Foundation Work Continues At 40-Story Condo Tower

·44 Comments

Foundation work continues at downtown Miami’s 501 First tower, new photos show.

A groundbreaking ceremony for the 40-story took place in December 2022.

501 First will include 448 condos (said to be sold out).

The project will also include 3,198 square feet of retail, according to a 2021 utilities agreement.

A parking garage is not being built.

Aria Development Group and Aqarat are the developers.

(photos: Phillip Pessar)

 

 

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Anon
7 months ago

Nice glassy highrise with no garage! Love that downtown is transitioning to a more pedestrian friendly environment – from the multiple buildings with no podiums, to the multimillion dollar bike lane network, and the park-like sidewalks of Miami Worldcenter with trees and fountains, it will be a pleasure to walk around this part of Miami when all is said and done!

26
Nick
7 months ago

Agree 100%

14
Anonymous
7 months ago

worldcenter has done a superb job of landscaping the area…its really beautiful….and at night…..even nicer…

8
Anonymous
7 months ago

All the Brickell TIFF tax is doing a great job elevating Downtown with special projects, now do the same on the western front of Brickell? After all isn’t a lot of the funding coming from Brickell?

3
Anonymous
7 months ago

Let’s let Downtown and Edgewater shine some too. After all, they are part of Greater Downtown Miami, along with Brickell. We want to see a walkable, livable area all the way from southern Brickell to the design district and for that to come to fruition, we need to focus on all of the urban core, not just Brickell.

6
Anon
7 months ago

Just saying certain parts of Brickell should be treated equally. I want all of Miami east of I95 to be built up nicely and walkable too, even some parts west too like Riverside where it’s just getting started.

6
Bruno
7 months ago

What does the last “F” in TIFF stand for?

I always thought that tiff was an image file format.

-3
anonymous
7 months ago

One of my favorite projects – modern and clean in a high traffic location without parking is a perfect fit here

17
Downtown Vagabond
7 months ago

Unfortunately, it’s AirBnb which will fill the area of loud, drunken, obnoxious tourists along with all the other Airbnb towers going up.

-11
Anon
7 months ago

Only in the short term. As markets change I’d expect a lot of these buildings to transition into condos or rentals.

3
Anonymous
7 months ago

I don’t mind. It keeps the Airbnb folks out of my condo, where we can only rent seasonally. What a difference in the respectfulness of my neighbors!

5
Anonymous
7 months ago

Modern and clean, yet nice and curvy. I’m not part of “The Brickell Bunch” here, but more of this in West Brickell, please!

-6
Anonymous
7 months ago

You mean the western front of Brickell. This isn’t a separate neighborhood. Don’t call it that or you’ll get devalued construction, it’s closer to the core than some ultra luxury buildings and being undervalued by the City by this nomenclature, whether intentional or negligent.

11
Bruno
7 months ago

West Brickell has been called West Brickell historically.
People who’ve lived in the area for more than a few years know this.

-4
Brickell Homeowner
7 months ago

Bruno has good intentions but keeps spreading misinformation. Look at all the businesses and residences on the newly developing western front of Brickell that just say Brickell. Even hotels in this area on the DDA map are labeled as “Brickell.”

There are no historical buildings there. Even maps from the 1990s and 2000s when Brickell rose up from south of 15th show that this was a part of new metropolitan Brickell from inception.

People are now calling west of I95 “west” Brickell. Brickell is smaller than Palm Beach and even the wealthy there don’t try to call the neighboring close by blocks on the island “west” palm beach. They understand like the people of Brickell that this connotates it would be a separate neighborhood, Brickell is like an island bordered by natural and man made barrier. Where as “west” Brickell is part of little Havana, west of I95.

4
Bruce
7 months ago

There’s no historical references to “west” Brickell, just references to Brickell here. It’s a fairly recent bias and discriminatory naming convention, seems promoted by one or two elite interested persons. It hasn’t worked, and this area continues to grow in connection with Brickell and will only identify as Brickell even more.

3
Anonymous
7 months ago

Dozens, if not all, buildings in this part of Brickell, refer to just Brickell in the names and marketing. This area undisputedly identifies as Brickell. There is one commissioner that presided over little Havana who has been trying to call it “west” possibly either to stop Brickell’s rise from continuing further or to carve out a territory for political power, but it’s not working and never will.

5
Bruno
7 months ago

With many notable exceptions, including the building on SW 2nd Ave called West Brickell Tower.

-4
Brickell Homeowner
7 months ago

Those buildings that say “west” are funded by the local government, which is probably funded by developers and billionaire NIMBYS who own property in other parts of Brickell. Isn’t it obvious these discriminatory and saboteur references are not working and nobody is using them in the public? It just makes the County look out of touch and like obstructionists.

4
Brickell 2nd Avenue
7 months ago

Downvoted original comment, but I agree that we need more of this in the prime western front of Brickell.

