“The Park On Fifth” Wins City Of Miami Beach Approval

Yesterday was a big day for Miami Beach. The ambitious and somewhat controversial project that was proposed by Crescent Heights at the entry point of Miami Beach from the MacArthur Causeway went to the City Commission for approval. If approved, “The Park On Fifth” would change the way visitors view the city as they enter as well as change the way residents interact in the neighborhood.

The currently blighted vacant lots are an eyesore for people who arrive to Miami Beach and it is always noted that traffic is a nightmare at that intersection. People who live in South West Avenue are secluded, and South of Fifth is closed off to the rest of the island. The Park on Fifth offers a solution to all of these problems.

Last month, we posted an overview of the proposed project. Once constructed, residents and visitors will have a new 3-acre park at the entry point to Miami Beach. The park will feature a dog park area, children’s play area, jogging trail, workout area and plenty of observation areas. It will be elevated, reminiscent to New York’s High Line, which will also allow for an additional lane of traffic along Alton Road and a small retail center below the park. In exchange for providing the park, Crescent Heights requested approval of a 500-foot residential tower on the 500 Block of Alton Road.

Throughout the day yesterday, the developer and residents voiced their opinions both for and against the project. While the majority of the feedback was in favor of the development, a few residents were concerned with the aesthetics of the parking structure as well as the rental restrictions. Most were in favor of restricting rentals of less than 1 month, but that item will have to be addressed at a later date as time ran out on yesterday’s hearing.

In the end, the commission voted to approve the project in order to activate the site that has been an eyesore since 2004. It is in the best interest of the residents to have a park and additional retail in the area, plus the pedestrian flyover to connect South of Fifth to the rest of Miami Beach.

It was a good day.