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.

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.

Target To Open Its First Ever Store In South Beach At BLVD At Lenox

Target has announced that they will be opening a new small-format store in South Beach. The store will be located at the new BLVD at Lenox retail development located at Fifth Street and Lenox Avenue. The location will be Target's first ever in Miami Beach and will be 33,000 SF. The BLVD at Lenox was designed by Zyscovich Architects and is being developed by the Comras Company. The project will rise 4 stories on the lot which was once the Ivy nightclub and will feature 27,000 SF of ground-floor retail along 227 parking spaces. Groundbreaking is expected for 2018 with completion in the spring of 2019. 

“Target has been seeking the ideal location for a small-format store in Miami Beach, so we’re thrilled to be part of the BLVD at Lenox shopping complex to conveniently serve residents and tourists with a unique product assortment that only Target can provide,” said Target Senior VP of Properties Mark Schindele.