Plans to move forward with commercial development on land currently occupied by the terrace of the Miami Beach Community Church on Lincoln Road have been given the OK by Miami Beach's Historic Preservation Board.
The controversial plan will see a three-story building go up on the historic site next door to the church. In exchange, the church will get as much as $100 million for the 50-year land lease.
See also: Miami Beach Community Church Courtyard Will Soon Look Like the Rest of Lincoln Road
The plans calls for the demolition of a small site wall, covered loggia, detached bathrooms, and raised terrace on the property. Though, the church façade will undergo a restoration. The three-story building, with the first two stories dedicated to retail, will rise. An active rooftop terrace will top the building as a means to replace the church's lost green space.
The church was built in 1920 by Miami Beach forefather Carl Fisher, but Lincoln Road has gone through quite a few iterations since that time. Its current iteration is basically a fancy outdoor mall with stores one could easily find in the suburbs. Not even a church terrace is sacred in Lincoln's latest boom.
The proposed building is designed by Touzet Studios, and it will be a modern structure of glass and metal. However, developers will have to make a few minor changes to the plan, including minimizing structure on the rooftop and settling on a lighter shade of bronze for storefront entrances, before the final go ahead is given by the board.
No word on what tenants may move in once the project is completed.
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