It’s déjà vu for a South Miami landmark on the verge of disappearing and turned into the next big thing. We’ve seen this a few times before on the 10-acre property at Red Road, Sunset Drive and U.S.
1. First, a beloved bakery plant, where Holsum doughnuts and bread sent up the most heavenly of scents, cleared the way for a mixed-use center called Bakery Centre. Then, about 25 years ago, Bakery Centre gave way to a mall called Shops at Sunset Place.
Now, the moribund mall will be knocked down to make way for a multi-building complex with apartments, a hotel, a theater, restaurants and offices. The city of South Miami has blessed plans to demolish and redevelop Shops at Sunset Place, an often deserted center with vacant storefronts and dwindling foot traffic over the past decade. After to revive the community’s centerpiece and eyesore, leaders are placing their hopes for the future on the mall’s latest owner.
In September, the city of South Miami’s planning board unanimously voted in favor and recommended approval of a master development by Midtown Opportunities to demolish the shopping center at 5701 Sunset Dr. and replace it with a mixed-use venture designed by award-winning London-based Heatherwick Studio. Simply called Sunset Place, the plans have drawn both a mix of support and criticism.
The proposal will transform the South Miami location into seven buildings, 12 stories to 33 stories. The buildings would house 1,513 residences, from studios to three bedroo.