UDRB Approves 22-Story Live Local Act Tower From Midtown Capital Partners In Little River

By: Oscar Nunez 8:00 am on August 11, 2025

Miami’s Urban Development Review Board has approved a 22-story residential tower in Little River from an affiliate of Midtown Capital Partners, designed by Corwil Architects. The site is located at 7501 and 7553 NE 2nd Avenue, bounded by NE 76th Street to the north, NE 75th Street to the south, NE 2nd Avenue to the west, and NE 2 Court to the east. It sits two blocks south of NE 79th Street and within walking distance of several transit corridors. The building will rise roughly 235 feet and deliver 348 units, with 40 percent – equal to about 140 residences – reserved for workforce or affordable housing for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income under Florida’s Live Local Act.

The board voted unanimously, 4-0, to approve the proposal. The decision included three conditions intended to improve the design and pedestrian experience: upgraded exterior lighting to elevate the street-level environment, additional articulation on the south façade of the parking garage to reduce visual massing, and the replacement of palms with shade trees to increase canopy and comfort for pedestrians.

Credit: Corwil Architects.

The U-shaped tower benefits from height and density incentives granted under the Live Local Act, which allows developers to exceed standard zoning limits in exchange for a significant share of workforce housing. While the legislation permits buildings of up to 25 stories and densities exceeding 1,000 units per acre, the developer chose not to maximize the allowable height or density for this site.

Plans include 5,912 square feet of ground-floor retail fronting NE 2nd Avenue. The retail component will be paired with an expanded 28-foot sidewalk to encourage foot traffic and provide space for outdoor activity. Above the retail level, the project’s podium will contain eight floors of structured parking for 406 vehicles. This figure reflects a 30 percent parking reduction due to the site’s transit-oriented location, which offers improved access to nearby public transportation options.

Credit: Corwil Architects.

According to the design team, the tower is conceived as a confident, contemporary addition to Little River’s evolving urban fabric. Its massing steps down from the main volume to a podium base, creating a gradual transition from the pedestrian scale at street level to the full height of the structure. A grid of deep balconies will punctuate the façade, providing both shade and visual depth, while the exterior will feature a material palette of red-toned brick, concrete, and metal, drawing inspiration from South Florida’s industrial heritage and tropical environment.

The approval comes as Little River experiences a surge of redevelopment under the Live Local Act. Nearby, CEDARst Companies is breaking ground on a mixed-use Qualified Opportunity Zone project. SG Holdings is advancing plans for the $3 billion Little River District, a large-scale redevelopment expected to deliver more than 5,700 affordable and workforce housing units throughout Miami-Dade County.

Credit: Corwil Architects.

Once a primarily industrial corridor, Little River has drawn significant interest from developers. The combination of state policy incentives, improved transit access, and design oversight through the UDRB process is driving the neighborhood’s transformation from low-rise industrial uses to a walkable urban district with new high-rise housing, ground-floor retail, and improved public realm amenities.