Plans have been submitted for a major residential development by Related Group and Macklowe Properties in North Bay Village. The proposal encompasses the properties at 7946, 8000, 8010, and 8020 East Drive and calls for the construction of two 43-story towers designed by Arquitectonica. The project is scheduled for review by the North Bay Village Planning and Zoning Board on July 2, 2025, and is being evaluated under the Special Area Plan (SAP) process, which allows for zoning flexibility in exchange for significant public benefits and a unified site plan.
The 4.12-acre site is currently zoned RM-70 and is proposed for redevelopment into a fully residential community comprising 364 apartments. The northern tower is expected to house 201 units, while the eastern tower would contain 163. Residences will be offered in one-, two-, three-, and four-bedroom layouts, with all units averaging 2,138 square feet. The unit mix includes 3 one-bedroom units, 161 two-bedroom units, 76 three-bedroom units, and 124 four-bedroom units. The development will also include 798 parking spaces, or approximately 2.19 spaces per unit, an allocation the developers note is appropriate and consistent with similar residential projects.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
Both towers are planned to rise nearly 498 feet to the top floor, with rooftop mechanical structures extending the total architectural height to well over 500 feet. These figures align with FAA filings reported by YIMBY in May, which indicated that permits were filed for two 523-foot-tall structures. The SAP allows for this height increase, and the development team’s decision to consolidate massing into two taller structures, rather than three shorter ones, was based on preserving view corridors and optimizing open space. This approach has received support from city staff.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
Building elevations and sections depict a consistent tower forms situated atop a larger building base or pedestal. This podium structure accommodates shared parking and amenity levels while visually grounding the towers within the broader site context. Architecturally, the towers will feature a refined and contemporary expression, characterized by curved floor plates and continuous balconies. The façade design utilizes a curtainwall system of reflective or tinted glass, accentuated by white stucco bands and metal bullnoses, grey slabs, and wood-grain steel underlays beneath balcony overhangs. Frameless glass railings preserve clean sightlines, while vertical aluminum poles and dark gray metal mesh frame the base of the building. The ground plane will be activated with concrete pavers, tropical plantings, and integrated public seating areas. The material palette emphasizes lightness, texture, and coastal durability, contributing to a clean, modern identity along Biscayne Bay.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
The towers together account for over 1.5 million gross square feet of total development. The North Tower contains approximately 677,767 square feet, and the East Tower spans 504,433 square feet. Additionally, the parking and podium structure covers an area of 356,716 square feet. Residential levels maintain a consistent floor plate of 27,754 square feet, with slight variations at the lower levels due to lobby and mechanical configurations. Levels 1 through 5 are programmed with a mix of residential, amenity, and structured parking space, with a mezzanine level and multiple outdoor amenity decks layered above.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
The project delivers substantial public benefits. A new 9,000-square-foot public waterfront park will be created, and 1,266 linear feet of Island Walk will be constructed along the eastern shoreline of the site, enhancing pedestrian access. These improvements fulfill and exceed SAP’s requirement that 5 percent of the site area be reserved for public open space. Public art installations are also anticipated throughout the project’s landscaped areas and circulation zones.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
Infrastructure improvements are a central part of the proposal. The development team has committed $5 million to repair the existing seawall and has agreed to cover the costs related to utility upgrades for the water and sewer systems, thereby reducing the financial burden on the Village. A traffic impact analysis found that the project would result in only a 1.5 percent increase in trips along East Drive, equal to 49 vehicles during the AM peak hour and 60 during the PM peak hour, resulting in a minimal 0.6-second delay. A sun study confirmed that due to the site’s location at the tip of the island, the majority of building shadows would fall over Biscayne Bay rather than neighboring structures. The development also replaces long-condemned and hazardous structures with new, safe, code-compliant construction supported by augered, cast-in-place piles and ground-bearing slabs.
8000 East Drive. Credit: Arquitectonica.
Residents will have access to over 100,000 square feet of amenity space distributed across both towers’ ground floors, the podium deck, and level-five terraces. The development will also include a 42-slip private marina along the shoreline, complete with a dockmaster facility.
The project is expected to generate significant economic benefits for North Bay Village. Developers have already paid $10 million for Transfer of Development Rights (TDRs), which helped fund the construction of the new Village Hall. An additional $2 million will be contributed as a height-related fee. The project is projected to generate $3.2 million in impact fees and $3 million in building permit fees, totaling $18.2 million in municipal contributions—doubling the Village’s current net assets. Over the long term, the Harbor Island Development Project is expected to generate $110.6 million in property tax revenue over 20 years, contributing between $4 and $7 million annually. This equates to a 47 percent increase in property tax revenue from this site alone and an 11 percent increase in the city’s overall yearly revenue.
City staff have issued a recommendation for approval, contingent on the resolution of several minor planning and design items. Should the Planning and Zoning Board vote to advance the application and the Village Commission grant final approval, the development team will be required to obtain a master building permit within two years. The approval allows for up to two additional one-year extensions. If a permit is not secured within that timeframe, the development order would lapse.
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Wow… Massive towers. I guess they’re preparing to meet increased demand as NYC considers electing a communist mayor.