Miami Beach's Lincoln Road Breaks Ground on $29.4 Million Pedestrian Upgrade

Key Points

• $29.4 million landmark Phase II investment kicks off to reimagine Lincoln Road’s pedestrian experience

• Includes Drexel & Meridian Ave enhancements: upgraded sidewalks, lighting, landscaping, amphitheater, seating—all while keeping businesses open during construction

• Completion expected within 10 months, aiming for May 2026, bolstering connectivity to major cultural venues and reinforcing Lincoln Road’s legacy and commercial appeal

Miami Beach’s iconic Lincoln Road is on the cusp of a transformative evolution. This blog unpacks the latest $29.4 million public-sector revitalization, detailing its scope, historical nods, strategic benefits, and investor implications. 

Phase II Begins: A “New Era” for Lincoln Road

Groundbreaking & Vision

On September 5, 2025, the City of Miami Beach and the Lincoln Road Business Improvement District (LRBID) held a ceremonial groundbreaking at Lincoln Road & Drexel Avenue to launch Phase II of the revitalization. This $29.4 million project targets Drexel and Meridian Avenues, intending to enhance the pedestrian-dining-shopping-entertainment mix.

What’s in Store

Key upgrades include new outdoor seating and café zones, an amphitheater-style performance area, upgraded sidewalks, improved lighting, lush landscaping, and updated traffic signals.
The amphitheater channels the Miami Modern (MiMo) aesthetic, nodding to architect Morris Lapidus’s iconic redesigns of the 1950s.
Designers behind the project include Field Operations, with contractor Buslam Company Partners Inc. executing the upgrade.
Importantly, all businesses along Lincoln Road remain open and accessible throughout construction.

Timeline & Connectivity

The project spans roughly 10 months, targeting a May 2026 completion timeline.
It establishes improved pedestrian links from Lincoln Road to major destinations like The Fillmore Miami Beach, New World Center, Soundscape Park, Grand Hyatt Miami Beach Convention Center Hotel, City Hall, and Pride Park.

Historical Legacy Meets Bold Vision

Carl Fisher’s original vision in 1912 for Lincoln Road was to create the “Fifth Avenue of the South.”
In the 1950s, Morris Lapidus—known for landmarks like the Fontainebleau and Eden Roc—reinvented Lincoln Road with whimsical, functional design elements. He lauded it as “the one place that gives me the greatest pleasure.”
Today, LRBID President Lyle Stern says Lincoln Road is undergoing a “once-in-a-generation transformation,” blending its storied past with a bold future, fueled by billions in private investment.

Investor & Commercial Perspective

This public investment dovetails with surging private-sector activity—recent developments include the Playboy HQ relocation, new Grand Hyatt Convention Center hotel, and upscale retail and cultural expansions.
The enhanced pedestrian realm, flexible public gathering spaces, and café zones are designed to elevate foot traffic, dwell time, and commercial vibrancy—factors critical for landlords and retail tenants.
With construction carefully staged to keep storefronts open, landlords benefit from maintained visibility and revenue during upgrades.
Looking ahead, this project reinforces Lincoln Road’s reputation as Miami Beach’s culinary, cultural, and retail heart, making it more attractive for future tenant alignment and capital deployment.

The Future of Miami Beach

Lincoln Road’s $29.4 million Phase II upgrade is far more than infrastructure—it’s a purposeful rewind-and-forward moment that honors its storied history while transforming it into a modern, pedestrian-first commercial powerhouse. With design, safety, connectivity, and economic vitality at its core, this project marks a pivotal turning point for one of Miami Beach’s most iconic corridors.