In December 2021, it was announced that a Miami Developer along with Driftwood Capital announced plans the rebuild The Wharf alongside the Miami River. Now, those plans have officially been submitted to Miami’s Urban Development Review Board.
The plans for this project include a hotel and an entertainment complex with retail, food, and beverage. The cost for the project is estimated at $185 million. The plans submitted include 174 hotel units operated by Dream Hotels and 91,733 square feet of commercial space.
A 16,000-square-foot restaurant, a 12,000-square-foot event hall, a 30,000-square-foot nightclub/rooftop day club, and 600 feet of river frontage are all planned for the 200,000-square-foot project. Garcia’s Fish Market may also set up shop on the property as a pop-up market. Its commercial fishing activity used to be located on the property.
The zoning requirements for this type of proposal would include 417 parking spaces but the developers are requesting a 50% reduction in parking by the entertainment and hotel spaces sharing parking. Once approved, the parking spaces will be offsite.
A part of the proposed development includes public used land, which will require a special election. That election is currently scheduled for August 23 and it will involve a potential lease of the public property to the developer.
The 1.5-acre Miami River property at 114 Southwest North River Drive will be developed by MV Real Estate Holdings and its partner, Coral Gables-based Driftwood Capital. Nitin Motwani, the managing partner of Merrimac Ventures and the developer of the Miami Worldcenter, is also a general partner in the project, according to Mantecon.
The Miami Urban Development Review Board is scheduled to review the development proposal on March 16, 2022.
The Hottest Art Basel Events Remaining
Art Basel Miami is here and we’ve seen some of the hottest exhibitions, art, and parties that have taken place in Miami. These included the Dior Medallion Chair Exhibition, the Chanel No. 5 Centenary Celebration, the Confidante x Museum of Graffiti Skatepark, and so much more! Art Basel isn’t just about a week-long of art exhibits, it’s about expression, creativity, and of course, fun! We have compiled the hottest events for the rest of the week!
Exhibitions:
Empowering the Creators of Culture- Nft now x Christie’s Present “The Gateway”
Immerse yourself in a journey of discovery at nft now x Christie’s Art Basel 2021 gallery, The Gateway, a celebration of the NFT community and its achievements. Just as creators have been reclaiming the financial systems, we’ve taken over a 23,000 square foot darkened floor at a Miami bank building, transforming it into a maze of rooms that encourages attendees to use their senses to explore the space that now features carefully curated pieces from trailblazing artists. When: Friday, December 3-Opened to the public but registration is required.
Playboy & BIGBUNNY Present A Night of the Surreal
Playboy, the legendary lifestyle brand, will present an extraordinary evening at Casa Tua to unveil their surrealist perspective on Miami Art Week in honor of BIG BUNNY. The event will include newly commissioned pieces by Nina McNeely, Maurice Harris, Miranda Makaroff, Filip Custic, and Maria Forqué, as well as a selection of surrealist work from Playboy’s library, as well as DJ sets by Mona Matsuoka, Mia Moretti, and Boys Noize. When: Friday, December 3
Pop Up Shows
Pimp Your Bag with Olivia Steele and Vee Collective
Olivia Steele, a modern visual artist, will be personalizing Vee Collective bags from 1 to 7 p.m. at Showfields Miami. Vee Collective bags are made from 100 percent recyclable materials and have simple aesthetics that are ideal for travel, sports, shopping, or leisure. Olivia Steele will provide free customization to guests who purchase a Vee Collective bag. When: Friday, December 3
Marea Pop-up at Osteria Morini
Altamarea Group’s Marea will be in Miami for two days exclusively during Art Basel. This dinner series, held on the patio of the Kimpton Hotel, which also houses Altamarea Group’s younger sibling restaurant, Osteria Morini, will offer some of Marea’s characteristic dishes, including the famed octopus fusilli. From Friday, December 3rd through Saturday, December 4th, guests can enjoy a four-course tasting menu with carefully chosen wine-pairing for $375 per person at the Marea pop-up. When: Friday, December 3rd and Saturday, December 4th, Reservations can be made here.
Parties
E11EVEN Miami’s Line-up
The party will continue over the weekend, with a performance by Migos on Friday, December 3rd, and a special act to be revealed on Saturday night. Carnage + Bia will close up the long weekend with a live concert on Sunday, December 5th. 11miami.com
A-Trak & Friends
Chromeo, Dillon Francis, Boys Noise, Roger Sanchez, Kito, and Jubilee are among the cast members. Friday, 9 p.m., at Oasis Wynwood, 2335 N. Miami Ave., Miami. RSVP at tixr.com for free admission.
Donavan’s Yard
Sango, Kitty Cash, and the Sound Club also appear. 1-800-Lucky, 143 NW 23rd St., Miami; 305-768-9826; 1800lucky.com, 9 p.m. Friday. RSVP at eventbrite.com for free admission.
Essential
Miguel Migs, Jay-J, Mark Brickman, Dan. K, and Julie McKnight also star. No. 3 Social, 50 NW 24th St., Miami; 305-748-4540; no3social.com, 7 p.m. Friday. Tickets range from $20 to $35 and may be purchased at eventbrite.com.
NADA Afterparty
10 p.m. Friday, at Center for Subtropical Affairs, 7145 NW First Ct., Miami; cstamiami.org.
