A developer tried to take over a Miami condo building. Here are 5 takeaways

Biscayne 21, an old condo with bay views in Miami, became the center of a legal battle between residents and a developer aiming to build luxury condos. Residents stood their ground in court and won, forcing the developer to restore the building from the first phases of demolition.

FULL STORY: A developer tried to push Miami condo owners from their homes. They fought back

Here are the highlights:

• The developer, Two Roads, tried to buy out all residents to replace Biscayne 21 with a new luxury building, but some residents refused to sell. They filed a lawsuit against the developer.
• The judge ruled that the developer must fix the building and pay for repairs, which could cost $65 million. Residents like Robert Murphy will be able to move back in, likely after two years of restoration work.
• This legal win is unusual because most condo takeovers in Miami succeed, especially when owners can’t afford upkeep and insurance. But Biscayne 21 had special rules requiring 100% owner approval for termination, which helped residents win.
• The developer tried to change the rules with a majority vote, but the court found this stripped owners’ rights. While the ruling is a big deal, it might only apply to buildings with strict owner-approval rules.
• Experts say not all condo takeovers will stop after this case, but it might make developers more cautious. The outcome depends on each building’s legal documents and situation.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists in the Miami Herald newsroom. The full story in the link at top was reported, written and edited entirely by Miami Herald journalists.

This story was originally published February 2, 2026 at 1:08 PM.