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Miami’s Health District is seeing more activity.

A famed chef is launching a new concept in the University of Miami’s Life Science & Technology Park, which made headlines when its developer, Wexford Science & Technology, bet on the neighborhood a few years ago. Miami Health District’s residential and retail projects are rising.

Where does River Landing Shops and Residents fit in? GlobeSt.com caught up with Andrew Hellinger, CEO of River Landing Development, to find out what role his project will play in the evolution of the nascent Miami River District in part two of this exclusive interview. You can still read part one: Is Miami’s Health District Next Big Thing?

GlobeSt.com: What role will River Landing play in the evolution of the nascent Miami River District?

Hellinger: The development will anchor the river district to the west allowing consumers, visitors and residents to enjoy life on the Miami River. River Landing’s waterfront restaurants will add to the growing roster of trendy restaurants opening and thriving in the Miami River District, including American Social, London’s Duck & Waffle, Sushi Samba, Modern Garden, The River Seafood & Oyster Bar, Seaspice, Garcia’s and Casablanca.

ADD Inc. conceived River Landing’s retail element as a series of stacked gift boxes to create a dynamic façade that complements the river while being accessible to pedestrians. Our riverwalk is designed as a linear waterfront park. The continuous linear, but meandering walking park, extends the length of the development and connects our property to the other waterfront properties in the river district.

GlobeSt.com: What kind of retail mix do you envision for River Landing? 

Hellinger: River Landing will be home to seven to eight national anchor tenants ranging from 20,000 square feet to 55,000 square feet as well as eight to 10 national and regional retailers. Specifically, River Landing will contain 315,000 square feet of national retailers, 86,000 square feet of regional and local retailers and 29,000 square feet of restaurants on its five levels.

The roster of tenants who will call River Landing home is a major supermarket, clothing retailers for men women and children, shoe stores, banks, athletic goods, electronics/ wireless providers, cinemas, entertainment options as well as casual and luxury restaurants.

 

Source: GlobeSt

Edge, Sushi Samba, River Oyster Bar and Fox Hole Marketplace and Deli —  are just some of the planned new eateries banking on the Miami River.

 New restaurants, retail and increased public access along the Miami River were among the highlights of a development boat tour of the five-mile-long waterfront district on Thursday.

Renderings of River Landing Project

Renderings of River Landing Project

Developers and real estate professionals toured the river as part of an Urban Land Institute and NAIOP partnership. Brett Bibeau, managing director of the Miami River Commission, said that popular restaurants Seaspice (formerly Sea Salt and Pepper), Garcia’s Seafood and Casablanca have brought business to the area.

Among the restaurants awaiting permits or under construction are Sushi Samba, at 40 Southwest North River Drive; Edge at 39 to 55 Southwest Miami Avenue Road; a new location for the River Oyster Bar at 350 Flagler Street, and Fox Hole Marketplace and Deli at Latitude on the River, 615 Southwest Second Avenue.

River Landing rendering and Andrew Hellinger

River Landing rendering and Andrew Hellinger

The Miami River has increasingly drawn interest from developers who are embracing the river lifestyle. “It’s a place that people don’t have to see as up and coming. It exists,” said Andy Hellinger, developer of the River Landing project, a massive nine-acre development that will include apartments, retail and a linear park along the riverwalk.

River Landing’s retail component will include a five-story vertical shopping center, with a different theme for each floor. Among them: restaurants and supermarkets, sporting goods and entertainment. Two acres of the project are dedicated to parks and pathways. Hellinger compared the linear park, with a 50-foot setback, to the Highline in New York.

River Landing recently applied for a seawall permit, and digging for the foundation will be complete in a few weeks, Hellinger told The Real Deal.

Cleaning up the water and building the riverwalk are both key to the area’s success. Bibeau said his organization, the Miami River Commission, sends clean-up crews to pick up trash, pressure clean and paint over graffiti. “If the riverwalk is not maintained,” Bibeau said, “it will not live up to its potential.”

 

Source: The Real Deal