Swerdlow Group Breaks Ground On Sawyer's Walk Mixed-Use Development In Miami's Overtown Neighborhood

Construction has begun on the largest mixed-use development to take shape in Miami’s historic Overtown neighborhood in decades, paving the way for new shopping and dining options, affordable residences for seniors, and thousands of job opportunities. Sawyer’s Walk, a 1.4 million-square-foot development led by Swerdlow Group in collaboration with the Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), will include 250,000 SF of destination retail alongside 578 apartments designated for low-income seniors.

Swerdlow Group and its partners, SJM Partners and Alben Duffie, acquired the 3.4-acre property at 249 NW 6th Street from the CRA and broke ground on the development at a June 23rd ceremony. Construction is expected to be completed in 2023.

“In working with the CRA and listening to nearby residents, it became clear that senior housing, affordable shopping options, and quality jobs are among the most pressing needs in Overtown,” said Swerdlow Group CEO Michael Swerdlow. “Sawyer’s Walk will check all of these boxes, while also creating a new destination for retail and dining that will activate city streets and attract people from throughout Downtown Miami and surrounding neighborhoods.”

The development of Sawyer’s Walk coincides with a rush of new residents, businesses and visitors into Miami’s urban core. Greater Downtown Miami is now home to 115,000 residents, 250,000 daytime visitors, and six million annual visitors, according to the Miami Downtown Development Authority.

Retail offerings at Sawyer’s Walk will include a 50,000 SF Target, a 25,000 SF Aldi supermarket, and new locations for Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, and Burlington. Additionally, 25,000 SF of public space at street level will feature restaurant space, outdoor seating, a children’s playground, a pedestrian promenade, a dog park, and a City of Miami NET office.

The upper floors of Sawyer’s Walk will offer 578 apartments set aside for low-income seniors earning at or below 60% of the Area Median Income. The unit mix will include studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms. Amenities will include a rooftop pool deck, a clubhouse and entertainment lounge, meeting rooms, and a complimentary health club membership for all residents.

“Sawyer’s Walk will be a triple-win for the Overtown community and the City of Miami, delivering a positive impact in the form of new jobs, additional revenue, and an affordable place to call home for hundreds of our local seniors. These benefits will help sustain quality of life in Miami while advancing the mission of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA,” said Jeffrey Watson, Chairman of the Southeast Overtown/Park West CRA.

Sawyer’s Walk is located alongside I-95, adjacent to Downtown Miami’s Central Business District and blocks from Brightline’s Miami Central station, the 27-acre Miami Worldcenter development, the Historic Lyric Theatre, Government Center, and Miami-Dade College’s Wolfson Campus. The site is bounded by NW 3rd Avenue on the west, NW 7th Street to the north, NW 2nd Avenue on the east, and NW 6th Street to the south.

Urban X Group Celebrates Grand Opening Of River Landing Shops & Residences On The Miami River

Urban X Group and the Toronto-based H&R Real Estate Investment Trust have officially celebrated the grand opening of River Landing Shops & Residences, located at 1400 NW River Drive along the Miami River. The announcement comes on the heels of the projects completion earlier this year where the first phase of retailers were allowed to open in May 2020. The ownership team delayed the official grand opening for the project until retailers were more comfortable with the economy in the post-COVID-19 world. The project originally broke ground in March 2017 and cost roughly $425 million to develop.

River Landing Shops & Residences brings in excess of 2.2 million SF of total development to the Miami River including 528 market-rate apartments; 135,000 square feet of office space; 345,000 square feet of retail; and, 2,200 parking spaces. The retail component of the project is currently 70% leased. Retail tenants include Publix, Chase Bank, Planet Fitness, TJ Maxx, AT&T, West Marine, Ross Dress For Less, Burlington Stores, Chick-Fil-A, Old Navy, Ficellas Bakery, Five Below and a Hobby Lobby. The project will also bring a 50’ wide linear park designed by Savino & Miller Design Studio, who is the landscape architect for the project.

Leasing for the office component at River Landing Shops & Residences launched in August 2020 with the first residents moving into the residential component in October. The residential component is managed by Lantower Residential, a subsidiary of H&R REIT.

River Landing Shops & Residences Unveils Waterfront "Restaurant Row" On The Miami River

The already under-construction River Landing Shops & Restaurants, being developed by River Landing Development including the Coral Gables-based UrbanX Group and Coralee Penabad along with H&R REIT, and Matthews Southwest, have revealed a waterfront “Restaurant Row,” further engaging the Miami River. The project, which is located at 1400 NW River Drive, will offer 25,500 SF of leasable restaurant space to bring 7 restaurants ranging from fine dining, family-style, cafes and fast casual concepts. River Landing Shops & Residences originally broke ground in March 2017 and will bring a total of 2 million SF of total development including 528 market-rate apartments, 2,200 parking spaces and a large retail component featuring a Publix, Chase Bank, TJ Maxx, AT&T, West Marine, Ross Dress For Less, Burlington Stores and a Hobby Lobby. The project will also bring plenty of green space to the area including a 50’ wide linear park with Savino & Miller Design Studio as the landscape architect for the project. River Landing Shops & Residences was originally designed by Jonathan Cardello of Stantec with BC Architects as the architect of record. Completion and opening is expected for early 2020.