Revised plans have been submitted for a 464-foot-tall, 43-story residential tower rising above the historic First Church of Christ, Scientist at 1836 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood. The proposal, led by Arden Group and designed by Arquitectonica in collaboration with R.J. Heisenbottle Architects, calls for 406 residential units, commercial space, and a multilevel parking podium while preserving substantial portions of the existing church. The latest submission introduces modifications to previously approved plans and is scheduled for review by Miami’s Urban Design Review Board (UDRB).
The First Church of Christ, Scientist was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and received local historic designation from the City of Miami in late 2015. Initial redevelopment plans emerged in 2019, proposing a residential tower above the existing church structure. The property subsequently changed ownership in late 2021 through a $20 million transaction involving Fifteen Group. Revised approvals followed in 2022, incorporating 16 waivers, including 10 related to historic preservation and six concerning zoning regulations. According to correspondence submitted to the city by the project’s attorney, the latest application seeks targeted modifications to those approvals rather than an entirely new development authorization.
Designed by Arquitectonica and R.J. Heisenbottle Architects.
The current proposal calls for 406 residential units, an increase from the 390 residences contemplated under earlier plans. The residential component would comprise studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments, with one-bedroom layouts accounting for the largest share of the inventory. Residences would average approximately 917 square feet, with private balcony access incorporated throughout the tower.
The development would include several floors of residential amenities, including coworking spaces, a children’s playroom, fitness facilities, a clubroom and lounge, outdoor gathering areas, and a poolside grilling area. Additional recreational space is planned for the 43rd floor, where a rooftop swimming pool and deck would overlook the surrounding Edgewater neighborhood and Biscayne Bay.
Designed by Arquitectonica and R.J. Heisenbottle Architects.
Approximately 14,803 square feet of commercial space would occupy the first and second floors, incorporating the adaptive reuse of portions of the historic church interior. The development would also provide 480 parking spaces within a multilevel podium.
Architectural elevations prepared by Arquitectonica depict a contemporary tower rising 464 feet above ground level. The exterior features floor-to-ceiling glazing, continuous glass balcony railings, and stucco surfaces finished in shades of white, gray, and black. The tower’s massing incorporates projecting balcony slabs and vertically arranged facade elements, while the podium is characterized by metal screening and stucco cladding.
The latest revisions primarily address the relationship between the proposed tower and the historic church. Under the modified plans, the new construction would be set back nearly 70 feet from Biscayne Boulevard, increasing the visibility of the church’s southern facade. Under the 2022 approvals, the proposed tower would have largely obstructed views of this portion of the historic structure.
Previous design by Cube 3.
The ground-floor configuration has also been revised to introduce a pedestrian plaza along Biscayne Boulevard. Building infrastructure, service areas, and back-of-house functions would be relocated toward the interior of the development, allowing for a more open pedestrian frontage.
Changes to the proposed demolition scope would preserve additional portions of the historic structure. Demolition would be limited primarily to the existing roof structure and rear facade along NE 2nd Court. The eastern facade along Biscayne Boulevard and northern facade facing NE 19th Street would remain intact, along with a substantial portion of the southern facade previously approved for removal.
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It keeps getting uglier and uglier. How about designing something innovative (à la Hearst Tower) or similar to the church’s architecture?
I’m not very demanding when it comes to architecture but this is one of the ugliest high rises in the history of Miami, when they finish it I hope it doesn’t look as bad as it does in the renderings
Absolutely grotesque. If Miami could blow up the pantheon for an extra unimaginative, grey, stucco box, it would.
Yep!
So much for Historic Preservation. What a joke. Terrible on all accounts. Not many historical buildings in Miami and they may allow the new building to swallow up the old building totally taking it out of context. Hope this gets another redesign…