Bal Harbour Shops’ Ambitious Expansion Plan: A Blend of Luxury and Workforce Housing
Bal Harbour Shops, a renowned shopping center in Florida, is set to undergo a transformative expansion that promises to reshape the community's housing landscape. The owners of Bal Harbour Shops have filed an exciting proposal to build an expansion that includes 600 residential units, a move aimed at addressing the critical need for housing for various community members. This development has been made possible through Florida's new Live Local Act, which allows developers to bypass certain local zoning regulations in exchange for a commitment to create workforce housing.
The visionary behind this project, Matthew Whitman Lazenby, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Whitman Family Development, sees the expansion as an opportunity to diversify the area's housing market. Lazenby expressed, "By adding workforce and market-rate housing catering to service and hospitality workers, teachers, first responders, and other workers who are the backbone and lifeblood of our community and who are currently priced out of the market, Bal Harbour Shops will diversify the area's housing market so that people who work in this Village can actually live here."
The expansion will consist of two distinct types of residential units. First, 40% of the units will be dedicated to workforce housing, providing an attainable living option for essential members of the community. These units will offer comfortable and quality living spaces designed to cater to the needs of service industry workers, teachers, and first responders.
The remaining 60% of residential units will be luxurious, maintaining the premium design, finishes, and features that characterize Bal Harbour Shop's luxury brand. This blend of workforce and luxury housing creates a unique living environment that promotes inclusivity and diversity while maintaining a high standard of living.
Apart from residential units, the expansion plan includes a 70-room upscale hotel, adding to the allure of Bal Harbour as a destination for visitors and tourists. Additionally, 45,700 square feet of retail space will be integrated, providing residents and visitors with more shopping options.
The new towers are set to rise to approximately 275 feet, similar in height to the St. Regis Bal Harbour Resort across the street. The design places a strong emphasis on pedestrian access and street-level activations, ensuring that the development seamlessly integrates with the surrounding community. New entry points to the development will enhance accessibility and encourage community engagement.
Currently, Bal Harbour Shops is eagerly awaiting the issuance of a building permit. Once this milestone is reached, the first phase of the project will commence with the construction of an attainable housing tower on the property's southwest corner. Subsequently, the luxury housing and hotel will follow, further enhancing the community's housing and hospitality offerings.
