Terra Group has announced plans for a $650 million residential development and wellness club at the former Marriott site on Tigertail Avenue that would exceed by three stories the site’s prescribed zoning.
High-end Coconut Grove development firm Terra Group has announced plans for THE WELL Coconut Grove, an eight-story mixed-use “wellness living community” at the corner of Tigertail Avenue and Mary Street in Center Grove.
The development will add 194 luxury residential units and 53,000 square feet of exclusive wellness space, including an indoor fitness center, hyperbaric chamber, and a rooftop pool and pickleball court. The project also will include 22,000 square feet of ground floor retail, city records show.
Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 with completion in early 2028.
The complex falls in a T5-O Urban Center transect zone that traditionally limits developments to five stories, as established by the Miami 21 Code of Ordinances. A spokesperson for the project confirmed it would be eight stories, though it remains unclear why an exception will be made for the project.
The property sold in 2021 for $21.7 million to Terra development partner AB Asset management, which initially floated plans for a five-story apartment building on the site to be called Residences in the Grove.
According to the City of Miami IBuild website, where developers enter project information, the project will reach 129 feet over nine stories – one more than project renderings reveal. City of Miami did not reply to requests for comment.
Demolition of the Marriott (briefly also known as The Malone) began earlier this month. Construction is expected to begin in late 2025 at a total cost of $650 million, according to an announcement issued by Terra Group.
It will be the second THE WELL-branded project in Miami, following a similar residential development in Bay Harbor Islands, also by Terra Group, slated to open in mid-2025. Promotional materials tout former NFL star Tom Brady as a buyer.
“We are thrilled to be partnering with The Well for a second time, building on the incredible success of our collaboration in Bay Harbor Islands,” said David Martin, CEO of Terra in a press release.
Martin and other Terra officials did not respond to multiple requests for comment from the Spotlight.
Coconut Grove-based Terra Group has been a key player in the Grove’s high-end makeover in recent years with projects such as Grove at Grand Bay, Park Grove and Mr. C Residences.
Terra Group’s headquarters is a stone’s throw from both THE WELL Coconut Grove’s construction site and an adjacent five-story office building – a former public parking garage — which it controversially acquired from the city in 2016.
“Coconut Grove holds a deep personal and professional significance for me and for Terra, as it embodies the essence of community and culture that defines Miami,” Martin’s press statement continued.
“With THE WELL Coconut Grove, we’re introducing a space that not only enhances wellness but also strengthens the sense of connection and vitality that makes this neighborhood so unique. We’re proud to contribute to Coconut Grove’s enduring legacy with a project that aligns with its rich history and dynamic future.”
THE WELL is a health and fitness branding company promoting the concept of “whole-person care.” It launched its first branded product in New York in 2019. It combines therapeutic treatments like acupuncture, with traditional fitness programs, healthy eating and mental wellbeing.
Apartments at the Coconut Grove project range in size from one to four bedrooms, with prices from just under $1.5 million to $6.3 million.
According to a Terra Group spokesperson, 20 percent of the 194 units were sold within 48 hours of the project’s launch.
The development’s wellness facilities will be accessible to both residents and outside paying members. Residents will retain exclusive access to some of the wellness perks including private pools, a herb garden, in-residence treatments and bi-annual health assessments.
Despite the height increase, a spokesperson for the project says they do not anticipate any significant increase in traffic.
Terra’s ability to so easily pierce the TO-5 zoning height limit with a 9 story tall building needs to be challenged by the Village of Center Grove community and our City representatives. If this project successfully goes to 8+ stories it will open the door to similar large scale development projects in other areas of Center Grove, for example at the Tigertail and 27th circle or along the length of the 27th avenue corridor or along Bird Avenue. The precedent should not be allowed. The T0-5 zoning for the north side of Tigertail should remain unchanged.
It’s worth noting that the developer seems to have avoided following City ordinances in starting this project. Construction is just commencing with a recently constructed fencing being erected around the site along the north side of Tigertail and along Mary Street closing the sidewalk and narrowing both streets. No consultation was undertaken with the adjacent Grove community about nor did the builder obtain (to the best of the evidence in the public record so far) proper permission to closing the sidewalk per City ordnance (see City ordnance (SEE — § 54-3. Permit required for work that obstructs or closes a street, sidewalk, or impedes traffic; fees; waiver of fees., Article I. IN GENERAL, Chapter 54. STREETS AND SIDEWALKS, CHARTER AND CODE, Code of Ordinances, Miami).
Supposedly the developer had prepared a traffic study but none has surfaced in the public domain. Can we obtain it and any records related to the City’s granting permission for closing the sidewalk?
One has to ask does the City really care to enforce its own zoning plan and its regulations? Time for our representatives and the Village of Center Grove community to challenge an opaque process by which City ordinances and zoning are being systematically ignored.
