13th Floor, Key Intl. Win Brickell Church Site Boundary Cut
Miami's preservation board voted 6-1 to shrink the First Presbyterian Church historic boundary at 609/619 Brickell Ave, clearing a path for a 75-story tower.
Miami’s Historic and Environmental Preservation Board voted 6-1 to shrink the historic boundary around the First Presbyterian Church at 609/619 Brickell Ave, according to Florida Politics and The Real Deal. The new line covers the sanctuary footprint plus a 15-foot buffer. The change matters to developers 13th Floor Investments and Key International, who are behind a planned 75-story tower called 619 Brickell on the site.
Why it matters
A historic designation limits what can be built on and around a parcel. By narrowing the protected area to the sanctuary and a small buffer, the board frees the rest of the site for the tower, which The Real Deal reports is a Nobu-branded condo project. One board member dissented.
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This was a redo. Florida Politics reports the board voted again after the city lost an appeal in October. Neighbors at Icon Brickell objected to the shrunken boundary, per the same report.
The decision shows how a developer-driven site fight is settled in Miami: not at the tower approval stage, but earlier, over how much of a parcel counts as historic. For anyone assembling or buying a Brickell site with an older landmark on it, the boundary line is the first deal term.
The numbers
- Vote: 6-1, with one member dissenting.
- Protected area: sanctuary footprint plus a 15-foot buffer.
- Tower: 75 stories at 619 Brickell, from 13th Floor Investments and Key International.
We have not independently confirmed the reported price of the church site sale, so we are not repeating it here. Both outlets are the sources for the vote and project details above.
What’s next
The boundary change is a precondition, not a final approval. The tower still has to move through the city’s remaining review steps, and Icon Brickell neighbors have signaled they object, so another challenge is possible. We will track the filings. See more in South Florida coverage.
Quick answers
- What is the latest on 13th Floor Investments in South Florida?
- Miami's preservation board voted 6-1 to shrink the First Presbyterian Church historic boundary at 609/619 Brickell Ave, clearing a path for a 75-story tower.
- What are the key numbers for 13th Floor Investments?
- boundary vote: 6-1; sanctuary buffer: 15 ft; planned stories: 75.
- Where does the information on 13th Floor Investments come from?
- The story cites Florida Politics and The Real Deal.
Sources
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