The Shops At Sunset Place, long-standing a symbol of South Floridian commerce, is due to be dismantled and replace into an urban village of shops, eateries, and residences. This Tuesday, the City of South Miami Commission approved to demolish the mall and press forward with a redevelopment project which aims to revitalize the area and bring more activity to South Miami's urban core.

South Miami Mayor Javier Fernandez expressed a hopeful sentiment regarding the revitalization endeavor. "It brings hope," he explained, asserting a vision of a downtown that filled with residents and visitors engaging with local businesses. Local10 reports that Midtown Development, having acquired the property during the COVID-19 pandemic, seeks to transform the area into an interactive hub complete with residential units, a hotel, a movie theater, office spaces, bars, and restaurants.

The redevelopment project, which may span over a decade, was unanimously approved by commission members and is rooted in the desire to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. "Our radical idea is to bring back streets," said architect Thomas Heatherwick, whose firm, Heatherwick Studio, has been tasked with the design of the project, according to Local 10. A video statement by Heatherwick, featured on social media platforms, shares his firm's vision of integrating the existing street grid of the surroundings into the site to promote a "village of smaller spaces," as reported by Miami New Times.

This ambitious project diverges from the traditional mall layout by breaking up the massive structure into a series of smaller buildings interspersed with pedestrian-only walkways and a central plaza. The Miami New Times details various proposed features such as 1,500 apartment units and a 15,000-square-foot open-air plaza that is anticipated to serve as the property's focal point. According to Mayor Fernandez, the redevelopment could begin offering elements to the public within five years.

While these plans promise a reinvigorated South Miami, there was a degree of controversy regarding potential increased vehicle traffic. Despite these concerns, the unanimous commission vote suggests a broader community support for the project. Specific timelines for groundbreaking remain unannounced.