Miami’s Urban Development Review Board (UDRB) has voted to recommend approval for Rio Vista Apartments, a new 10-story residential project that will integrate a preserved historic building into its design.
The development is planned for a site that formerly housed the Temple Court Apartments, originally constructed in two phases between 1914 and 1918. Following a fire in June 2024, the structure was deemed unsafe and subsequently demolished, leaving that portion of the site vacant.
However, the historic Frank Gallat House, a two-and-a-half-story masonry residence built in 1913, remains intact and will be preserved as part of the new development. Gallat, a prominent early owner of the now-demolished apartments, adds historical significance to the remaining structure. The site also shares a block with the landmark Scottish Rite Temple, a 1924 building known for its distinctive Egyptian Revival architecture.
The Rio Vista Apartments project will include:
- 140 residential units, including 6 townhomes
- 151 parking spaces within a garage designed to blend into the neighborhood and pay homage to the surrounding historic district
The UDRB's approval came with a few design-related conditions:
- The tower’s architectural style should better reflect the surrounding context, particularly the nearby Scottish Rite Temple
- The townhomes’ design elements should be echoed in the tower and podium to create a more unified architectural language
- The roofline should be more cohesive and defined to establish a smoother visual transition between the building and the skyline
Bricka CB Development LLC is the applicant, with Studio MC+G serving as the architect.
