The owner of the Clevelander on Ocean Drive has officially submitted plans for an 18-story, 200-foot tower, according to the Herald.
A five-story annex building would be demolished. The facades of the Clevelander and Essex House hotels would be preserved.
A total of 137 residential units are planned, with residential condos at the Clevelander and 55 workforce housing units at the Essex House, along with a ground floor restaurant. No parking is planned to be built on the property.
Canada’s Jesta Group, which owns the property, had initially said last month it was planning a 30-story tower, before filing the plans for the shorter tower yesterday. Jesta claims it is permitted to build as tall as 52 stories, or 519 feet.
Kobi Karp is the architect.
The proposal is being submitted under a new state law called the Live Local Act, which aims to bring more affordable housing to Florida. The law removes certain local zoning restrictions if the developer builds 40% of units as income-restricted workforce housing.
Miami Beach politicians have come out in opposition to the proposal, and city officials are considering various ways to prevent this and similar future development projects, the report said.