William Finan
Thank you for sharing this input. The announcement of this project without the proper approvals or public input is extremely upsetting — given that 20% of units are already sold per the article, it seems to assume that the zoning variance will be approved. It’s already clear that developers run this city and the only way to maybe make an impact is through the collective action of Grove residents. How do we all get organized and stay in touch to make sure sufficient people show up at City and Zoning meetings on this? Everyone should be reaching out to Commissioner Pardo.
I also wonder about the spokesperson’s comment that traffic won’t be significantly impacted by the increased square footage — if you haven’t had to do or submit a traffic study, how can you even make that comment? Where is the data?
So does anyone know how they were able to violate the building codes? I am sure I can guess but I am curious what the public comment is.
“Growing like Topsy” is what is happening in Miami and Coconut Grove.
If memory serves, when Miami 21, after many public hearings and much public debate, became our zoning law more than a dozen years ago, T-5 O (Open) was the zoning category allowing mixed-use (including commercial) buildings limited to 5 stories and a maximum of 62.5 ft. height.
T-5 was intended to be the “successional” category between T-4 Residential apartments of 3 stories, and T-6 High-rises of 6 stories and max height over 100ft, with an additional 3 stories possible after negotiated “public benefits” as a quid pro quo for the bonus height.
Fast forward to 2024, and T-5 now, with little public debate or input, has morphed to include 8 story buildings and, according to this Spotlight story, 129 ft. height. The City, in its desire to accommodate developers and “affordable housing,” has created something called “enhanced T-5.”
Why this sleight-of hand? Because up-zoning to T-6 would stir up the adjoining neighbors to protest against non-sucessional, administratively-approved up-zonings.
It should be noted that Miami’s Planning Zoning and Appeals Board recently debated the wisdom of allowing 8 story buildings in T-5 areas, and recommended to the City Commission that any such “enhancement” in T-5 be limited to a maximum of 91 ft. in height.
That’s 38 ft. shorter than what is being proposed here and more than twice what was envisioned when Miami 21 was enacted into law.
Andy — where do we find more details about the interesting background you provide. I am specifically wondering about the dates of the City Commission meetings and their recommendations? Bill Finan
Simply put this is a disappointment that is directly attributed to developers being able to pay and break rules. It’s a lie that the traffic and infrastructure will not be affected. Tigertail is already a disaster of noise and traffic. Rules matter, I’ll be asking our city officials why this is happening and why public opinion no longer matters in Coconut Grove.
129 feet is the equivalent of 12 stories. How did this get through the permitting process? Miami kidnapped Coconut Grove in 1925! One hundred years later we are dealing with death blows to our village. The destruction of our tree canopy goes unabated. With all these “enhanced” projects – we won’t be able to tell Coconut Grove from anywhere else. Mr. Martin has been involved in 8 billion dollars worth of growth in the Grove – maybe as he’s building his McMansion that destroyed part of the bluff, he can consider renovating our unique library – the oldest in Miami. And for god’s sake STOP CLOSING SIDEWALKS. Our residents are already under assault with speeding traffic. CROSSING THE STREET IN THE GROVE IS DANGEROUS.
This announcement about THE WELL Coconut Grove raises important questions about the balance between development and the preservation of what makes Coconut Grove unique. The Grove has long been celebrated for its low-rise architecture, dense tree canopy, and intimate, village-like atmosphere. These characteristics aren’t just aesthetic—they are central to the identity of the neighborhood and a key reason why people choose to live, visit, and invest here.
The Miami 21 Code, which limits developments in T5-O zones to five stories, exists to protect this identity. Allowing an exception for an eight-story complex sets a concerning precedent, especially for a community already feeling the pressure of creeping overdevelopment. Projects like THE WELL, with its luxury units and extensive amenities, may bring modern appeal, but they risk overshadowing the Grove’s historic charm and natural beauty. Tigertail Avenue and Mary Street, at the heart of Center Grove, deserve thoughtful design that complements the surrounding area—not towers that belong more naturally in Brickell or Miami Beach.
Development isn’t inherently bad, and many of us welcome change when it’s done responsibly. But the character of Coconut Grove isn’t something that can be rebuilt once lost. The Grove thrives because it feels rooted—connected to its history and its environment. Instead of bending zoning rules to accommodate luxury projects, we should focus on developments that prioritize green spaces, integrate with the existing scale of the neighborhood, and honor the legacy of this special community.
THE WELL may bring hyperbaric chambers and pickleball courts, but the question remains: Is this what Coconut Grove truly needs, or are we letting short-term gains chip away at the long-term soul of the neighborhood? The answer will determine if the Grove remains a sanctuary of history and charm—or just another stop in Miami’s race to build upward.
Kate — I really liked your comment. I have been tasked to develop a position paper for our Village of Center Grove civic group and will incorporate them into it.
William, I have some information that may be helpful for your position paper (and good to hear there’s a Village of Center Grove civic group). Let me know what’s the best way to reach you.