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Ethan B. Wasserman is a member of the Land Use Practice of the firm’s Miami office. Ethan focuses his practice on land use, development and general real estate matters. He represents clients in all aspects of the development approval process, from site diligence, subdivision and concurrency impacts, land use/zoning applications and construction permitting. During and post construction, clients call on Ethan to assist with day-to-day local government matters, including building and code enforcement, licensing, code enforcement, special master and general business issues. Ethan is proud to bring creative, innovative and efficient strategies to his clients in order to facilitate a streamlined development process as well as create value to his client’s projects. In light of expanding transit options focused in South Florida, Ethan’s multi-jurisdictional experience create unique opportunities for his clients to expand to new markets in Miami-Dade County. With a background in commercial real estate transactions, Ethan is able to view a land use project through the lens of a closing, bringing speed and efficiency outside the scope of a traditional land use role.

Greenberg Traurig’s South Florida Land Use Team has made an impact throughout the state. View a map of the team’s work on Miami’s skyline.

Capabilities

Experience

  • Represent multiple developers in connection with FLUM amendments/rezonings, LDR and Comprehensive Plan text amendments, site plan and conditional use approvals, plat and various other development entitlements in the City of North Miami, with an emphasis on transit oriented development. Sample projects: 1,500 +/- unit development along the Biscayne Corridor, 850 +/- mixed use project along the city’s northern edge, 450 +/- mixed use development on former Johnson Wales campus, etc.
  • Represent multiple developers in connection with various mixed-use projects throughout the City of Miami Beach. Representation includes initial site diligence, coordinating with architects on local regulatory constraints, facilitating public hearing board approvals (DRB, HPB, PB and BOA) through building permit issuance. Sample projects: multiple mixed-use projects in the Town Center District of North Beach, including hotel, residential and commercial components; apartment and hotel projects through CUP, DRB and Historic Preservation approvals; routinely facilitate new single family home construction as well as substantial rehabilitation of architecturally significant and historic structures; process code amendments through City Commission for various regulatory changes needed to facilitate smart growth strategies; represent multiple religious institutions through zoning entitlements, etc.
  • Routinely represent large scale development projects through the City of North Miami Beach entitlements process. Sample projects include: 1,200 +/- apartment units across 4 high rise development towers in the Mixed-Use waterfront district, 400 +/- apartment units in the Fulford Mixed Use district north of 163 Street, 77,000 sq. ft. office and 230 +/- unit hotel project, Code Enforcement matters throughout the City, represent developers in connection with CRA opportunities to facilitate infrastructure upgrades and project development, etc.
  • Routinely represents developers seeking project entitlements in the City of Miami (Waiver, Warrants, Exceptions, legislative changes, rezoning, UDRB, subdivision and right of way closures, etc.). Sample projects: commercial redevelopment along Mimo historic district, Carrollton School and other religious institutions, SNF/nursing homes, apartment rental projects in Edgwater and Midtown, apartment and hotel development in Coconut Grove, Hospital expansion and new construction in the Jackson Health District, multiple road closure and platting projects throughout City of Miami, several affordable housing projects across the entire City, etc.
  • Routinely represents developers seeking project entitlements in Miami-Dade County, including recent changes to the county’s Rapid Transit Zones, ASPR, rezoning/Comprehensive Plan amendments, variances, unusual use approvals, subdivision, school concurrency, etc. Sample projects: Hotel projects near Miami International Airport, local hospice facilities, affordable housing projects throughout the County, but specifically along major corridors in Urban Centers, etc.
  • Represent multiple affordable multifamily and elderly development projects in every aspect of the development approval process. Ethan’s team constantly assists his clients in the various FHFC zoning stages of awarding affordable projects.
  • Judicial Intern, Hon. A. Jay Cristol, U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the Southern District of Florida, Summer 2006

Recognition & Leadership

  • Listed, The Best Lawyers in America, Land Use and Zoning Law, 2024
  • Team Member, Chambers & Partners USA Real Estate Law Firm of the Year, 2017-2018 and 2022
  • Listed, South Florida Legal Guide, "Top Up-and-Comer," 2018-2021
  • Team Member, a U.S. News - Best Lawyers®, "Law Firm of the Year" in Real Estate Law, 2015
  • Team Member, a Law360 "Real Estate Practice Group of the Year," 2015 and 2022
  • Team Member, The Legal 500 United States, "Top Tier" Firm in Real Estate, 2014
  • Board Member, Mount Sinai Medical Center Foundation, Young President's Club, 2011-2015
  • Vice President, Polo Park Condominium Association
  • Volunteer, Miami Children's Hospital, Victor Center for the Prevention of Jewish Genetic Diseases

Credentials

Education
  • J.D., cum laude, University of Miami School of Law, 2008
  • B.A., cum laude, Boston University, 2005
Admissions
  • Florida