The former South Beach Community Hospital site in South Beach has been sitting empty and abandoned for many years. Located at the corner of Sixth Street and West Avenue to Alton Road, this is a prominent gateway to Miami Beach. Nearly all traffic headed East onto the island of Miami Beach from the Mac Arthur Causeway passes this site. The site of the former hospital represents a very large area of land, especially if combined with the former Vitri Site on the corner of Fifth and West Avenue / Alton Road.
Developer Russell Galbut held a meeting recently and proposed his development plans centered at 630 Alton Road, which is owned by Galbut’s Crescent Heights Development Company. Below is a picture of the initial (and unapproved thus far) mixed use proposal for the former Miami Beach Community Hospital site (and adjoining parcels).SoBePark (the overall proposed name of the site) also would have 200,000 square feet of residences and other features, including a public park. One of the Architects at the meeting re-envisioned the three blocks at the core of the West Avenue complex as having one level of underground parking and two levels of retail space, to be topped off with the park. A separate garage on a site northeast of the proposed retail center also will be topped off with green space. The architectural plan (thus far) is to have a residential tower on the southern end of the site, with the goal of reconfiguring the MacArthur Causeway off-ramp onto Alton Road. This would create a better flow of car traffic and better pedestrian access in and around the area, according to the Developer. Mr. Galbut wants to build 450,000 square feet of upscale retail resembling The Colonnade Outlets at Sawgrass Mills. The public is encouraged to continue participating in the process of shaping this important Miami Beach mixed use project.
The main beneficiaries of a redevelopment of the Sixth and Alton Site (whether it be retail / residential/ or combined commercial with residential development) will be the luxury condo residents in the immediate area. The former Miami Beach Community Hospital site is directly across from The Bentley Bay, which is located on the water on Sixth Street & West Avenue. The Bentley Bay condos were originally sold and marketed as Miami Beach's luxury gateway, with incredible views of Biscayne Bay and downtown Miami. In the immediate North of Fifth area along Alton Road is the Fifth and Alton Shopping Center, a thriving retail destination.
The soon to be revitalized Sixth and Alton / West Avenue area of Miami Beach should also benefit the nearby "South of Fifth" condo buildings across the street as well, especially Icon South Beach & The Murano Grande. The former South Shore Hospital site is the last large land area in Miami Beach that has been undeveloped, or needing to be redeveloped, since Miami Beach began its real estate and tourist renaissance in the mid 1990's. The proposed SoBePark Development, as outlined by Mr. Galbut & Crescent Heights, has a strong chance to transform the West Avenue / Alton Road area into Miami Beach's most desirable place to live, shop, work and play.
MIAMI BEACH RE-DEVELOPMENT ARTICLE LINKS :
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/print-edition/2011/10/07/crescent-heights-to-build-on-former.html
http://www.bizjournals.com/southflorida/news/2012/04/27/a-park-tops-crescent-heights-planned.html
http://therealdeal.com/miami/blog/2012/04/26/miami-beach-gets-eight-proposals-for-convention-center-revamp/
http://www.miamiherald.com/2012/04/19/2757805/developer-to-review-design-proposals.html
