Integrating Density While Preserving Key Features
Building on my previous exploration of underutilized properties in Wynwood-Edgewater, I dove deeper into the Mana Wynwood site to assess its development potential. The primary objective of this study was to determine how we could accommodate all permitted units on the site.
To achieve this, I assembled all adjacent sites owned by the same entity as Mana Wynwood, revealing 1,859 allowed units. Utilizing a rapid assessment approach, I modeled a preliminary layout featuring a set of seven sketchy and clunky towers to visualize space requirements. I aimed to integrate these towers within the existing parking lot area, preserving the conference facilities—the key feature of Mana Wynwood.
Adjusting Tower Design for Space and Zoning Compliance
Initially, the towers were too densely packed, prompting me to introduce setbacks to create separation between them. This adjustment led the towers to rise up to 18 stories to accommodate the 1,800 units. However, zoning regulations permit only 12 stories with a bonus, so I further refined the design by adding 120,000 SF of retail space, which inadvertently increased the structure's height to 19 stories.
Strategic Reductions to Meet Zoning Limits
To align with zoning constraints, I made strategic reductions:
-
-
Unit Size: Decreased from 1,040 SF to 600 SF, favoring compact one-bedroom layouts.
-
Retail Space: Reduced from 120,000 SF to 20,000 SF.
-
Amenities: Allocated 20,000 SF for amenities.
-
These adjustments successfully lowered the tower height to the 12-story limit while accommodating the allowable number of units.
While the initial model with seven towers proved too aggressive, this rapid analysis demonstrates that fitting the allowed units is feasible. Future studies can explore alternative configurations, potentially reducing the number of towers and enhancing design efficiency.
Stay tuned for more insights as we continue to unlock the potential of Wynwood-Edgewater.
