Developers recently submitted plans for the Magic City District that could bring a slew of new residential units, hotel rooms, and thousands of square feet of new commercial space, drastically altering the Little Haiti and Little River neighborhoods, per The Next Miami.

Rendering courtesy of Magic City District

According to documents submitted to the city of Miami for review, the developers are proposing to build 2,490 residential units, 1,763,820 square feet of office space, 432 hotel rooms, 313,165 square feet of retail space, and parking garages with a total of 5,547 spaces. In keeping with more transit-oriented development in the city, plans call for a new Brightline station. So far, the only structure on the site is Magic City Studios, a music and event space that hosts parties during Art Basel. For the project to move forward, the city must approve the concept and rezone several plots.

Developers announced broad plans to create the 17-acre Magic City District back in 2016, but the recent application offered the first details of what new construction will include. When it was announced, developers said they planned to revitalize the Little Haiti and Little River neighborhoods by creating a “walkable, campus-like neighborhood” that will serve as a “new model for future innovation districts and real estate development worldwide.”

The Magic City District website identifies the partners as Miami-based Plaza Equity Partners, Miami-based Dragon Global, Metro 1 (founded by Tony Cho), and Montreal-based Lune Rouge (founded by Cirque du Soleil founder Guy Laliberte).

Phase I calls for readapting 200,000 square feet of factory, warehouse, and historic building space into offices, galleries, ateliers, cafes, restaurants, and retail space. Phase II calls for pursuing a temporary use permit to allow Lune Rouge “to provide daily innovative programming and entertainment offerings through multi-media installations and interactive audio-visual experiences.” Phase III, to be started in 2020, would involve building the residential, retail, office, residential, hotel, entertainment, parks, and other public spaces with a central linear urban park and walkway. The project would take 10 to 15 years to complete.

Little Haiti has been drawing the attention of developers in recent times due to its proximity to Downtown and its higher elevation compared to areas closer to the coast. This has left some who live in the neighborhood anxious, fearing that new development will drive up rents and home values and force existing residents to leave.

Magic City developers have said they are committed to preserving the area’s Haitian and Caribbean cultures, embracing the history of the neighborhood, and creating local jobs. They have told Miami officials that they’ve met with 30 groups and nonprofits in the area, including Fanm Ayisyen nan Miyami (FANM), the Community Justice Project, the Haitian Cultural Arts Alliance, and the Haitian Chamber of Commerce of Florida.