Revised plans have been submitted for a 464-foot-tall, 43-story residential tower rising above the historic First Church of Christ, Scientist at 1836 Biscayne Boulevard in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood. The proposal, led by Arden Group and designed by Arquitectonica in collaboration with R.J. Heisenbottle Architects, calls for 406 residential units, commercial space, and a multilevel parking podium while preserving substantial portions of the existing church. The latest submission introduces modifications to previously approved plans and is scheduled for review by Miami’s Urban Design Review Board (UDRB).
The First Church of Christ, Scientist was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1998 and received local historic designation from the City of Miami in late 2015. Initial redevelopment plans emerged in 2019, proposing a residential tower above the existing church structure. The property subsequently changed ownership in late 2021 through a $20 million transaction involving Fifteen Group. Revised approvals followed in 2022, incorporating 16 waivers, including 10 related to historic preservation and six concerning zoning regulations. According to correspondence submitted to the city by the project’s attorney, the latest application seeks targeted modifications to those approvals rather than an entirely new development authorization.
The current proposal calls for 406 residential units, an increase from the 390 residences contemplated under earlier plans. The residential component would comprise studio, one-bedroom, two-bedroom, and three-bedroom apartments, with one-bedroom layouts accounting for the largest share of the inventory. Residences would average approximately 917 square feet, with private balcony access incorporated throughout the tower.
The development would include several floors of residential amenities, including coworking spaces, a children’s playroom, fitness facilities, a clubroom and lounge, outdoor gathering areas, and a poolside grilling area. Additional recreational space is planned for the 43rd floor, where a rooftop swimming pool and deck would overlook the surrounding Edgewater neighborhood and Biscayne Bay.
Approximately 14,803 square feet of commercial space would occupy the first and second floors, incorporating the adaptive reuse of portions of the historic church interior. The development would also provide 480 parking spaces within a multilevel podium…