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Public promenades and plazas are part of the plans for Miami Worldcenter’s high street retail future.

MiamiWorldcenterPedestrianFriendlyMiami Worldcenter Associates, master developer of the project—in collaboration with Forbes Company and Taubman—are developing a pedestrian-oriented streetscape that will serve as the retail focal point of the 27-acre mixed-use development. The official groundbreaking of the retail project and the Paramount condo project are set for March.

The renderings reveal an open-air shopping promenade running north and south from northeast 10th street to northeast 7th street and between northeast 1st and 2nd avenues. Residential towers, a hotel and exposition center and plenty of dining and entertainment venues will surround the promenade. Nearby, retail shops and restaurants will surround an open-air public plaza along northeast 1st Avenue. The idea is to create a central gathering place and outdoor event space at the heart of Miami.

“Working with Forbes and Taubman, we’ve created a high street retail concept that takes full advantage of Downtown Miami’s rise as one of the nation’s most densely-populated, walkable and well-connected neighborhoods,” says Nitin Motwani, managing principal for Miami Worldcenter Associates. “By creating a network of open-air promenades and plazas, we’ll ensure Miami Worldcenter is seamlessly integrated with surrounding streets while developing a street-level experience that draws visitors from across South Florida and around the world.”

The high street retail model—defined by a critical mass of shops and boutiques in a pedestrian-oriented setting—is proving successful in urban centers across the US. San Francisco’s Union Square District, New York’s SoHo, and Miami Beach’s own Lincoln Road are a few examples.

“We believe that high street retail is the right way to move forward in Downtown Miami,” says Robert S. Taubman, Chairman, president and CEO of Taubman Centers. “The retail and restaurants, combined with the new residential developments and surrounding amenities, will create a very desirable urban experience.”

Miami Worldcenter will also be home to the 700-foot tall Paramount condominium; an 1,800-room Marriott Marquis hotel and expo center developed by MDM Group; Luma, a 429-unit luxury multifamily building developed by ZOM; and two multifamily towers built atop street-level retail lining northeast 7th street. Direct links to the new All Aboard Florida high-speed rail terminal and the existing Metromover system will encourage mass transit.

 

Source: GlobeSt.