Two new residential towers planned under Florida’s Live Local Act have received preliminary approval from Miami’s Urban Development Review Board (UDRB). The projects, located in Wynwood Norte and Overtown, would bring nearly 800 new housing units to the city.
ABH Developer Group, led by Alexis Bogomolni, is behind the Wyn Park project. This development is designed by Modis Architects and will rise 36 stories with 293 apartments and a rooftop restaurant at several addresses along Northwest Second Avenue and nearby streets in Wynwood Norte. In Overtown, an entity linked to Alan Omsky—co-founder of the KYU restaurant—plans a 55-story tower with 498 units at Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest 12th Street. Kobi Karp is the architect for this building.
Both developers have set aside 40 percent of their apartments as affordable or workforce housing for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income, following requirements set by the Live Local Act. This translates to 117 such units at Wyn Park and 200 at the Overtown tower.
The UDRB reviewed both proposals on Wednesday. The board voted unanimously (3-0) in favor of Kobi Karp’s design for the Overtown tower after expressing support for its approach. “I really do appreciate the project. And you get an economy of gesture without overly pushing,” said board member Dean Lewis.
Karp highlighted that permanent exterior murals featuring portraits of local residents by artist Yana Volf will be part of the podium’s design. “We have an opportunity to bring the art of Overtown into Overtown,” he told board members, adding that some community members wanted a high-quality project that meets Live Local Act standards.
Board members approved this project with conditions: they asked architects to consider live art projections for murals, add sidewalk planters, and adjust entrance design features.
The Wyn Park proposal received less enthusiastic feedback but still passed with a 2-1 vote. Lewis criticized its architectural style: “I just can’t get on board with it as a successful articulation. … The attempts on the façade. The Lego-esque pieces,” he said. He also noted issues with how the podium relates to the tower and questioned how well it fits Miami’s diverse styles.
UDRB Chair Ligia Ines Labrada supported aspects of Modis’ work: “I really don’t mind how you weaved the podium with the tower,” she said, though she recommended changes to colors and materials.
Labrada and Manuel Gustavo Gallardo voted in favor, subject to several conditions including reconsidering rooftop design elements, extending ground-floor canopy coverage, and revisiting façade details.
While these approvals are recommendations only—the final decision rests with city planning officials—they reflect growing interest among developers in using incentives provided by Florida’s Live Local Act. Passed in 2023 and amended since then, this law allows larger projects if they include affordable or workforce housing units restricted for at least three decades.
Other recent Miami-area developments proposed under this legislation include Calta Group’s Anatomia project in Allapattah—a planned 30-story building with nearly 500 units—and Midtown Capital’s proposed Little River tower with more than 340 apartments. Spanish developer Pablo Castro and Laura Tauber of Taubco are planning what may become South Florida’s largest Live Local Act development: The HueHub would deliver over 4,000 units across seven towers in West Little River (https://therealdeal.com/miami/2024/06/10/biggest-live-local-project-in-south-florida-planned-for-west-little-river/).
