All eyes are once again on One Herald Plaza, the 15.5-acre vacant site in Downtown Miami with 800 feet of prime Biscayne Bay frontage that was once poised to become the city’s most iconic casino resort. Plans for the massive bayfront site, which was once home to the Miami Herald’s headquarters, were first announced by the Genting Group in 2011 and have since undergone multiple revisions in hopes of finally getting approval.
Most thought the project was dead. Originally envisioned as a $3.8 billion world-class resort destination, complete with glimmering towers, a massive lagoon, and a Vegas-style casino, Resorts World Miami has long been the subject of legislative hurdles, community opposition, and years of delays.
However, Resorts World Miami's latest news seems to show proof of life. In June, the Malaysia-based developer reportedly filed new plans with the Federal Aviation Administration for three towers, signaling a potential revival after more than a decade. And more research seems to show that the casino may be off the table.
If you’re just tuning in to our Resorts World Miami updates, we’ve put together a complete timeline of events of the project at the end of this blog to get you up to speed.
— Resorts World Miami in 2025: New Name And Fresh Design?
Uploaded discreetly to the potential architect’s website, new renderings by Uruguay-based Gómez Platero Architecture & Urbanism suggest that Genting Group could be ready to embark on the next chapter of its long-awaited Resorts World Miami project, this time under the proposed name Miami Bay Towers.
While the most recent FAA filings included plans for three towers, between 642-645 above ground, preliminary renderings show four irregularly shaped towers, rising above two sculptural podiums and topping off at 643 feet. Initial designs for the new Resorts World Miami plan show four staggered structures featuring dynamic, fragmented façades, cantilevered forms, and dramatic setbacks, creating a silhouette that shifts depending on your viewing angle.
Each design element would work in harmony to maximize view corridors, draw in natural light, and improve cross-ventilation for enhanced interior comfort and energy efficiency throughout.
While no plans or permits have been approved, based on the Gomez Platero designs, Resorts World Miami construction would take place in two phases, according to the architect's schematic designs, bringing a total of 689 residential units and 300 hotel rooms to this prime Downtown location. The architects confirmed these were just preliminary designs when we reached out to them for comment.
Spread across two podiums, Podium A would rise with Towers 1 and 2, featuring 48 Bay Residences on its upper levels, a spa, a sports bar, and above-ground parking areas. Podium B would house the remaining two towers, one residence-only and one a mixed-use hotel.
More specifically Towers 1, 2, and 3 would each house 177 residences, while Tower 4 would offer a mix of hotel suites and 158 residences, including 8 penthouses on its upper levels, as proposed.
Latest plans show a range of layouts. Bay Residences are expected to start at 1,600 square feet, Panoramic Residences at 2,900 square feet, and Sky Residences penthouses at 5,300 square feet.
The mixed-use complex will also feature a public baywalk connecting to Edgewater just to the north and Maurice A. Ferré Park and PAMM just to the south. It will also have designed connectivity to the new park and pedestrian paths under the new I-395 Signature Bridge.
— An Iconic Bayfront Address
Set along a tranquil bayfront stretch in the cultural core of Downtown Miami, this address offers unmatched access to the best of Miami. The 15.5-acre site sits adjacent to the Perez Art Museum and Frost Science Museum (nestled within the waterfront Maurice A. Ferré Park), separated by I-395. And it is also .
It is also directly across the street from the Adrienne Arsht Center and the 15th Street Metromover stop. A 5-minute walk will take you to an abundance of family-friendly activities at the Margaret Pace Park in Miami’s Edgewater neighborhood. And in 10 minutes, you can be at PAMM, and sports entertainment and world-class concerts at the Kaseya Center.
Brickell’s collection of corporate headquarters, Wynwood’s world-famous outdoor murals, and the Design District’s collection of avant-garde boutiques and dining concepts will all be accessible within 15 minutes by car.
For those looking to go car-free, effortless access to the Metromover will take you to the Metrorail and Brightline stations, making everything from Brickell to Fort Lauderdale and even Orlando within convenient reach.
Inspired to learn more about this Miami neighborhood? Watch Sep Niakan, our founding broker, reveal all pros and cons of living in Downtown Miami.
— Resorts World Miami Timeline (2011-2025)
- June 2025: Genting reportedly files new plans with the FAA for three towers rising up to 645 feet above ground.
- 2023: Genting retains control as plans for the Terra acquisition fall through.
- May 2023: Miami’s Terra Group, under its affiliate SmartCity Miami LLC, is in talks to acquire the vacant site for $1.225 billion.
- December 2022: Genting lists One Herald Plaza for $1 billion, advertised with the potential to carry more than 8,000 multifamily units in a Rapid Transit Zone.
- September 2021: Genting files plans for a monorail to Miami Beach from the Resorts World Miami site and a bus station. The proposed transit system would connect Miami Beach to mainland Miami via the 3.5-mile monorail running parallel to the MacArthur Causeway.
- May 2021: Genting once again secures FAA approval to build the three, 649-foot-tall towers, this time amid a more favorable political climate for its casino. Read our 2021 feature for more details on the world-class project, site plan, and Genting’s monorail venture.
- March 2021: Genting resubmits plans for three waterfront towers, each approximately 60 stories tall, rising between 642 and 645 feet.
- August 2020: The first FAA approval expires.
- 2017: The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) approves plans for Genting’s proposed waterfront towers. The three towers are cleared for a height no taller than 649 feet above sea level. Plans for a Baywalk and marina are also submitted for review.
- 2014: The former Miami Herald building is demolished.
- May 2011: The Miami Herald newspaper sells its bayfront headquarters at One Herald Plaza in Downtown Miami for $236 million to the Malaysia-based Genting Group. The Asian developer also plans and later develops Resorts World Las Vegas, which opens in 2021.
- 2011: The Genting Group unveils its original proposal for the 15.5-acre Resorts World Miami, a $3.8 billion casino resort featuring 6 LED-lit towers home to a mix of hotel suites and residences, a 3.6-acre lagoon, multiple restaurants, and a full-scale casino component. The latter would eventually become the cause of opposition and controversy, and bring the entire resort project to a halt.
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