Demolition Underway At Brickell’s Starlite Motel, Where Chicago Company Plans 300 Apartments

Demolition began this morning at Brickell’s Starlite Motel, new photos by Phillip Pessar show.

In November 2022, Chicago-based Focus paid $28 million for the property.

A demolition permit was issued the same month.

Focus is planning 300 apartments on the property. It isn’t clear if plans have been filed yet with planners.

The Starlite Motel had 60 units, according to property records.

 

(photos: Phillip Pessar)

 

 

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Anonymous
9 months ago

Saw bricks flying last weekend…beautiful seeing such an ugly roach motel get smashed

Love This for Miami
9 months ago

Keep up the good work! There are at least a dozen more like this in Brickell east of I95 that have cracks in the walls and could crumble before a developer can even demolish them for the next “hot” retail/residential/residential spot.

Anonymous
9 months ago

Brickell east of I-95 IS Brickell. West of I-95 is NOT Brickell, rather Riverside and Southside (“East Little Havana”), and further west is Conch Hill and Riverview.

Zz01
9 months ago

I think they mean immediately east of I-95. A description like that give you a better indication of the specific spot within Brickell they are referring to. IE Brickell along S Miami Ave gives you a better idea than just saying Brickell. Not every post needs a “West Brickell v Brickell” nomenclature argument.

Aurelius
9 months ago

The split between West/East Brickell is the Metrorail not I95

Miami Dearest
9 months ago

comment image

Melo is sigma and Chad
9 months ago

Hope they get the construction permits and start soon.

Anonymous
9 months ago

this was the last motel of a red light district that would go from I-95 to the Metrorail tracks and from sw 7th st to the Miami river

Anonymous
9 months ago

Wild! Would be curious to learn more about it – could inspire a cool nightclub!

Anonymous
9 months ago

This would be the perfect spot for a gay nightclub with a skosh of upscale adult entertainment.

Anonymous
9 months ago

Why don’t you go live in Alabama?

Miami gays don’t want to be segregated. Nobody wants to be told where to live or outcasted. Plus Miami gays bring designer style, value and vibrant energy to Brickell.

We’re already one of every few people you see and dancing in straight bars together, so a gay bar or hangout would be a great add on.

It could be in the western side of Brickell which could use a little more energy and style.

Anonymous
9 months ago

Don’t tell the Governor.

Anonymous
9 months ago

He’s invited but I want him to take his shirt off if he agrees. He’s a stud. Don’t worry everyone is over the age of 18, so he can’t complain.

Brickell Newcomer
9 months ago

No way!? This is such a cool story. I thought this was just the quieter residential part of Brickell. Love hearing about Brickell’s gritty past. It’s like the “Meatpacking District” or “Hells Kitchen” in Manhattan!

Anonymous
9 months ago

A newcomer you sure are. Brickell had a past of being an upscale residential community of single family houses followed by upscale condos and class A office space. Not much Grit to be found in its past.

Anonymous
9 months ago

What about the red light district? Brickell should highlight interesting stories like this that make it more dynamic and exciting.

The mansions were in southern Brickell, which is hardly even a part of metropolitan Brickell. The city won’t allow retail or restaurants in southern Brickell. Gosh forbid a dog barked there. The mansions were there and the mentality of those wealthy owners likely lingers on in the condos along the bay to Rickenbacker.

The demolished motel is in a much more vibrant part Brickell being redone. If only those walls could talk!

Anonymous
9 months ago

Brickell is and was a lot more than just a handful of seedy hotels on its outer edge. You’d get a lot more of your seedy hotel fill looking around Federal Highway in Hollywood.

Anon
9 months ago

No thanks. The backstory is only cool in Brickell because it’s so upscale and hip now here. It’s like Meatpacking, it wasn’t cool until it was cool.

Response to another knowitall newbie
9 months ago

Brickell overall has been upscale for DECADES newbie 🤡 Finding 3 old hotel pics in barely even Brickell’s outskirts doesn’t change that. I’ve been visiting Brickell prob. since your FATHER was popping his teen zits.

Anonymous
9 months ago

I bet these “old hotels” were the playgrounds for the men and maybe women in the mansions next door. Don’t need to be embarrassed – it’s an interesting backstory.

Anonymous
9 months ago

The bygone mansions are better than any Tamiami Trail motels, and exemplified Miami, and South Florida in general, as the playground for the rich. I wish some would have been preserved and integrated into condo towers as upscale restaurants or social clubs. Instead, we got a crushing one in Edgewater.

Aurelius
9 months ago

The city has nothing to do with retail/restaurants in southern Brickell. The zoning code is mixed use and allows all of those options. It’s hard to add it there currently due to the lower foot traffic.

Casey
9 months ago

End of an era

Anonymous
9 months ago

Good riddance

ElBravo
9 months ago

If those bricks could talk !

anon
9 months ago

rental or condo building?

Anonymous
9 months ago

Enough apartments! Let’s focus on condos again.

More Boutique Condos in Brickell
9 months ago

The western front of Brickell would be well off with more condos.

The ones that developed there cost as much as the bayfront ones in Edgewater. The luxury 24-floor boutiques have very little competition in Brickell. Make sure Brickell stays luxurious by promoting more condos on all fronts of Brickell!

Highlight the water and city views that you get here, the easy access to Underline, steps from BCC and Mary Brickell Village, few blocks from the phenomenal new River District in Brickell, the elevated infrastructure adds a security barrier that eliminates traffic going through, but provides easy access to all of Miami!

Downtowner
9 months ago

If walls could talk…

Anonymous
9 months ago

Tear that ugly turd down

Annie
9 months ago

Isn’t this the “world renowned” Burger King?

Anonymous
9 months ago

they should name the building Starlight

Unanimous
9 months ago

During excavations I hope they find my virginity and self pride. I lost them there.