North Bay Village Approves 7.3 Million Square Foot Development Project Featuring 1,936 Residential Units

October 14, 2022

Sunbeam Properties, the proprietor of WSVN Channel 7, has a 7.3 million square foot redevelopment plan that has officially been approved by the North Bay Village Council. The special area plan for a 12.9-acre site covering 1400, 1401, 1415, 1600, and 1601 79th Street Causeway, as well as 155 and 1624 North Bay Causeway, was approved by the Village Council on a 3-2 vote early on Wednesday.

A 300-room hotel, 1,936 residential units, 200,000 square feet of office space, 670,000 square feet of retail space, 117 units of workforce housing, and around 5,000 parking spots are all included in the development plan. Additionally, there would be 84,366 square feet of public space, including a half-mile pedestrian walkway known as the “island walk” that would be surrounded by restaurants and stores. A marina would also be a part of the project.

The project’s highest structure would be 650 feet tall. To lessen the number of shadows cast upon the smaller dwellings, the structures closer to single-family homes would be smaller. Buildings north of the project would be taller and would rise 240 feet in height south of the causeway.

The offices and studios of WSVN will eventually be relocated as part of the construction. WSVN and Sunbeam Properties are owned by the multibillionaire Ansin family.

The project’s first phase, according to Ansin, would be built south of the causeway and will have 500 to 600 apartments spread across two buildings, along with a restaurant, grocery store, and other retail space that may house an urgent care facility or a daycare. Sunbeam Properties must apply for building permits for the first phase within two years in accordance with its development agreement with the village. The first renters, according to Ansin, should move in within five years.

As the Ansin family celebrates the 60th anniversary of running WSVN in North Bay Village, CEO Andy Ansin admitted that this was an emotionally charged decision for him. He has visited that studio ever since he was a youngster.

Although Ansin said the initial concept wasn’t for redevelopment, Sunbeam Properties over time purchased surrounding lands. According to Ansin, the first purchase was made to stop a strip club from being built next door. It bought a nearby office complex so the TV station would have more parking.

Ansin discovered North Bay Village had potential after having experts from the University of Miami School of Architecture do research on future renovation. However, it necessitated moving the TV studio.

Ansin stated that he is still looking for a new studio for WSVN. He emphasized that it would require plenty of parking, hurricane-resistant construction, and backup power generation.

PlusUrbana, a firm based in Miami, is the project’s architect. Attorney Ian DeMello, who is headquartered in Miami, is the developer’s representative.