Claro Corp

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Eighteen

Client(s): Fininvest Realty Corp, City Center Properties, LLC
Project Type: Residential, Commercial
Services: Owner's Representative, Project Management

Project Description and Surrounding Context


The Property is approximately 0.78 acres located at the southwest corner of SW 8th Street and
South Miami Avenue, one of the City's most prominent and urban intersections in the rapidly
transforming Brickell neighborhood. The Property is currently improved with an under-utilized one (1)
story retail shopping plaza with surface parking abutting both SW 8th Street and South Miami Avenue.
Retail tenants currently occupying the Property include Burger King, La Sandwicherie, and Chandi
Liquors. While the shopping plaza is active and has served the area for many years, the buildings do not engage the pedestrian or respond to the evolving urban form under Miami 21.

The Property is one of the last remaining key redevelopment sites in the heart of what is quickly
becoming the most dynamic, diverse and pedestrian and transit-oriented neighborhoods in all of South
Florida. The Property is literally surrounded on all sides by new high-rise projects, which are either
currently under construction or recently completed, including: most notably to the north of SW 8th Street
the first SAP approved and developed in the City of Miami – Brickell City Centre, to the west ZOM's
Solitair, and Related's Brickell Heights and SLS Lux, to the south and east, respectively. One block
further south sits Mary Brickell Village. The Property is within a short block of the 8th Street metromover
station and within just 2 blocks of the Brickell Metromover Station, which handles a real metropolitan
volume of multi-modal traffic and is slated to expand even further as The Underline breaks ground in its
first phase over the next two years. In replacing the existing 1-story vehicular-dominated shopping plaza,
the Project reflects the energy of the surrounding area and is more fitting for a highly urbanized
downtown context, welcoming the pedestrian and transit user as well as those residents and shoppers
that might wish to use their cars.

The Project, a sleek and radiant mixed-use tower, will be an important addition to the heart
of Brickell –a project that when constructed will complete the 4 corners of the heart of Brickell and
signify the transformation of Brickell into Miami's most metropolitan and diverse neighborhood for
residents, workers, shoppers and visitors from all around the world.

The Project contains four (4) stories of retail space, which will provide further benefits to the
surrounding neighborhood. Retail space on the ground level will transform the Property from its currently
vehicular-centric condition and greatly improve the pedestrian realm by pushing the building façade to
the street frontages along SW 8th Street and South Miami Avenue, and creating a strong corner condition
but with appropriate and sensitive hardscape treatments to ensure that the pedestrian is comfortable
and welcomed to the site. Parking will be provided within the building and will be screened with an
artistic treatment which enhances the modern tower.

Claro was selected by the Owner to serve as the owner's representative and project manager within the entitlement phase of the project.  Grace lead the project to achieve The City of Miami's Urban Design and Review Board (MDRB) unanimous vote to recommend approval of a mixed-use development.