68-Acre SF Mixed-Use Development Proposed in West Kendall

Key Points

• Sanbar Corp. proposes 1.91M sq. ft. of mixed-use development in West Kendall.

• Project requires moving Miami-Dade’s Urban Development Boundary (UDB).

• Includes 678K sq. ft. of office, 648 units of housing, and 365K sq. ft. of retail/entertainment.

A Guatemalan developer wants to push Miami-Dade's development limits—literally. Sanbar Corp. is proposing a massive 68-acre project in West Kendall that would require expanding the Urban Development Boundary (UDB), a politically sensitive and environmentally scrutinized line that separates urban and rural zones.

Dubbed Kendall Reserve, the development aims to create a major job center and upscale retail destination, but will face an uphill battle to gain approval.

What's Planned at Kendall Reserve 

• Location: SW 167th Ave, between SW 56th & SW 64th Streets, just east of Krome Ave.

• Total Development Size: 1.91M sq. ft.

  • Office: 678,617 sq. ft.

  • Residential: 648 units (81 of them workforce housing)

  • Retail/Entertainment: 365,648 sq. ft.

  • Hotel: 130 rooms, 102,365 sq. ft.

  • Education & Civic: 202,000+ sq. ft.

Backed by Grupo Apolo of Guatemala, this would be Sanbar Corp.'s first U.S. development. They’re teaming with big names like Gensler and Kimley Horn to pull it off.

The UDB Dilemma: Political and Environmental Chess 

• What is the UDB? It’s a regulatory line that restricts urban development from encroaching on agricultural and environmentally sensitive lands.

• Why it matters: Expanding the UDB is controversial. It requires a super-majority vote from Miami-Dade commissioners and is typically resisted by environmental advocates.

• Mayor’s Stance: Mayor Daniella Levine Cava has historically opposed UDB expansions, citing ecological concerns.

While the developer claims wetlands on the site will be preserved and enhanced—with features like a public boardwalk—opponents argue any UDB breach sets a dangerous precedent.

Why This Matters to Investors 

• Office Space Migration: Most office construction in Miami has centered around the urban core. If approved, Kendall Reserve would shift that trend westward—potentially unlocking new suburban employment hubs.

• Retail and Residential Synergy: Mimicking the formula of Downtown Doral, the mix of housing, jobs, and entertainment could create a self-sustaining micro-economy in West Kendall.

• Land Value Pressure: Approval could trigger land appreciation west of the UDB, encouraging more speculative investment in currently "untouchable" zones.

Kendall Reserve isn’t just another South Florida development—it’s a referendum on the future of Miami-Dade’s growth management. If Sanbar wins approval, it could open the floodgates for more suburban mega-projects, shifting the county’s development axis further west.