1.5M SF Mixed-Use Development Sawyer’s Walk Delivers Target in Miami's Overtown

Sawyer’s Walk, the largest mixed-use development in the historic community of Overtown, recently opened its retail section, marked by the launch of a 50,000-square-foot Target store. Over the next several months, additional major retailers are set to open, including Burlington, Five Below, Aldi supermarket, and Ross Dress for Less.

The 1.5 million-square-foot Sawyer’s Walk complex includes 578 residential units, primarily housing low-income seniors, as well as 175,000 square feet of retail space, a 25,000-square-foot public plaza, and 130,000 square feet of office space. MSC Group has secured the office space for its new North American headquarters, anchoring the development at 249 NW 6th St. The project was spearheaded by SG Holdings, a partnership between Swerdlow Group, SJM Partners, and Alben Duffie.

Among the new retail spaces, Burlington is scheduled to open in October with a 38,000-square-foot store. A 25,000-square-foot Aldi and a 10,000-square-foot Five Below will follow in November, while Ross Dress for Less is expected to open in March 2025.

Sawyer’s Walk was developed as a public-private partnership in collaboration with the City of Miami’s Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency, Miami-Dade County’s Department of Public Housing and Community Development, and city and county officials. The project aims to address both affordability and accessibility concerns in Greater Downtown Miami by delivering affordable residential options and value-focused retail stores.

The development also includes amenities designed to enhance the community, such as a public plaza with art murals, outdoor seating, a children’s playground, and a dog park. Residents and shoppers will have access to nearly 1,000 parking spaces and multiple public transit options, including Metrorail, Metromover, and Brightline.

Led by Michael Swerdlow, Swerdlow Group has been active in bringing new retail options and affordable housing to South Florida. The company has over 8,000 affordable housing units in the pipeline, with a focus on revitalizing underserved areas and addressing food access in designated ‘food deserts.’ Swerdlow Group’s portfolio includes over 30 million square feet of residential, retail, industrial, and office space developed across the region.

Sawyer's Walk Overtown Mixed-Use Development Now 100% Leased, Set To Open This Summer

The transformative development Sawyer’s Walk comprising 1.5 million square feet is now fully committed and considered one of the largest mixed-use project set to deliver in decades in the historic community of Overtown in Miami, Florida. The project will add 175,000 square feet for credit retailers, 578 housing units for predominantly low-income seniors helping to meet the critical need for affordable housing in Miami-Dade County, and 130,000 square feet of office space acquired by MSC Group that will anchor MSC Cruises new North American headquarters.

SG Holdings, a partnership among Swerdlow Group, SJM Partners, and Alben Duffie, is constructing the 3.4-acre development located at 249 NW 6th St., which broke ground in June 2021. The successful public-private partnership was made possible through a collaboration with the City of Miami’s Southeast Overtown/Park West Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA), Miami-Dade County’s Department of Public Housing and Community Development (PHCD), and Commissioners Christine King and Keon Hardemon. The development was designed by Miami-based, award-winning architecture firm Arquitectonica and construction is led by Coastal Construction.

With completion estimated for this summer, Sawyer’s Walk will create a new mixed-use destination with a variety of highly demanded retailers such as Target, Aldi, Ross and Burlington, the largest affordable senior living community to deliver in the US in the last 10 years, and a 25,000-square-foot public plaza that will feature a pedestrian promenade with outdoor seating and children’s playground benefitting the Overtown community and Greater Downtown Miami.

“Since we broke ground on Sawyer’s Walk in 2021, we have experienced overwhelming demand for the mix of uses the development will bring to Miami’s Overtown community, including affordable housing for seniors, value-add retail offerings and quality office space, leading to our project reaching 100% leased before completion,” said Michael Swerdlow, Managing Partner of Swerdlow Group. “The anticipated delivery of our mixed-use development will serve as an economic catalyst for Overtown, with the creation of over one thousand quality jobs, the opening of a new full-service supermarket and mix of national retail stores that will serve the immediate community and surrounding neighborhoods.”

MSC Group, a privately owned international company that is a global leader in container shipping and has the world’s third largest cruise line, will bring together its South Florida cruise and cargo operations under one home within Sawyer’s Walk. The modern office space purchased by MSC Group will bring together over 250 current employees based in South Florida from MSC Cargo, MSC Cruises and Explora Journeys. With this move, the global organization is making a $100 million investment in Miami-Dade and is expected to generate over 600 direct and indirect jobs over the next three years, as MSC Cruises prepares to open North America’s largest cruise terminal in PortMiami later this year.

“The relocation of the MSC Cruises North American headquarters to Sawyer’s Walk will significantly contribute to the daytime population that the shops and restaurants will serve,” said Nick Swerdlow, Vice President of Swerdlow Group. “The opening of our Sawyer’s Walk development coincides with the continued growth Greater Downtown Miami is benefitting from as more new residents, businesses and visitors are attracted to Miami’s thriving urban core.”

The upper floors of Sawyer’s Walk will be home to 578 units designated for seniors earning at or below an average of 60 percent of the Area Median Income. The apartments will include studios, one-bedrooms, and two-bedrooms. Residents will enjoy resort-like amenities that exceed what is traditionally offered at affordable housing projects, including a roof-top swimming pool and sun deck complete with lush landscaping, outdoor seating and grilling stations, a modern fitness center, clubhouse, and more.

The retail component will include a 50,000-square-foot Target store, a 25,000-square-foot Aldi supermarket, and new locations for Ross Dress for Less, Five Below, Burlington and Tropical Smoothie Cafe. The public plaza will also feature art murals, an outdoor seating area and a dog park. The property will provide over 1,000 parking spaces and access to numerous public transit options such as the Metrorail, Metromover and Brightline.

Situated in the heart of Overtown, one of Miami’s most historic communities, 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 destination Miami Worldcenter, the Historic Lyric Theatre, Government Center, and Miami Dade College’s Wolfson Campus.

The Cushman & Wakefield team of Alan Kleber, Tyler Reynolds, Scott Quick, Diego Rodino di Miglione, and Shannon O’Hare represented MSC Group in the transaction, while Greg Masin of Cushman & Wakefield advised SG Holdings.

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.