Two residential projects in Miami have received preliminary approval from the city’s Urban Development Review Board (UDRB), advancing plans to add nearly 800 new apartments under Florida’s Live Local Act. The developments are set for Wynwood Norte and Overtown, with a focus on providing workforce housing.
ABH Developer Group, led by Alexis Bogomolni, is planning a 36-story tower called Wyn Park at multiple addresses on Northwest Second Avenue and nearby streets in Wynwood Norte. The building, designed by Modis Architects, will feature 293 units and a rooftop restaurant. In Overtown, an entity connected to Alan Omsky, co-founder of the KYU restaurant, is behind a 55-story, 498-unit tower at several locations on Northwest Second Avenue and Northwest 12th Street. This project is being designed by Kobi Karp.
Both developers will reserve 40 percent of their apartments—117 units at Wyn Park and 200 units at the Overtown tower—for households earning up to 120 percent of the area median income. This aligns with requirements under the Live Local Act, a state law that allows larger developments if they include affordable and workforce housing and keep those units income-restricted for at least 30 years.
The UDRB approved both projects at its recent meeting, though the board’s vote is only a recommendation. Final approval will come from the city’s planning and zoning department.
The Overtown project received a 3-0 vote of support from board members, who praised Kobi Karp’s design. “I really do appreciate the project. And you get an economy of gesture without overly pushing,” said board member Dean Lewis. The tower will feature permanent exterior murals of local residents by artist Yana Volf. During the meeting, Karp stated, “We have an opportunity to bring the art of Overtown into Overtown,” adding that the building would be of condominium quality. “Some people said to me, ‘We would like to have a quality project in the community that is within the Live Local [Act].’”
The board imposed some conditions on the Overtown project’s approval, such as exploring live art projections for murals, adding sidewalk planters, and enhancing the main entrance design.
Wyn Park’s design met a more mixed reception from the board and was approved with a 2-1 vote and several conditions regarding its rooftop design and façade materials. Board member Dean Lewis criticized aspects of its appearance: “I just can’t get on board with it as a successful articulation. … The attempts on the façade. The Lego-esque pieces,” he said. “The podium and the tower are trying to be related, but at the same time, I just don’t see that fluidity in the dialogue. I see you knitting but I don’t see you weaving.” He also noted a lack of visible signage for the rooftop restaurant and questioned how the building fits within Miami’s diverse architectural styles.
UDRB Chair Ligia Ines Labrada offered a different perspective: “I really don’t mind how you weaved the podium with the tower,” she said, suggesting adjustments to color choices and other elements. Labrada and board member Manuel Gustavo Gallardo voted to approve Wyn Park with several conditions.
The Live Local Act has led to a surge of proposals across Miami as developers take advantage of incentives for including affordable units in their projects. In recent months, similar projects have been approved or proposed in neighborhoods like Allapattah and Little River. The largest planned Live Local Act development is The HueHub in West Little River, which would add more than 4,000 units across seven towers.
