APPROVAL FOR AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENT ON HISTORIC CORNER

APPROVAL FOR AVALONBAY COMMUNITIES HIGH-RISE DEVELOPMENT ON HISTORIC CORNER

On September 17, 2026, the South Miami City Commission reviewed the proposed large-scale development titled “Avalon South Miami II.”

BACKGROUND: On March 31, 2025, the City of South Miami adopted amendments to the Future Land Use Map and zoning map that redesignated the subject block as the Transit-Supportive Development District (TSDD).

Following adoption of the amended land development regulations and comprehensive plan policy, the applicants, Avalon Bay Communities (developer) and Robbins Plaza LLC (owner), submitted an application along with a site plan, elevations, civil engineering plans, landscape plans, and a traffic impact analysis.

Plans submitted on August 15, 2025, were reviewed by the Design Review Board on December 16, 2025, which unanimously approved the project as presented, with comments. Revised architectural plans addressing Design Review Board and City planning staff comments were submitted on January 6, 2026, and were provided for Planning Board review on January 13, 2026.

The application requested approval of a Large-Scale Development Special Exception and Site Plan Review pursuant to Section 20-8.7 of the City’s Land Development Code for a mixed-use project on the 1.13-acre Robbins Plaza site, located on the block bounded by Dorn Avenue (SW 59th Avenue), South Dixie Highway (US-1), Sunset Drive (SW 72nd Street), and SW 73rd Street, within the City of South Miami.

When developed, Avalon South Miami II will be a sixteen-story structure with 254 rental apartments, non-residential uses of 16,573 sq.ft., and open spaces and landscaping. The breakdowns on residential units are: 8 studio apartments, 121 one-bedroom units, 109 two-bedroom units and 16 three-bedroom units.

A development agreement was adopted which delineates all aspects of the construction including MOT (Maintenance of Traffic), landscaping, infrastructure improvements, open space uses, parking and more detailed matters.

The anticipated construction schedule from the date of approval are:

Submittal of Building Permit Plans, 14 months.
Approval of Building Permit Plans / Issuance of Building Permits, 18 months,
Commencement of Construction, 24 months from building permit issuances,
Complete Project Buildout, 48 months from commencement of construction.

The following are architectural renderings prepared by Architect of Record, Corwel Architects, Coral Gables.

SOMIonline will have updates on the project development and an article on the re-configuration of 59th (Dorn) Avneue.