From Hot Spot to Ghost Town: How Abandoned South Miami Mall Reflects South Florida’s Luxury Transformation

The planned demolition of an abandoned South Miami landmark has hit another delay.The redevelopment of Sunset Place—a once-vibrant outdoor shopping center that had been scheduled for teardown in early 2026—remains in limbo. Development firm Midtown Development purchased the 10-acre site for $65.5 million in 2020 after previous owner Federal Realty Investment Trust failed to execute a 2019 redevelopment plan.Midtown’s ambitious new master plan, designed by London-based architectural firm Heatherwick Studio, was approved by the South Miami City Commission in 2024. The proposal replaces the traditional mall with seven towers ranging from 12 to 33 stories, featuring 1,500 residential units, a hotel, movie theaters, and 150,000 square feet of retail and dining.So what’s the hold-up?The city of South Miami has been awaiting final approval from the Miami-Dade County Commission for a special taxing district and a community redevelopment agency that will help finance the $150 million infrastructure improvements needed for the new development plan.These improvements include new water and sewer lines, an improved sewer pump station capacity, extensive landscaping, and the extension of downtow...