Midtown Development's Plan to Redevelop Shops at Sunset Place into 1,513 Units, 287-key Hotel, 60K SF Office Space & 50K SF Theater

A new plan to revitalize The Shops at Sunset Place in South Miami is in motion, led by Midtown Development. The developer seeks to transform the struggling outdoor mall into a vibrant mixed-use complex, breathing new life into the 10-acre property that has seen many of its storefronts remain vacant in recent years.

Mixed-Use Complex Vision

Midtown Development's vision includes constructing 1,513 multifamily residential units, a 287-room hotel, a 50,000-square-foot theater, 60,000 square feet of office space, and a parking facility with over 2,400 spaces. The project will also dedicate approximately 150,000 square feet for commercial use, with about 75 percent of that space set aside for restaurants, while the rest will be for retail businesses. The development will consist of seven buildings, ranging in height from 12 to 33 stories, designed by the renowned Heatherwick Studio from London.

Approval Process and Previous Challenges

The proposal is set to be reviewed by the City of South Miami Planning Board on September 10. This is not the first attempt to redevelop the mall, which has struggled with vacancies and declining consumer interest. A previous effort by a joint venture involving Federal Realty Investment Trust, Grass River Property, and the Comras Company had won city approval but ultimately faced local opposition and failed to break ground.

Decline of Sunset Place and New Ownership

Midtown Development acquired the 516,656-square-foot mall for $65.5 million in 2020. This purchase represented a 40 percent drop in value from the last transaction in 2015, a decrease influenced both by the pandemic's effect on in-person shopping and the failure of the mall's previous ownership to successfully rejuvenate the property.

Midtown Development’s Track Record

Under the leadership of Alex Vadia, Midtown Development is known for its role in shaping Midtown Miami, a neighborhood that blends retail and residential spaces and lies between the Miami Design District and Wynwood. This track record adds credibility to their latest ambitious redevelopment plan for South Miami.