despite concerns raised by some board members about the complexity of the building’s design.
The decision came during a meeting on Wednesday, where Helm’s proposal was passed with recommendations for certain design modifications. The project, designed by Cube 3, will feature a 36-story tower containing 278 residential units and an adjacent eight-story building with more than 101,000 square feet of office space and retail. The development is planned for a nearly two-acre site at 220 Northeast 43rd Street.
Of the total residential units, approximately 116 will be offered as workforce rentals while the remainder will be market-rate condominiums. This arrangement complies with Florida’s Live Local Act, which requires that at least 40 percent of units in such projects are reserved for households earning no more than 120 percent of the area median income. In return, developers are allowed to build larger projects or receive significant tax incentives.
Board member Gia Zapattini commented on the architectural plans: “There’s a lot going on in this project. There’s curves and arches. I understand you are trying to do something unique for the Design District and trying to do something cool,” she told the architect during the meeting. “It’s a very complicated little project.”
Zapattini also noted that combining workforce rentals and high-end condos increases development challenges. She encouraged Helm Equities and Cube 3 to simplify their approach: “This is a very tricky project to build.”
Other board members expressed support for the design. Ignacio Permuy stated that there were “a lot of things going on … that are very, very good,” while Francisco Perez-Azua described it as “a bit eclectic” but saw value in its uniqueness: “But I see the value in that and the interest of that. I think it’s a nice project,” Perez-Azua said.
The board ultimately approved Helm’s proposal with suggestions to adjust parts of the façade for variation and ensure renderings accurately reflect floor plans.
In addition to Helm Equities’ project, Namdar Group secured approval for its own Live Local Act development—a 42-story multifamily tower at 250 and 296 Southwest Seventh Street in Brickell—after discussion about local traffic congestion and parking garage design. Namdar Realty’s tower will provide 405 apartments at workforce rents designated for households earning up to 120 percent of area median income.
Crescent Heights also received positive feedback from board members regarding its second phase of Forma apartments in Edgewater. The new Arquitectonica-designed development includes a proposed 42-story building with 360 residential units alongside a six-story commercial structure featuring retail and office space at 200 Northeast 30th Street. This site sits just west of Crescent Heights’ previously completed Forma apartment tower.
According to representatives, Crescent Heights designed this latest tower as a companion piece or “sister project” to its existing property nearby.
