Setting the Bar Sky-High: RFR, Led by Aby Rosen, Unveils Vision for Supertall Marvel in Downtown Miami
August 11, 2023
Aby Rosen is set to embark on a groundbreaking venture, endeavoring to erect an awe-inspiring 104-story skyscraper adorned with both residential units and a luxurious hotel. This visionary endeavor places Rosen among a collective of developers seeking to elevate the architectural landscape of downtown Miami to unprecedented heights.
The stage for this ambitious project is New York-based RFR Realty, spearheaded by Rosen himself. Their ambitious proposal is an impressive 1,049-foot tower elegantly designed to encompass 252 hotel accommodations, 1,074 residential units, and a spacious 1,013-space parking facility. The proposed location for this towering edifice includes the plots at 130 and 136 Biscayne Boulevard, along with 141 Northeast Third Avenue.
The details of whether the residential units will be condos or apartments remain undisclosed, with a spokesperson for RFR refraining from divulging further information.
This landmark filing marks the seventh proposal for a supertall structure in Miami, although the current count of projects under construction stands at just one. Notably, near Rosen’s intended site, PGM and its collaborators are diligently constructing the 1,049-foot Waldorf Astoria Hotel & Residences at 300 Biscayne Boulevard.
The coveted status of being labeled a “supertall” in Miami is reserved for structures exceeding a towering height of 984 feet, a benchmark that has eluded developers for years. While numerous endeavors have flirted with the notion of breaching the 1,000-foot threshold, the notable achievement remains with the Hollo family, who achieved this distinction with the nearly 900-foot tall Panorama in Brickell under Florida East Coast Realty.
Developers who embark on supertall projects often set their sights on the 1,049-foot pinnacle, a maximum height endorsed by the Federal Aviation Administration guidelines for Miami.
The visionary driving this exceptional project is none other than Aby Rosen himself, who holds ownership of the sprawling 2.2-acre development site. Recent acquisitions by Rosen’s firm include the $25.8 million purchase of the 241-key YVE hotel at 136 Biscayne Boulevard and the 12-story Biscayne Office Center at 141 Northeast Third Avenue for $25 million. The 130 Biscayne Boulevard site, currently a parking garage, was added to RFR’s assets through its $81.1 million purchase of the adjacent 100 Biscayne office tower last year.
RFR’s forward-thinking proposal was spotlighted through the esteemed South Florida real estate publication, The Next Miami. With an illustrious portfolio that includes iconic structures such as the Seagram Building and Chrysler Building in New York, RFR also shares ownership of the prestigious W South Beach hotel. Their commitment to Miami’s architectural evolution is evident in the $20.5 million acquisition of a retail building at 318–334 Lincoln Road in Miami Beach in 2019.
Adding to the downtown Miami skyline aspirations, Florida East Coast Realty has its sights set on creating the 1,049-foot One Bayfront Plaza at 100 South Biscayne Boulevard. Further enriching this trend is the Swire and Related Companies’ ambitious plan for the One Brickell City Centre, an impressive office complex reaching nearly 1,000 feet, situated at 700 Brickell Avenue and 799 Brickell Plaza in Brickell.
