Miami’s Design District is set to experience a significant increase in residential development, with nearly 1,000 new units planned for the area, according to an analysis by The Real Deal on Apr. 6. Traditionally known as a destination for high-end shopping with tenants such as Chanel, Bottega Veneta, Hermès and Gucci, the neighborhood is now attracting major real estate developers.
The influx of residential projects highlights changing preferences among homebuyers who seek proximity to luxury retail while avoiding denser areas like downtown Miami and Brickell. Craig Studnicky, CEO of ISG World and sales lead for Kempinski Residences Miami Design District, said: “You can imagine the caliber of the people walking the sidewalks in the Design District.”
Joe DaGrosa, founder and chairman of DaGrosa Capital Development Partners—which is developing Kempinski Residences—said: “People are going to start to get very selective about where they want to live. If you look at a lot of the high end retail market –– in New York on Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive on the West Coast –– people want to live near those high end retail locations.”
Among notable projects is Miami Design Residences at 30 Northeast 39th Street—a collaboration between Dacra, Fort Partners, Raycliff Capital and Constellation Hotels Holding—which will feature a 26-story tower with 143 units designed by Sir David Chipperfield. Another project underway is Cassi at 91-93 Northeast 36th Street—a partnership between Hunter Pasteur, The Forbes Company and Miami Design District Associates—with completion expected in 2027.
Kempinski Residences Miami Design District will be located at Biscayne Boulevard sites and include two towers with a total of 132 units; it marks Kempinski’s first U.S. project. Jean-Georges Miami Tropic Residences by Terra and Lion Development Group will offer over three hundred condos alongside amenities provided by wellness brand The Well Club.
Despite strong developer interest driven by demand for upscale living near luxury shops, available land remains limited due to zoning focused mainly on retail use. Studnicky said that although many are looking for opportunities in the district: “They can’t find anything.”
The trend toward luxury residential construction reflects broader shifts in urban living patterns as buyers seek exclusive environments paired with access to premier shopping destinations.
