Bricka CB Development, a joint venture between Bricka Real Estate and CB Development, has proposed Rio Vista Apartments, a 10-story multifamily project near the Miami River. The development is planned for four parcels at 413, 421, 431, and 453 NW 3rd Street, on the northern edge of the Lummus Park Historic District, near the boundary of Overtown and Downtown Miami.
The development site, totaling approximately 45,513 square feet, includes the Rio Vista Parcels, which the applicant beneficially owns, and the Temple Court Parcels, which are currently under contract. It spans mid-block between NW 4th Avenue and NW North River Drive, just north of Lummus Park.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
Studio Mc+G Architecture is leading the design, which involves 140 residential units comprising a mix of studios, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and street-level townhomes. This falls below the 156 units permitted under the site’s T6-8-L zoning designation. The proposed height of 130 feet and 10 stories is also under the allowable 12-story limit with public benefits.
The property is located within the Urban Core Zone and is governed by the city’s “Restricted Commercial” land use designation. The applicant is seeking a Special Certificate of Appropriateness due to the project’s location within the Lummus Park Historic District.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
A central feature of the proposal is the preservation and restoration of the Frank Gallat House, a two-and-a-half-story masonry structure built in 1913. The building will remain in place and be incorporated into the southwest portion of the site. The proposal also accounts for the Temple Court Apartments, constructed between 1914 and 1918, which were destroyed in a fire in June 2024 and later demolished due to unsafe conditions.
The project’s massing has been carefully designed to complement the neighborhood context. Along NW 3rd Street, building heights step from two to three stories to align with nearby structures, including the Scottish Rite Temple to the west and the Gallat House. The tower component is set back more than 30 feet from the street frontage beginning at the third story, exceeding Miami 21’s required setbacks, which begin above the eighth floor. A similar 30-foot setback is implemented on the rear elevation to minimize the building’s perceived scale.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
A concealed parking garage will provide 160 spaces, with an additional 10 street-level spaces. The garage will be fully integrated and screened into the design, drawing inspiration from the neighborhood’s architectural language. Zoning waivers will be requested to reduce the on-site parking requirement.
The design incorporates a carefully selected palette of materials and architectural finishes that reflect the historic and natural context of the site. The façade features a combination of painted stucco, stone veneer, terracotta accents, and bronze window mullions. Vertical reveal system slats and garage screens will use baguette-style terracotta elements in a brown satin finish, while window systems include tinted grey laminated glass framed by Arcadia bronze-finished mullions.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
The stucco finishes include beige as the accent tone and white as the primary wall finish. Two types of coral stone veneer will be applied: one with a rough texture and another with a smooth finish, which will help create visual variation across the podium and tower elevations.
Ground-level paving will use polished ivory-colored pavers. Railings throughout the project will consist of an aluminum system with a wood-like finish, adding warmth and contrast to the overall design. The project’s fenestration follows a rhythm of vertically oriented windows and columns that draw inspiration from nearby historic buildings, including the Frank Gallat House and Scottish Rite Temple.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
Credit: Studio Mc+G Architecture.
The architectural language is further emphasized by horizontal banding that breaks up the building’s verticality and introduces a human scale to the street-facing volumes. This combination of textures, tones, and detailing seeks to bridge the neighborhood’s historic fabric with a contemporary architectural vision.
The landscaping strategy preserves specimen-sized Live Oak trees along NW 3rd Street and introduces new native species, including silver buttonwoods, orange Geigers, and Spanish stoppers. The landscape design prioritizes ecological performance and enhances the pedestrian experience throughthe use of shade and visual buffering.
The applicant affirms that the project complies with the Secretary of the Interior’s Standards for Rehabilitation, particularly Standard 9, which calls for new construction to be compatible in scale, massing, and materials while remaining distinct from the historic fabric. The design is intended to bridge past and present through a contemporary architectural expression that respects the district’s character.
The proposal will be reviewed by the City of Miami’s Urban Development Review Board today.
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Finally, a development in Miami that takes into account the historic context of a neighborhood, architecturally and from an urban design standpoint. Lummus Park was one of the city’s most beautiful neighborhoods prior to I-95’s construction in the 1950s and urban decay. More like this in Riverside/Little Havana and Shenandoah, please!
Yes, please. Hope these drawings are not just a fantasy. They may be too good to be true.