Lizzo
Saturday, at 9 p.m., at the Miami Beach Edition, 2901 Collins Ave., Miami Beach; 786-257-4500; editionhotels.com. The in-person event is by invitation only; livestream tickets range from $9.99 to $262.99 and are available at live-now.com.
Art, Blues, & Soul Festival
3 p.m. Saturday at African Heritage Cultural Arts, 6161 NW 22nd Ave., Miami; 305-638-6771; ahcacmiami.org. With Chrisette Michelle, Glenn Jones, and Jon B. Tickets range from $35 to $85 and are available at eventbrite.com.
Michael Bibi B2B Loco Dice, Luciano, and Art Department
Saturday, 4 p.m., at Factory Town, 4800 NW 37th Ave., Miami. Tickets range from $15 to $150 and are available at eventbrite.com.
Rock the Bells: Yacht the Basel
Kasha Paige, Just Blaze, DJ Millie, DJ Steve, DJ Nyla Symone, and DJ C-Stylez join the cast. Saturday, 1 to 6 p.m., at the Seafari Mega Yacht, Chopin Plaza, Miami. RSVP at eventbrite.com for free admission.
Basel Is Lucky
Art Department, Cocodrills, Andrea 10seconds, and Nelson Diaz will perform at 4 p.m. Sunday at 1-800-Lucky, 143 NW 23rd St., Miami; 305-768-9826; Admission is free before midnight; tickets cost $20 at eventbrite.com.
Miki Beach
Philipp Jung, Seth Schwarz, Dude Skywalker, Nii Tei, Alex Cecil, Iman Rizky, Freak the Disco, and others appear in this film. ATV Records, 1306 N. Miami Ave., Miami; 305-456-5613; atvrecords.com, 6 p.m. Sunday. Tickets are $30 through ra.co.
The History of Brickell Miami
1920’s Point View of ‘Millionaire’s Row’
Over a hundred years ago, Brickell was a neighborhood of luxurious mansions and home to some of the wealthiest families, dubbing the name “Millionaire’s Row.” Located just south of downtown Miami, Brickell is lined with incredible towers, unique restaurants, marinas, and beaches; today Brickell is often referred as ‘Miami’s Manhattan’ as well as the ‘Financial District.’
Brickell’s Earliest Inhabitants
Evidence of Brickell’s earliest inhabitants include the Tequesta Indians, who are believed to have lived in South Florida for more that 2,500 years. The Miami Circle archeological site that is located at the Miami River to Biscayne Bay is the earliest evidence of the Tequesta settlement. According to the archeological site, a Tequesta hut once stood across the river from a burial mound. During construction of a hotel, the mound was destroyed but the circle still remains.
Will and Mary Brickell
The Brickell Family
Brickell was named after Will and Mary Brickell. They were one of the earliest families recorded to have established a home and a trading post in the Brickell neighborhood in 1871. They purchased large pieces of land and the trading post was located at what is now Fifth Street and Brickell Avenue. The family’s extensive real estate included all of the current Brickell and just south of Coconut Grove. When construction of the railroad reached Miami in 1896, the Brickell’s negotiated the extension of the railroad into Miami, creating a prime location for trade and development.
The Skyscraper Era
During the Great Depression, some homeowners in Brickell began to subdivide their homes, which took on the appearance of ‘rooming houses’ and, after World War II, additional changes of retail and institutional buildings appeared on Brickell Avenue. By the 1980s, the old Millionaire’s Row became the era of towers and skyscrapers and became a banking center headquarters. Atlantis on Brickell is a Miami landmark and was one of the very first towers built on Brickell. It is known for its glass façade and 5-story palm court cut out of the building.
Modern Day Brickell
Brickell has been on a developmental rise since the 1980’s. Present day Brickell is made up of massive residential towers, apartment buildings, offices, and hotels. Brickell is also home to international banks; HSBC, Espirito Santo Bank, and Banco Santander. Towers are getting larger and developments are moving further west towards I-95 to accommodate the growth.
At the heart of Brickell, two large, mixed-use developments ; Mary Brickell Village and Brickell City Centre are located. Mary Brickell Village includes 200,000 square feet of bars, shops, and restaurants. Toscana Divino, Blue Martini, Shake Shack, North Italia, and P.F. Chang’s are some of the notable tenants. Brickell City Centre, opened in November of 2016 spans over 9 acres and cost over $1 Billion. It includes 500,000 square feet of open-air retail featuring luxury brands such as Chopard and Valentino, a 5-star hotel called East Hotel, and 780 luxury condo residences in the Brickell City Centre Towers called Rise and Reach. Brickell City Centre also includes a high-end movie theater and an Italian food hall called Casa Tua Cucina.
It will be exciting to see what the next 20 years have in store for the Brickell neighborhood!
Great Moments in Miami Architecture, as Seen in Original Newsreels
Miami’s most iconic architectural landmarks and styles have stood the test of time, making their lasting aesthetic values and design excellence evident through the lens of history. It’s easier to judge a building’s importance with a few decades to think about it . Art Deco wasn’t always loved, but now it’s prized above almost everything else as some of the most innovative and imaginative stuff ever designed in Miami. The Mediterranean Revival Freedom Tower was almost knocked down too, and now it’s probably Downtown Miami’s most iconic landmark. A symbol of Miami.
So, what did we Miamians think of our architecture when it was new? Check out these old newsreels preserved in the Lynn & Louis Wolfson II Florida Moving Image Archives, at Miami Dade College and preserved on YouTube, and see for yourself.
