Crescent Heights Plans 31-Story Live Local Tower on Miami Beach's Alton Road

Key Points

• 31-story, 404-foot tower proposed by Crescent Heights at 824 Alton Road, replacing an existing surface parking lot.

• 120 residential units, including 48 designated as workforce housing for tenants earning up to 120 percent of the area median income.

• Project uses Florida’s Live Local Act to exceed standard height and density limits in exchange for affordable housing.

Crescent Heights Eyes Tallest Tower on Alton Road

Miami-based developer Crescent Heights is planning a 31-story residential tower at 824 Alton Road in Miami Beach. Designed by RSP Architects, the project would rise 404 feet above grade, becoming the tallest residential building in the area.

The development would replace a surface parking lot with a mixed-income community that combines market-rate and workforce housing. Crescent Heights is pursuing the project under Florida’s Live Local Act, which allows higher density for projects that include a significant portion of affordable units.

Inside the Plan

The tower would feature 120 residential units, including 48 workforce housing studios and 72 market-rate apartments ranging from studios to four-bedroom layouts. Workforce units would be reserved for tenants earning at or below 120 percent of the area median income, capped at approximately $104,160 annually for a family of four.

Plans include approximately 2,900 square feet of ground-floor retail, a four-story parking podium with 119 spaces, and bicycle parking. Amenities would feature a resort-style swimming pool, a sixth-floor deck, and a rooftop lounge.

Design Details

Renderings by RSP Architects show a modern glass façade with curved balconies and ventilated “breeze block” cladding around the parking structure. The design aims to introduce a contemporary residential presence on Alton Road while maintaining a pedestrian-friendly streetscape.

The building’s 404-foot height would make it a visible addition to Miami Beach’s western skyline, signaling a shift toward denser, vertical development along the corridor.

Regulatory Context

The proposal relies on the Live Local Act, Florida’s 2023 legislation that grants developers the right to exceed local zoning restrictions if they dedicate at least 40 percent of units to workforce housing. The law has already reshaped development patterns in Miami-Dade County, encouraging high-rise residential projects in previously low-scale neighborhoods.

While the 824 Alton Road site is not subject to historic preservation restrictions, city officials may still review the project for compatibility with surrounding structures. Developers using the Live Local framework have faced pushback in other parts of Miami Beach, where concerns about scale and neighborhood character have surfaced.

Investor Insight

The Crescent Heights proposal highlights how Live Local is redefining Miami Beach’s residential development market. By pairing market-rate apartments with workforce housing, developers can increase density while meeting policy goals tied to affordability.

For investors, this approach presents opportunities to access premium-located projects with reduced zoning hurdles. The main challenge lies in timing, as municipal review processes and community response could affect project schedules and returns.

Still, Crescent Heights’ experience with high-rise development and the strong rental demand in Miami Beach position 824 Alton Road as a significant addition to the city’s evolving skyline.