Board approves revised 411 Michigan office project after developer scales back drive aisle and preserves two historic structures

The Historic Preservation Board on June 14 approved a revised plan to build a Class A office at 411 Michigan Avenue that retains and adaptively reuses two contributing historic buildings on the site and withdraws a requested variance for a minimum drive aisle width.

Staff had told the board the applicant revised plans after an April hearing, moving and reducing portions of the new office building to create a 22‑foot drive aisle so the applicant withdrew a requested variance for drive‑aisle width. The developer also proposed to relocate and retain most of a one‑story rear building and adapt it as an open‑air dining venue tied to a street‑level café; the proposal keeps the two contributing structures and moves mechanical parking to create the open space.

Why it matters: The changes reduce the project’s impact on neighboring historic properties and preserve elements of the site’s built history while allowing new office construction. Staff recommended approval of the application as revised, subject to conditions in the draft order.

What the developer said: Matt Amster, attorney for the project, introduced the development team and described outreach the owners had performed with neighbors, local associations and school stakeholders. Developer Saif Sumaida said the project “will be our first Class A office building in Miami Beach” and that the team “re‑designed the building at great expense” to respond to board concerns. Architect Elan (Alon) Bloomberg described moving the office mass north by roughly three feet, reducing balcony depth on the south side and relocating the one‑story contributing garage structure to create a courtyard and the 22‑foot drive aisle.

Board discussion and public comment: Neighbors, the Friends of Southpointe Elementary and the Miami Design Preservation League spoke in public comment. Supporters emphasized neighborhood outreach and school partnerships; critics and nearby residents urged additional upper‑level setbacks and said the office mass still felt large in places. Board members reviewed those concerns, the revised drawings and staff’s analysis.

Formal actions and votes: The board first considered a narrow variance from the city’s “open court” requirement (the code requires an open‑to‑sky court of a minimum area in the front setback). The roll call recorded two ‘‘no’’ votes and five ‘‘yes’’ votes and the variance passed 5–2 (No: Miss Liebman, Mister Reid; Yes: Miss Weinstein‑Berman, Mister Klein, Mister Breslin, Mister Paschal, Mister Lopez). The board then approved the certificate of appropriateness for the overall project, including the adaptive reuse and required conditions, by unanimous vote.

Conditions and next steps: Approval was subject to the staff‑recommended conditions in the draft order, including preservation and restoration requirements for the contributed buildings, a requirement to resolve on‑street loading plans with the parking department prior to permitting, documentation of historic features and a required historic display. The board also asked the applicant to work with staff on details such as awnings, landscaping and the design for the relocated one‑story structure. The applicant must finish final permit drawings and meet building‑code and parking‑department requirements before permits are issued.

Who spoke (selected): Matt Amster (attorney, project rep), Saif Sumaida (developer), Alon Bloomberg (architect, Cube 3, presenter), Debbie Tackett (staff), Matthew Pender (Friends of Southpointe Elementary, public comment), Laura Bala (resident, public comment), Daniel Serraldo (Miami Design Preservation League, public comment).

Ending: With the board’s approval the project moves to final design and permitting; staff and the applicant will complete the conditions and parking/loading plans before building permits can be issued.