Attorneys Working Behind the Scene

FIRST LOOK: Comras plans big retail project on South Beach

A company headed by broker and developer Michael Comras has proposed a retail building plus parking near the gateway to South Beach.

On Sept. 27, the Miami Beach Planning Board will consider the application MAC 1045 5th ST LLC and MAC 1031 5th ST LLC. Both companies are owned and managed by Comras, the head of Miami Beach-based Comras Corp.

Called BLVD at Lenox, the project would be located on the 43,500-square-foot site at the northeast corner of Fifth Street and Lenox Avenue – a few blocks from the MacArthur Causeway ramp. MAC 1045 5th ST LLC owns the parcels at 527 and 543 Lenox Avenue plus 1045 5th Street. The parcel at 1031 5th Street is owned by Carefree 5th Street but is under contract to Comras’ LLC, according to the application.

Comras couldn’t immediately be reached for comment and neither could his zoning attorney, Michael Larkin.

The 192,265-square-foot building would rise four stories, with parking on the roof, and was designed by Zyscovich Architects. It would have 64,930 square feet of retail on three floors, although the bulk of the retail would be on the first and second floors, plus 218 parking spaces.

Two existing buildings on the property, including the home of the Ivy Nightclub and the Carefree Lifestyle car rental store, would be torn down.

Comras was one of most influential developers on Lincoln Road and helped lure national tenants such as Apple and Nike there. In 2015, he was involved in a $370 million sale on Lincoln Road. – Brian Bandell

Published Sept.1, 2016 in the South Florida Business Journal