Fifield Cos. is seeking approvals from the Coral Gables planning board to reposition a school property into a new multifamily community known as Chrystal Residences. The company is pursuing redevelopment of a 1.47-acre site at 110 Phoenetia Ave., where a 9,280-square-foot special needs facility currently operates.
According to reporting from the South Florida Business Journal, Fifield acquired the property for $16 million last year. The proposed plan calls for a nine-story, 93-foot-tall structure combining traditional apartments with live-work units and space for the existing school.
The envisioned building would total 226,193 square feet. Plans outline 184 residential units offered for rent, complemented by 16 live-work units. The live-work component is structured as two-story residences located on the ground floor, providing both living quarters and workspace within the same footprint.
Residential floor plans in Chrystal Residences are expected to range from 656 to 1,299 square feet. The unit mix would include 88 one-bedroom apartments, 72 two-bedroom apartments, and 24 three-bedroom apartments. This range of layouts is designed to address varying household sizes within a single property.
The project design includes a pool deck and other amenities on the ninth floor, placing common areas at the top of the building. While the article notes that the development will incorporate space for the school, it does not specify how that space will be configured within the overall program or whether the existing operator would remain in place.
Corwil Architects is the architect for Chrystal Residences, providing the design for the planned multifamily and live-work structure. Further details on construction timing, project phasing, or anticipated completion were not disclosed in the source material.
The broader article also promotes an upcoming Connect Texas Multifamily event in Dallas on August 13, positioned as a forum for multifamily owners, developers, investors, lenders, and brokers to discuss trends reshaping Texas real estate. While separate from the Chrystal Residences proposal, the event reference underscores ongoing industry interest in multifamily development dynamics and capital flows across key markets.
Regulatory review by the Coral Gables planning board will be a key step in determining whether Fifield can proceed with converting the Phoenetia Avenue school site into the proposed nine-story multifamily and live-work project.
