Hotel proposed on last vacant lot on South Beach’s Fifth Street

A five-story hotel has been proposed on the last remaining vacant lot on Fifth Street in South Beach.

Fifth Street is the gateway to Miami Beach, as it leads to the MacArthur Causeway.

On Dec. 18, the city’s Historic Preservation Board will consider the application by Fifth Hotel LLC to build a 32-unit Urbanica Hotel at 803 Fifth Street. The company, owned by Roberto Diego Colmenero and Carlos M. Porchetto, acquired the 9,000-square-foot site for $6 million in June.

The site had a bank building constructed in 1925, but it was torn down in the mid-1990s, according to the application.

Urbanica currently owns the Meridian Hotel and the Sofi Hotel in Miami Beach, plus two hotels in Argentina.

“We chose 5th Street because so many new projects will be transforming it into a destination,” said Sexton Garcia, general manager of Urbanica. “We are planning several culinary experiences as well as bars in conjunction with our hotels, to become an iconic part of the city. Our target guest is a sophisticated and intelligent traveler looking for a cool vibe.”

Designed by McG Architecture and Planning, the Hotel Urbanica would have 32 rooms, a 56-seat café, 42 parking spaces serviced by a valet, and a rooftop pool. The rooms would range from 300 to 500 square feet. The hotel design would feature natural wood and stone elements.

The application said the hotel would have 20 to 25 employees and the restaurant would have 10 employees.

After the Historic Preservation Board meeting, the Urbanica Hotel proposal will go before the Planning Board on Dec. 19.

Colmenero said he hopes to start construction in the third quarter of 2018. The project should take 14 months to complete.

Attorneys Michael W. Larkin and Matthew Amster represent the developer in the application. – Brian Bandell

Published December 12, 2017 in South Florida Business Journal