The Sunny Isles Beach City Commission has approved plans for a 62-story condominium tower at 19051 Collins Avenue, proposed by Related Group, Dezer Development, and BH Group. The decision was made despite objections from nearby residents and some disagreement among commissioners.
The development site, which covers two acres, is located just north of the Residences by Armani/Casa, another luxury project co-developed by Related and Dezer. The new tower will have 145 units. This proposal follows the developers’ $131.8 million buyout of the previous Miami Beach Club complex on the property.
Residents raised concerns about safety and possible impacts on the structural integrity of surrounding buildings. In response, the developers agreed to monitor vibrations and subsidence during construction and for one year after completion.
The city also decided to sell development rights for more than $26 million, assigning them to this site. This transfer allows an additional 121,000 square feet of floor area ratio but does not increase the number of planned units beyond what zoning allows.
After a late meeting on Thursday night, commissioners Alex Lama, Fabiola Stuyvesant, Jennifer Viscarra, and Mayor Larisa Svechin voted in favor of granting site plan approval and a resolution tied to these development rights. Commissioner Jerry Joseph was the only dissenting vote.
“After this leaves tonight, there is nothing that the city can do to protect the residents,” Joseph said in response to discussions about ongoing talks between developers and residents over potential agreements addressing their concerns.
Commissioner Stuyvesant questioned Mayor Svechin’s impartiality regarding her support for the project: “a massive investment” from developers helped get Svechin elected. Svechin responded that “This isn’t about what we personally want,” emphasizing that city decisions are bound by code.
Dr. Oliver Drabkin, a resident living near the proposed site, criticized the commission: “It’s almost like somebody in Oklahoma giving zoning in downtown Manhattan.” He added that he felt “betrayed” by their decision.
Owners at Armani/Casa retained attorney Alessandra Stivelman to represent them in opposition to this project. Stivelman noted earlier this week that Thursday’s meeting represented “the city commission’s last opportunity” to decide on these plans. She stated that her clients’ concerns—such as emergency access and traffic—had not been addressed adequately following safety fears sparked by events like the Champlain Towers South collapse in Surfside in 2021.
“The developer is giving us a big middle finger,” Stivelman said.
TMB RE Investments LLC is listed as developer for this project. An ownership chart submitted last December shows BLFO MBC Member LLC—a Delaware entity owned primarily by Bahamian entities linked to a Brazilian family—holds a 75 percent stake; Related Group (the Pérez family), Dezer Development (the Dezer family), and Isaac and Liat Toledano’s BH own the remaining quarter collectively.
According to application documents submitted by developers, construction costs could reach approximately $294 million with anticipated completion targeted for December 2031. Developers are seeking up to five years from approval for permit acquisition followed by another five years post-permit issuance for construction completion.
Planned amenities include padel courts, pool deck with water features and sculpture garden facing west; lap pool with outdoor spa facilities; cabanas; and direct beach access on east side of property.
The buyout process involving Miami Beach Club spanned more than ten years amid legal disputes between its condo association or unit owners against Related/Dezer entities developing adjacent properties such as Armani/Casa—with one lawsuit dismissed in 2022.
