C2J - Byron Carlyle Design Rfq

Procurement Requests - C2 J

C2 J REQUEST FOR APPROVAL TO ISSUE REQUEST FOR QUALIFICATIONS (RFQ) NO. 2026-119-WG, ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE BYRON CARLYLE CULTURAL CENTER WITH WORKFORCE HOUSING. (FACILITIES AND FLEET MANAGEMENT) Applicable Area:

COMMISSION MEMORANDUM

RECOMMENDATION

It is recommended that the Mayor and City Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, authorize the issuance of Request for Qualifications (RFQ) 2026-119-WG for Architectural Design Services for The Byron Carlyle Cultural Center with Workforce Housing.

BACKGROUND/HISTORY

On November 8, 2022, the City’s voters approved a $159 million General Obligation (G.O.) Bond for Arts and Culture that included $30,570,000 for the redevelopment of the Byron Carlyle Theater (the Byron Carlyle Cultural Center or Project).

On December 14, 2022, the Mayor and City Commission directed the Administration to seek expressions of interest from cultural institutions to occupy and/or activate the proposed cultural center. On January 25, 2023, the Administration issued Request for Letters of Interest (RFLI) for Cultural Partners for Byron Carlyle Theater. The RFLI was developed with input gathered from the City’s Cultural Arts Council and Michael Spring, Director of Miami-Dade County Department of Cultural Affairs. On February 22, 2023, responses to the RFLI were received.

In April 2023, the Administration engaged AMS Planning and Research (AMS) to survey the respondents to the RFLI and analyze the collective needs of the cultural organizations. The outcome of these interviews being a recommendation to the City as to the nature and governance of a new multidisciplinary cultural center. The AMS Report on Byron Carlyle Concept and Governance was concluded in February 2024, included as an appendix in the Draft RFQ, Attachment A.

At the June 26, 2024, Commission meeting, the Mayor and City Commission unanimously approved the Byron Carlyle Project to proceed with the inclusion of workforce housing with no micro-units and no short-term rentals. Subsequent discussion on rental rates established the ideal rental range between 80% and 140% area median income (AMI), with an average of approximately 100% AMI.

Additionally, the Administration reengaged AMS to build on their February 2024 report by creating a building program and cost analysis of the Cultural Center project based on their findings. This comprehensive building program and cost projection was completed in March 2025 as part of the AMS Report on Byron Carlyle Cultural Center Building Program and Cost Analysis, included as an appendix in the Draft RFQ, Attachment A.

It is the City’s intent to retain ownership of the three subject parcels. The project may be the subject of a long-term lease, management or other form of agreement depending upon whether

the City or a mission-based non-profit secures the financing for the project or any portion thereof. For the avoidance of doubt, the City does not wish to consider a Developer “Design, Finance, Build” delivery model.

ANALYSIS

The Administration developed RFQ 2026-119-WG for Architectural Design Services for The Byron Carlyle Cultural Center with Workforce Housing. The purpose of this RFQ is to select a firm to provide architectural design services for the development of a new Byron Carlyle Cultural Center and Workforce Housing Project (the Project).

The City seeks a partner to design a hybrid cultural and residential project that will help anchor the North Beach City Center, while enriching the quality of life for its residents and spurring economic development in a critical neighborhood corridor. The Byron Carlyle project represents a generational investment in art and culture that will define an evolving community for decades to come.

The cultural component of this project will consist of a multidisciplinary community cultural center presenting live performing arts, film, visual art exhibits, classes, a recording studio, event space, and rehearsal facilities. It is contemplated that the cultural center will occupy most or all the current site of the Byron Carlyle building (Folio:02-3211-002-1070) and all or part of the adjoining parking lot to the south (Folio: 02-3211-002-1090). The desired building program for the cultural center is defined in the March 2025 AMS report entitled: City of Miami Beach Report on the Byron Carlyle Cultural Center (included in the draft RFQ, Attachment A). Due to the nostalgic nature of the existing building, there is a desire in the community to see homage to the original 1968, A. Herbert Mathes design in the new structure.

The residential component of this project is to be explored and defined by the awarded team, in collaboration with the City Administration. For this purpose, the awarded team will require the expertise of a financial analyst with experience in workforce housing development, including a mission-based non-profit owner/borrower. The successful Bidder will model and recommend the nature and scale of a residential housing project that leverages available City real estate assets, City funding, and financing options available to workforce housing developments. The residential component can be situated on the Byron Carlyle parcel and/or on the lot directly east on Byron Ave (Folio: 02-3211-002-0950). The residential building must adhere to all area zoning codes and harmonize with the architecture and density of the 71st corridor. The conceptual massing studies included as Byron Carlyle Cultural Center Massing Concepts (included in the draft RFQ, Attachment A) are meant to illustrate how the residential component could be incorporated into the project, but are not meant to be prescriptive. The selected Design team will be encouraged to develop their own approach to synthesizing the two components of the Project into a cohesive design.

The scope of work requirements of the RFQ are more fully defined in the RFQ attached as Attachment A. Following the receipt of proposals, an Evaluation Committee will review statements of qualifications in accordance with the criteria established in the RFQ. After the Committee has evaluated the proposals, the City Manager will present an award recommendation to the City Commission for approval.

FISCAL IMPACT STATEMENT

The Facilities and Fleet Management Department has budgeted $2,599,006 with GOBAC funding for these services. Services pursuant to the award of this RFQ shall be subject to successful negotiations and the availability of funds approved through the City’s budgeting process. It is not anticipated that grant funding will be utilized for this project.

Does this Ordinance require a Business Impact Estimate? (FOR ORDINANCES ONLY)

If applicable, the Business Impact Estimate (BIE) was published on: See BIE at: https://www.miamibeachfl.gov/city-hall/city-clerk/meeting-notices/

FINANCIAL INFORMATION

Budget Code: 395-6901-061357-26-410-549-00-00-00-23724

Amount: $2,599,006 available in this account

CONCLUSION

It is recommended that the Mayor and Commission of the City of Miami Beach, Florida, authorize the issuance of RFQ 2026-119-WG for Architectural Design Services for the Byron Carlyle Cultural Center with Workforce Housing.

Applicable Area

South Beach

Was this Agenda Item initially requested by a lobbyist which, as defined in Code Sec. 2-481, includes a principal engaged in lobbying? No

If so, specify the name of lobbyist(s) and principal(s):

Department

Procurement

Sponsor(s)

Co-sponsor(s)

Condensed Title

Issue RFQ 2026-119-WG, A/D Serv, Byron Carlyle Cultural Ctr w/ Workforce Housing. FF/PR