Midtown Miami Banks on Walkability for Luxury Appeal

Developer Carlos Rosso remembers growing up in Buenos Aires, Brazil—and the particular feel of the city which, much like New York, is based around walkability, street retail, cafes, and people watching.

But when he moved to Miami in 2002, this isn’t what he saw or experienced. “Miami isn’t known for its walkability,” he tells Realtor.com. “I wanted to help change that.”

He had the perfect area in mind—Midtown Miami, adjacent to the Design District. North of business district Brickell and north-west of Miami Beach, the area, originally designed as a masterplanned destination two decades ago, doesn’t have any of Miami’s famed beaches.

But that isn’t what this particular slice of Miami is about. And if you want swimming, there’s a way to do that, too.

“People get on their boats and go out to these islands and jump into the water,” says Rosso.

In June, Rosso’s Standard Residences, the first-ever residential project from the well-known global hospitality brand, debuted.

In partnership with Hyatt, the 12-story pied-à-terre-style building has 228 residences and more than 34,000 square feet of resort-caliber amenities including a 60-foot resort-style pool and Solana rooftop restaurant. The building is almost sold out.

But the developer’s latest project, in the heart of Midtown, was going to be a “city within a city,” all about the kind of walkable ecosystem he enjoyed as a youth in the San Isidro neighborhood of Buenos Aires.

“It’s the kind of thing you get in New York City—all that walkability, those restaurants and cafes and stores, and no need to get into your car,” he says. “Midtown offers all of that.”

One reason that Midtown can offer a more New York-like experience is that it is 14 feet above sea level, far surpassing most of the city. This allows for retail and lobbies to be ground level without risk of flooding, more easily bringing in eyeballs and foot traffic.

“You get a little of this walkability in Miami Beach and Coconut Grove,” he says. “But in Midtown, it’s much more. My friend from Chicago came for a visit and said, ‘This is the best neighborhood in Miami!’ And yet it still isn’t as well known.”

It’s getting there though.

High end brands, lured by the walkability and vibrancy of the district, are pouring into the area.

Within the past few years, Midtown/Design District has welcomed Fouquet’s Hotel & Residences, Kempinski Hotel & Residences Miami, and Jean-Georges Miami Tropic Residences.

Midtown Park by Proper: A city within a city

Perfectly playing into that is Midtown Park Residences by Proper, the new $2 billion, 5-acre mixed-use district designed with 15-foot wide sidewalks with mature tree canopies, two parks, and street level retail connected by pedestrian “paseos”—which thread through the center of buildings rather than encircle the perimeter.

Rosso worked closely with influential voices in the neighborhood who were not shy about telling him what they envisioned for the acreage. Those same voices had already put the kibosh on a planned Walmart.

“They said, ‘We want parks, we want green and open spaces,'” he says. “And I was like, ‘Great, we’re on the same page. That’s what I want, too.'”

Midtown Park, first Proper-branded residences in Miami by the known hospitality brand, will eventually consist of four residential and office towers.

The first tower, with a projected 2028 completion, boasts a 28-story wavy, contemporary design by renowned firm Arquitectonica, with 288 residences and ten different floor plans. Thus far, 30% of the first tower is sold.

The tower opens into a 5,000 square-foot, art-filled lobby and gallery space designed by Meyer Davis Studio with a dramatic 16 foot-ceiling, a sculptural front desk with 24/7 concierge service, and 150 feet of glass frontage overlooking Midtown Boulevard, East Park, and the “paseos” that interlink the development.

He notes that New Yorkers, lured to Miami by new jobs and lower (or no) taxes, especially are impressed with the district’s walkability, something they are used to in the Big Apple.

“We are getting New Yorkers continuously moving down,” he says. He reveals that Midtown Park condo buyers are not just those migrating from high tax states like California and New York but also wealthy expats from Europe (especially France) and South America.

While the Midtown Park complex boasts a staggering array of luxury amenities, including an eight-court racquet club, seventh floor pool deck, private gardens with fire pits, golf and screening room, and 3,000 square-foot fitness center, there is also a cafe adjacent to the lobby, for that urban experience of grabbing coffee and pastries in the morning before heading off to work.

The partnership with hospitality brand Proper means residents can also tap into concierge amenities such as “while-you’re away” services with pet and plant care, personalized classes and spa treatments, cultural series, and gourmet chef services for private dinners. Some of these perks can cost extra.

At the lowest end, studios start at $560,000 and can run up to $5 million for a penthouse. Rosso says the building was originally to have eight penthouses but high demand for larger residences means it will end up with about 20.

The penthouses (dubbed “Private Collection”) are about 3,000-square feet and boast double-height, 20-foot ceiling corner living rooms, four- and five-bedroom layouts, rooftop terraces, gardens, private pools, and private wrap-around balconies with spectacular views of the city skyline. (If you squint, Biscayne Bay appears far in the background.)

But it’s the emulation of stroll-friendly New York, Buenos Aires, and other European cities—combined with the waterfront living unique to Miami—that Rosso is most proud of when it comes to Midtown Park.

“People want that more walkable lifestyle,” he says. “To be able to walk your kids to school, go play a game of padel, head to the office, grab lunch downstairs, and meet friends for a drink in the evenings.”

“This project isn’t just about now, but the future for our kids, and what Miami will mean for them,” he adds. “That connection with nature, humans, and an ecosystem that makes your life more enjoyable and social.

“It’s not just your buying a unit with four walls, but an experience, and what that adds to your life.”