Skyline Shift: Miami Beach Approves Taller Tower, Fewer Units, and New Public Park

In a transformative move for Miami Beach’s development landscape, city commissioners have approved a major upzoning at 1250 West Avenue, allowing JDS Development Group and GV Development Group to move forward with a 330-foot, 32-story luxury condominium tower—more than double the previously permitted 150-foot height limit.

The new plan calls for up to 125 upscale condominiums, a sharp reduction from the 286 units allowed initially on the site. The development, designed by Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design, will include ground-floor commercial space and a floor area ratio (FAR) 5.75.

As part of the project’s approval conditions, JDS has committed to acquiring the nearby Bikini Hostel property at 1247 West Avenue. That site will be transformed into a public park, providing a new green space for the community and reinforcing the city’s push for public benefits tied to private development.

The tower will rise on a 1.9-acre waterfront parcel currently occupied by the 15-story Bay Garden Manor, a residential building dating back to 1964. JDS affiliates have been actively purchasing units within the building and are expected to complete the acquisitions shortly.

Project Overview:

• Location: 1250 West Avenue, South Beach, Miami Beach

• Developers: JDS Development Group & GV Development Group

• Architect: Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design

• Building Height: 330 feet / 32 stories

• Residential Units: Up to 125 luxury condos

• Commercial Space: Ground-floor retail

• Public Amenity: Future public park at former Bikini Hostel site

This high-profile project marks a significant change in Miami Beach’s approach to density and height restrictions, signaling a new era of vertical, luxury-oriented urban development and community-focused improvements.