9
East Brickell Resident
7 months ago

(East) Brickell is everything east of I95. I hear the name west Brickell used for west of I95. There are so many valuable lots to build ultra lux high rises at the Brickell gateway. Let’s finish what we started in Brickell.

9
Bruno
7 months ago

Should the building on SW 2nd Ave called West Brickell Tower, be required to change its name?
Should the Florida Legislator be forced to recognize West Brickell andxextend the boundaries drawn decades ago?

I still hold out hope that someone will get a clue…but its not looking likely.

-2
Brickell Homeowner
7 months ago

Yes Bruno! Now you’re speaking positively. West Brickell Tower is an Affordable Senior Living Community Most Affordable Senior Housing communities have some apartments reserved for people with lower incomes and some at market rates. The only buildings that say “WEST” are these types of part-public buildings. If a constitutional case were to be brought to courts it would be required to change its name.

I don’t think these buildings are dying for “west” to be added to the name. If that were the case all the private thriving business and residences would do it too… there’s clearly a reason the partially public funded buildings have this mandate. Change this policy please!

It’s not too late. Gallery at Brickell hasn’t put up permanent signs yet. Look at the new One Southside mega project saying it is in Brickell and will be a gateway for this part of Brickell.

4
Brickell Homeowner
7 months ago

When it comes to extending the DDA boundaries I am happy to make this case to the legislature on a volunteer basis.

As you said, the lines were drawn decades ago before Mary Brickell Village before all the ultra luxury high rises on Miami Ave and Brickell Ave. The legislature never would have thought the metro line would become the underline and a community center… the legislature looks at “tracks” like the rest of Florida (not above ground) but this is a completely different ecosystem in Brickell and the natural expansion is inevitable.

If anywhere in Miami and Florida should get an expansion it’s right here. If you look above it to the north in the wharf area that is in the DDA. Don’t we want to have a unified connection here along the river?

The way it’s setup it feels like a small part of the natural downtown ecosystem was just cutout and has to go through so many extra hoops for support and help. It keeps getting attention and development, because it’s clearly valuable but it’s really not fair how this was setup and it’s bound to change. If we had additional support this would be one of the nicest residential communities in Miami near the denser parts of Brickell. I’m happy to help too.

4
Central Brickell Club
7 months ago

Brickell Avenue to Second Avenue is not west Brickell. It’s very much Central Brickell, look at all the activity in the last several years. This newer Miami area is developing and growing quickly.

9
Anonymous
7 months ago

LOL, four or five of the same person downvoting and replying to my original post. Get a life.

-2
ParkingHater
7 months ago

Makes me worried if the mover overhaul is anything less than perfect the loop is gonna be soooo busy.

1
Anonymous
7 months ago

Wish it were taller but it’s at least beautiful!

14
anonymous
7 months ago

50 stories would definitely make more sense here…

6
anonymous
7 months ago

i like smaller projects aswell because it gives variety in skyline

9
Melo is sigma and Chad
7 months ago

With this, okan and Melos towers, this area will finally have foot traffic

10
Antennae
7 months ago

Buildings without a parking pedestal definitely look more urban and elegant. Way to go.

9
Anonymous
7 months ago

We need CitiBike to step it up and put more bike docks downtown and Brickel and definitely keep them filled with bikes. It’s impossible to get a bike now, imagine once all these new buildings are full

13
Anon
7 months ago

I’d love to bike along the river and then downtown and back to Brickell. it seems there are no safe and scenic bike paths in Brickell and Downtown… it’s one of the few things missing in Miami.

4
Anonymous
7 months ago

Can CitiBike plan a masterplanned bike path with scenic water views?! Ever since I left NyC I’ve been dying to have an urban/scenic bike experience. If I ever move back to NYC it’s for the bike paths…

6
anonymous
7 months ago

never understood why a building in prim location would have such small amounts of retail space

8
Anonymous
7 months ago

The retail around here sucks anyway. Subway and 7-Eleven? No thank you for an elegant tower. More like one space for a Milam’s or Dean & DeLuca.

-7
False
7 months ago

What are you talking about? Maple & Ash is opening up a block away – michelin star chefs have two restaurants opening up nearby, and the restaurant space at 1000 Museum was just purchased. Tons of shops and restaurants coming next.

6
Anonymous
7 months ago

Milam’s is an overpriced Publix (and that’s really saying something) and Dean and DeWho?

4
Anonymous
7 months ago

Go to Sedanos in Westchester and leave us alone.

-3
Anonymous
7 months ago

I go to Publix and Walmart. Tell your daddy I said to send you some more trust $$.

1
Bruno
7 months ago

Because the retail wouldn’t have parking.
(Be careful what you wish for).

0
Son of Putin
7 months ago

That area will be so walkable!

7
Brickell Design Review Board
7 months ago

Go downtown! Neighboring design review board of Brickell approves. Ready to build!

5