Miami Innovation District Coming to Park West
The Miami Innovation District, a proposed tech hub, is one step closer to coming to Miami after land in Park West controlled by Michael Simkins' Innovate Development Group was cleared. Innovate Development Group purchased the land in 2014 for $54 million. Details and renderings of the proposed project were leaked in June, showing a 10 acre development including 3,850,000 SF of office space, 2,400,000 SF of residential units, 250,000 SF of retail space, and 2,500 parking spaces. Residential units would include 300 SF "micro-apartments" for the young, working class. There will also be an amenity area called the "Cloud Level" which will include classrooms, daycare, tech support, exhibition spaces, as well as landscaped green space and connection to different towers that are part of the complex. Part of the original proposal, a 633-foot LCD tower, has seen great pushback. Miami Innovation District will be designed by SHoP Architects, who designed the Barclays Center in Brooklyn as well as for Google and Uber. Miami Innovation District is expected to bring 700 permanent jobs and the project will contribute $5 million to the South East Overtown/ Park West CRA and 3% of annual sales or $1 million per year.