Miami Commission Considers Projects Starting With 20-Year Extension for E11even

Miami’s upscale strip club E11even wants a city code change to remain open until 2050 as part of a bigger redevelopment plan by club owners.

The City Commission is scheduled to vote Thursday on changes to its code and development regulations to allow the E11even project, a mixed-use project in Little Havana, a brewery and bar in a historic downtown building and a private school.

The adult club at 29 NE 11th St. is asking to extend a Miami 21 exception from 2030 to 2050. The request was endorsed by the city planning staff, but the item didn’t get support from the planning and zoning board to move ahead.

Club attorney Louis J. Terminello, a partner at Greenspoon Marder and chair of its hospitality, alcohol and leisure industry group, said the E11even owners have been buying Park West lots near the club with plans for redevelopment, although they have yet to decide what they want to build.

Dennis DeGori owns E11even and his project partners include Gino LoPinto, Ken DeGori, Derick Henry and Daniel Solomon.

It’s necessary for the club to obtain a lifespan extension now “so we can better plan what we want to do down the road,” Terminello said.

In other city business, the Old U.S. Post Office and Courthouse at 100 NE First Ave. may reopen with Biscayne Bay Brewing Co. as the first downtown brewery. The company, which has a production facility and tap room in Doral, wants to open a small brew house and tap room on the third floor of the historic building.

Building owner Stambul USA, a Miami-based construction and development company that bought the building in 2014, also wants to open a bar and a juice bar in the building on the first, second and fourth floors. Stambul is asking the commission to permit craft beer production and alcohol sales at the bar and brewery’s tap room.

Miami Beach-based developer Alan Amdur plans a mixed-use project in Little Havana with 719 apartment units, 150,000 square feet of retail and 959 parking spaces on 2 acres between Flagler Street and Northwest First Street and from Eighth to Ninth Avenues. Amdur is asking for land use and zoning change for some of the lots. City planners recommended denial, but the planning board recommended the changes. The commission has final say.

The commission also will consider an exception for the Center Academy private school that tech entrepreneur David Centner and his wife, Leila Centner, want to open at 4136 N. Miami Ave. Buena Vista neighborhood association members are appealing a planning board vote for the exception. Residents’ attorney David Winker argues the board’s decision departs from the essential requirements of the Miami 21 code because the code was created to limit zoning exceptions. The school missed its planned opening date in August after failing to get an occupancy certificate.

Sky Views of America LLC is asking for permission to set up a Ferris wheel at Bayfront Park. Bayside Marketplace wants to open the attraction on its bayfront property.

Also, the commission will consider a push by Miami-Dade County to change the zoning for a 5.6-acre county-owned property at 1040 SW 29th Court to allow the addition of 139-unit Gallery at Smathers Plaza affordable housing project for seniors. The county already has three affordable housing towers designated for the elderly.

It’s unclear whether the commission will get through these items as the meeting was pushed back to 2 p.m. The city will hold a memorial in the morning for former Mayor Maurice Ferré who died last week. Ferré was Miami’s first Hispanic mayor.

Related stories: 

E11even Gets OK for Nightclub Expansion to Miami Rooftop

Ethics Question Shrouds Miami Preschool’s Hiring of Attorney at Mayor’s Law Firm

Greenspoon Marder No Longer Represents Miami Preschool Amid Ethics Question